CERIS SSRI event on Innovation Procurement

In the domain of civil security, public procurement can be a catalyst for the uptake of innovative solutions. Nevertheless, traditional procurement schemes do not always incentivise the acquisition of innovation, and public buyers often perceive investing in new technology solutions as very risky. As security challenges evolve, procurement tools have to become more flexible and to swiftly adapt to constantly changing needs. Public procurement would need to be regarded as a strategic tool rather as a purely administrative one. In order to do so, public buyers need a variety of instruments that are fit for different purposes, that reduce the risk perception and that attract innovators and innovation. Therefore, the challenge is not only to buy innovation, but also to buy innovatively.

During the workshop, panel discussions will focus on “Challenges and Opportunities of Pre-Commercial Procurement - supplier’s and buyer’s perspectives” as well as on other public procurement instruments such as joint cross-border public procurement, value engineering and functional specifications.