The main objective of the project is to get full benefits for Europe from innovative business solutions, that are being stimulated by taking open/public standards into account in public procurement in all member states.

STEPPIN will:

• Assess how standards are used and referenced in public procurement processes.
  
  
• Improve the way in which existing standards are referenced in European public procurement processes.
  
  
• Propose practical guidelines for making reference to innovative standards and organise workshops to disseminate and validate the contents of this handbook.
  
  
• Prepare policy recommendations in the areas of standardisation, innovation and/or public procurement based on the outcome of the project.

Methodology

STEPPIN will use a methodology of three Steppin Stones:

• Steppin stone 1, create the tools: the proper information has to be made available, useful for all stakeholders.
  
  
• Steppin stone 2, involve the individuals: all concerned procurement officers should be put in the position to use the tools.
  
  
• Steppin stone 3, involve the organisations: procurement officers can only change their procurement process when they have backing from their organisation.

STEPPIN Fact Sheet

Please, click here to view/download the STEPPIN Fact sheet.

Activities

1. Gathering of all relevant information and opinions from all over Europe on how standards could be used in public procurement - and then to extract from this a best theory as well as a best practice.
   
   
2. Organizing 15 workshops all over the Europe in 2007 to discuss best practice & best theory with users, experts, sector representatives and management from the public sector. The workshop discussions should lead to a handbook, describing roles, responsibilities, methodology and practical guides of how to make your own best practice in open standards for innovation.

The final outcome of these workshops as well as of other activities and results of the project will be a number of policy recommendations for the European Commission.

The composition of the STEPPIN-consortium reflects the required capabilities :

• The content group focuses on analysis, surveys, desk research, development of information and tools, identification of best practice and ways to turn innovation into concrete and practical objectives. It delivers the concrete products in the project: tools, supporting internet, best practices, handbook, etc. The group also supplies the content specialists needed for workshops and events.
  
  
• The dissemination group focuses on the dissemination of the results of the content group motivating organisations and individuals to actually use standards in the public procurement process to stimulate innovation. It organises workshops, builds and maintains the network with stakeholders/actors and enables the relevant communications between the project, the industrial sectors and the public organisations.

Duration

The project will be running until 19 October 2008.