Harnessing private sector innovation to solve public sector problems is at the heart of public procurement of innovation (PPI). To reduce the existing knowledge gap on PPI, the EU-funded Public Procurement of Innovation Platform project has launched a comprehensive guide.

PPI is a powerful procurement approach that can help public authorities achieve more efficient and effective public services by finding social beneficial solutions that reduce environmental impacts.

The guide - available online and in print - is ideal for all stakeholders involved in PPI, both those starting out and those looking to improve their current procurement activities. It offers explanations of procedures, definitions and answers to common questions, a selection of case studies, and useful resources for further reading. Particular emphasis is placed on ways in which procurement procedures can facilitate greater innovation. The guide is based on the latest EU procurement directives.

“In a time of decreasing public budgets, innovation can facilitate the delivery of vital infrastructure and services. It is of the utmost importance, therefore, that public procurers can effectively engage in PPI. This guide will empower procurers to create a more efficient, sustainable and modern Europe.” said Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission. 

To download the guide, click here.

The car manufacturer Volvo will run a study to assess the potential for developing electric roads which charge buses while they are being driven. 

Volvo has already tested electric rails built into the road to power long-haul trucks, and produces environmentally-friendly electric buses, which are currently in operation in Gothenburg.

The feasibility of combining the two concepts will now be studied. The vision is for vehicles to be wirelessly charged while moving via electromagnetic conduction, meaning they would no longer have to stop at charging points. A section of road on an existing bus route in Gothenburg will be used to conduct the tests.

The study will be undertaken in partnership with the Swedish Transport Administration to further develop sustainable transport. 'Vehicles capable of being charged directly from the road during operation could become the next pioneering step in the development towards reduced environmental impact', said Niklas Gustavsson, executive vice president of the Volvo Group.

For more information, visit gizmag.com.