iBuy partners have submitted their action plans to Interreg Europe’s Joint Secretariat and are now waiting for the approval.
Public authorities can and must act from the demand side for innovation as it has been conceptualized in the Europe 2020 Strategy and its Innovation Union Flagship initiative. Public demand policies allow completing the portfolio of instruments that a government can provide for the promotion of business competitiveness in its territory.
Now every iBuy partner have set a list of actions that should and could be taken in order to boost a demand for innovation through public procurement. For example, a lead partner has planned for 10 steps approach towards boosting IPP in Lithuania. Among those steps the most notorious ideas are IPP awards, consulting services on IPP, and financial instrument for PPI. Partners from Balearic Islands are planning on setting a programme for IPP, including elements such as diagnosing an opportunity for IPP and pilot project related to COVID-19. Latvian ministry of economy will work on awareness raising, conferences, meetings and legislations issues. Portuguese partner is plaining to strengthen existent instrument in the country regarding IPP with establishing a competence center to raise the value of innovation. Romanian representatives are also interested in the possibility of establishing a competence center for IPP in their country. Finally, the Baltic Institute of Finland will focus on increasing the use of IPP in the ESIF financed projects in Tampere region.
After submitting the action plans partners have had several interactions with the Joint Secretariat to improve their plans. At the moment, the action plan for one partner, Balearic Foundation for Innovation and Technology, has already been approved. Other plans are expected to be closed by the next 2-3 months.
