Public procurement can stimulate the market towards innovation with a number of tools and methods. On the other hand, an innovative market will produce better and more competitive products, and more effective services at lower prices for public organisations. This equation is central to the STEPPIN project.

The STEPPIN project has a more horizontal, interdisciplinary approach to standards than other Europe INNOVA Standards projects.

STEPPIN - STandards in European Public Procurement lead to INnovation is exploring how referencing open standards in European public procurement processes can foster innovative business solutions amongst bidding companies.

Insight is needed into the potential to improve innovation performance through reference to standards in public procurement processes. This is currently done by a two-step assessment.

(1) an assessment indicating which standards stimulate innovation and which do not, and

(2) an assessment of how standards used in public procurement can stimulate innovation (processes, people and organisations).

The questions to be investigated in the project are:

• How should standards play the required role, and by which procedures? 
  
  
• How to implement and stimulate the use of new procedures and methods by public and private sectors / organisations?

Then, by means of a handbook, practical guidelines and workshops, STEPPIN will involve public procurers and their organisations and translate the theory into action points and specific benefits.

 

The second point in particular needs to be further explored. The importance of innovation for the market is well known: further economic growth, increased employment, greater competitiveness.

But what is the added value of innovation for public organisations? How can a public organisation benefit from innovations triggered by standards?

Without anticipating the research results of the project some assumptions can be made already:

• Innovative products and services respond best to the definition of value for money: “the optimum combination of life cycle costs and quality to meet user requirements”.
  
  
• Innovative products are more often environmental-friendly, they need lower costs of maintenance and generally provide a better provision of services.
  
  
• The purchase of innovative products and services is a criterion to differentiate the procurement policies of public organisations and
  – hence – to prove the organisation’s contribution to the public interest.

Workshops will be organised in different Member States in order to explain to individuals and organisations how to use the findings in their daily procurement work. Finally, policy recommendations will be communicated to the relevant Commission services with suggestions for activities at European, national or local level.

Contact: Mr Joep Frijdal, Project Manager. Virage, The Netherlands (frijdal@belmont.nl)