Innovation procurement policies in Veneto Region
On 23-24 October 2024, the Policy Learning Platform held an onsite peer review for the Veneto Region, which requested advice on how to design and implement public led-innovation procurement policies.
Current state of affairs
The Veneto Region is classified as a "Moderate Innovator +" according to the Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS), demonstrating a solid foundation for innovation. However, public expenditure on research and development (R&D) remains limited.
This gap presents a unique opportunity to explore the potential of innovation procurement as a strategic tool to boost the region's innovation capabilities. By leveraging innovation procurement, Veneto can stimulate demand for novel solutions for regional challenges and foster collaboration between public and private sectors regional stakeholders and accompany regional SMEs in implementing their R&D strategies .
The Veneto Region has a strong track record and solid political backing when it comes to Green Public Procurement, also showcasing its commitment to regional sustainability and can use these experiences to support new initiatives with innovative procurement. The region actively participates in European competitions and initiatives, earning recognition such as the prestigious "European Good Practice" label.
The peer review was organised as part of the national "Territori" programme, which is supported by the Department for the cohesion policy and the south. The meeting was held in close partnership with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, whose policy and innovation representatives attended as active observers.
Peers from across Europe
Alongside Laura Varisco, Marc Pattinson and Elena Ferrario from the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform, five experienced peers participated in the peer review:
- Ana Lucia Jaramillo Villacis - Corvers Procurement Services B.V., The Netherlands
- Povilas Bacevičius - Lithuanian Innovation Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Tomas Gustafsson – Region Västerbotten, Sweden
- Guillaume Guézélou – Region SUD Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France
- Coen Bergman – City of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Some recommendations
Veneto should build on its existing strengths in innovation and green procurement. The region’s recognised frameworks, including its regional S3 strategy provide a solid foundation to enhance both visibility and political support for innovation procurement and pre-identify regional thematic priorities.
A key priority must focus on learning and capacity building. Procurement officers need training and certification and to learn from other regions to ensure the effective implementation of innovative procurement strategies. Sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration between departments is essential to create a culture that supports innovation. Regional actors should be encouraged to connect with European procurement networks, platforms and EU projects to accelerate the learning process.
Engaging stakeholders is also crucial. By involving universities, businesses, innovation intermediaries such as clusters and public institutions early in the procurement process, the region can better align regional innovation needs with procurement strategies. Veneto’s well-established innovation ecosystem offers an ideal platform to pro-actively engage these stakeholders and address regional challenges.
Pilot programmes linked to regional priorities, such as climate change or digital transformation, should be initiated to test and showcase innovative procurement solutions. The region should also explore diverse funding sources from both EU and national programmes to support these initiatives.
Collaborating with neighbouring regions, such as Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, through joint training, thematic prioritisation and also joint procurements could further increase impact and create valuable synergies.
The host’s policy challenges, and all the peer suggestions will be available shortly in the follow-up report.
Peer review publication
Find more information on the methodology and experiences of previous beneficiaries in our publication.
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