Procurement of Innovation Platform
Developed to help public authorities, procurers, policy makers, researchers and other stakeholders harness the power of Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI) and Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP), the platform offers an exciting and comprehensive new resource on a topic previously lacking in accessible information.
Custom-made to meet user’s needs, the online heart of the Procurement of Innovation Platform is comprised of three elements: Website, Procurement Forum, and Resource Centre. The website contains the latest news on PPI and PCP developments and events, as well as policy support and background information on the European legal framework. The Procurement Forum is a specially designed networking tool. It is a space for procurers and stakeholders from around Europe to discuss, share and connect. Users can also create private groups, which are ideal for coordinating both large and small projects. Over 1,000 people have registered with the Procurement Forum so far. Finally, the Resource Centre provides a centralised database for PPI guidance, gathering documents in one place. Resources include national and European policy and strategy documents, useful tools, good practice case studies, details of projects and initiatives, as well as reports and valuable links on procuring innovation.
The Platform wants to move PPI from theory to mainstream practice. This is why the Platform will create practical guides on how public authorities can implement PPI. These guides will shortly be finished and will be opened to consultation from 15 February – 31 March 2014.
European public authorities will also be invited to apply for the Public Procurement of Innovation Award, to be presented to exemplary public authorities that purchase innovative, effective and efficient products and services. Applications for the first edition of the award close in March.
In addition, the platform will provide hands-on support to European public authorities through a series of training courses focused on tools and techniques, and an experience exchange programme, held between more and less advanced public authorities. The first training will take place on 28 November 2013 in The Hague, Netherlands.
The Procurement of Innovation Platform has been developed with support from the European Commission, and in partnership with PIANOo – the Dutch Public Procurement Expertise Centre, REC – the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe and IWT – the Flemish Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology.
For more information, to sign up to the Platform or to register for training, visit www.innovation-procurement.org.
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