Innovative PROcurement techniques to support the GRowth of competitiveness for public services in EASTern Europe

Acronym of the case:

PROGR-EAST

Web address of the case:

http://www.progreast.eu/

Country of the case:

Czech Republic , Hungary , Italy , Poland , Slovakia , Slovenia

Posting Date:

8 June 2011

Last Edited Date:

16 April 2012

Author:

Borinka Jacobsen (INNOVA S.p.A.)

pre-commercial procurement | R&D | innovation

Type of initiative

Project or service

Case Abstract

*PROGR-EAST: Innovative PROcurement techniques to support the GRowth of competitiveness for public services in EASTern Europe

In the scope of the PROGR-EAST project is to boost Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) in Eastern European countries by transferring successful experiences from other EU countries and promoting pilot project ideas to implement the PCP process in the 5 targeted countries (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia).

This challenge fully responds to the effective need of Eastern European Countries to maximize effort and resources to improve the quality of public sevices, supporting at the same time the competitiveness of local industry and research actors. In fact by acting as technologically demanding first buyers of new R&D, public procurers in the target Countries can drive innovation from the demand side, enabling public authorities to innovate the provision of public services faster and create opportunities for companies to increase international competitiveness for innovative products and services, to create growth and jobs in quickly evolving markets such as ICT.

PCP experiences will be transferred from the European countries, where these methodologies are adopted and successfully implemented by local public authorities, to public administrations in targeted eastern European countries, where the use of public procurement to support R&D is still far from appropriate. Innovative PCP strategies will be introduced to public authorities, universities and industrial stakeholders.

Description of the case

Domain

eGovernment

Topic

Inclusive eGovernment | eProcurement | Services for Businesses | Services for Citizens | Regional and Local

Sector

Procurement | Social Services

Start date - End date

July 2010 (Ongoing)

Date operational

September 2010

Target Users

Target Users Description

PCP will be transferred to national public authorities in the target countries, where PCP pilot actions will be simulated, setting the ground for a larger PCP implementation across Europe.

Technologically demanding first buyers can through PCP create a double effect: improving the quality and effectiveness of public services and creating opportunities for companies to take international leadership in new markets.

Scope

International

Status

Operation

Language(s)

English

Policy Context and Legal Framework

About pre-commercial procurement

PCP is a particular approach of procuring R&D services, enabling public authorities to purchase technologically innovative solutions adressing their specific needs.

It focuses on these areas where no commercial solutions exist yet, empowering customers to stimulate development of the product already at the R&D stage, in order to adjust it as far as possible to the market demands. It is also the way to share risk and benefits of new technologies development between buyers and suppliers.

Project Size and Implementation

Type of initiative

Awareness-raising information

Overall Implementation approach

Partnerships between administration and/or private sector and/or non-profit sector

Technology choice

Not applicable/not available

Funding source

Public funding EU

Project size

Implementation: €300-499,000

Yearly cost:

€49-299,000

Implementation and Management Approach

Action plan

In order to achieve Project goals the following steps will be fulfilled:

Updating state of the art, including needs and constraints for the implementation of PCP in the 5 targeted countries
Identification and description of the main PCP strategies and Policies implemented in Europe and abroad (US, Asia)
Awareness on PCP in each Country through 5 workshops and 1 training event
5 pilot actions to support PCP implementation in the targeted Countries
Policy recommendations addressed to policy makers in the target Countries and at the EU level

PCP experiences will be transfered from the European countries, where these methodologies are adopted and successfully implemented by local public authorities, to public administrations in targeted eastern European countries, where the use of public procurement to support R&D is still far from an appropriate. Innovative PCP strategies will be introduced to public authorities, universities and industrial stakeholders.

The action plan:

The work has been divided into the following work packages:

WP1: Context assessment and clustering of public administrations

In this package an updated overview of the context existing in NMS for the implementation of PCP to support R&D for eGovernment and other relevant public services. Additionally, potential pilot projects suitable for PCP will be selected.

WP2: Mapping and analyses of PCP in Europe

Provide an overview of the PCP situation and related practices available and design an ideal PCP flow. As a result a PCP Good Practices' Handbook shall be prepared and disseminated.

WP3: Awareness campaign and capacity building

WP3's main goals are to increase awareness of public authorities and other key national actors about PCP, to transfer PCP Good Practices in targeted Countries and to train Public Representatives in developing reliable PCP strategies.

WP4: Pilot Actions

In WP4 we plan to initiate pilot actions that will demonstrate the validity of PCP approach to support innovative government services;

We plan to design at least 5 specific scenarios in target countries and to support local public authorities to develop an implementation plan for PCP

WP5: Roadmap for PCP in Eastern Europe

During this work package main conclusions on the PROGR-EAST action we will be assessed and validated in each target country. Following this assessment a trans-national road map for the correct use of PCP to support Innovative Government services in Eastern Europe in cooperation with other EU projects focused on PCP will be designed. Finally, policy recommendations will be drawn for European and national policy makers.

WP6: Dissemination and online communication

The main goals of WP6 is to disseminate all project deliverables and results of work carried out in all the above mentioned work packages to target audiences in five participating countries.

Technology solution

PCP implementation calls for R&D and innovative solutions to the needs that will be addressed corresponding to societal challenges. New innovative, breakthrough solutions will be the result.

Impact, innovation and results

Impact

Goals

The aim of the project is to encourage the use of Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP), in 5 targeted European Countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia), taking into consideration the specific needs and constraints for public procurement and in particular for the procurement of R&D existing in Eastern Europe.

This challenge fully responds to the effective need of Eastern European countries to maximise effort and resources to improve the quality of public services, supporting at the same time the competitiveness of local industry and research actors.

In fact by acting as technologically demanding first buyers of new R&D, public procurers in the target countries can drive innovation from the demand side, enabling public authorities to innovate the provision of public services faster and create opportunities for companies to increase international competitiveness for innovative products and services, to create growth and jobs in quickly evolving markets such as ICT.

Track record of sharing

The dissemination plan

When planning dissemination activities we have set ourselves the following goals:

to inform the target audience about project results;
to create awareness and consensus among policy makers in implementing the recommendations elaborated through the project;
to convince public authorities engaged in public procurement to promote and introduce PCP-related best practices; The target of the dissemination plan is to reach up to 10 public bodies in the involved countries (in total 50) and 1,000 professionals dealing with Public Procurement issues in order to achieve a useful cross-fertilisation and exchange of experiences related to public procurement in different countries. Special attention will be paid to the collaboration with other PCP initiatives supported by the EC, in order to coordinate activities, share key findings on PCP and carry out joint dissemination activities. The document describes in detail the specific target groups that we would like to reach to present project results. It also describes the specific channels that will be used to contact the target audience as well as the dissemination tools that will provide for visibility and promote project results. The most important tools used throughout the project: 1. PROGREAST leaflets 2. PROGREAST website 3. PROGREAST newsletters

A strategic Steering Committee has been set up, composed of experts in public procurement and PCP related implementation to support the project team throughout the PROGREAST life span, giving insights, advice and necessary guidance.

Lessons learnt

Consult our Publishable summary of the country report and cross analysis at: http://www.progreast.eu/documents/project-deliverables

Consult the PCP practical guide to Pre-Commercial Implementation for progrest pilots (draft version) at: http://www.progreast.eu/documents/project-deliverables

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