Public Procurement of Innovative and Technological Solutions in the EU

ABSTRACT

Smart cities should identify and procure the best technical solutions for their communities and companies while at the same time demonstrating the local economic benefits of public procurement. Whenever possible, the procurement process should increase innovation in sustainability. Public procurement of innovative solutions can contribute to the economic recovery of the EU, especially after the crisis caused by COVID-19 with the help of better and more technologically accessible public investments. It is a means of stimulating the transformation of European economies into digital economies. This paper seeks to explain the use and advantages of public procurement of innovative solutions. The contracting authority acts as the first customer (launch customer) of innovative goods or services that are not yet widely available commercially and are technologically acceptable. Instead of buying a finished product, service or process, the contracting authority acts as the first user and buys a product, service or process that is new to the market and has significant new features in terms of innovation and technological achievements. Therefore, this paper will try to identify how various stakeholders can use innovative and technology-aware public procurement systems procedures and contribute to the accelerated development of digitalization mandated by the European Commission. © 2022 Croatian Society MIPRO.