Knowledge Acquisition by Interacting with Stakeholders in Bucharest-Ilfov Region
The PREPARE project is an EU funded joint initiative led in the region of Bucharest-Ilfov by RoHealth (Health and Bioeconomy Cluster) and Bucharest-Ilfov Regional Development Agency. The project, coordinated by Ticbiomed, Murcia, Spain, and counting with strategic partners from Skåne (Sweden), Oulu (Finland), Bucharest-Ilfov (Romania) and Murcia (Spain), is starting to bear fruit after the first months of collaboration.
PREPARE Projectis designed to enhance innovation processes and public procurement of innovative solutions across several European regions. The project’s core aim is to reduce barriers between public entities and businesses, facilitating the development of innovative solutions that can improve community services and create high-quality jobs.
Gathering insights from regional stakeholders about the current state of innovation management and procurement was a crucial activity. It captured from innovation and innovation procurement stakeholders the knowledge that will serve as the basis for the project’s joint long-term program and action plans to incorporate innovation procurement into each region’s policy and increase its impact by leveraging EU initiatives and funding.
Key findings from the interaction with regional stakeholders in the Bucharest-Ilfov region
The interaction activities with innovation procurement stakeholders conducted in the Bucharest-Ilfov region brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including public and private sector representatives, healthcare companies, regional authorities, and policy makers. They revealed both, the strengths and weaknesses of the region’s innovation ecosystem, as well as the state-of-the-art of innovation procurement in the region.
1. Semantic interoperability and definitional clarity:
One of the most significant findings was the need for a clearer and more coherent understanding of key terms such as “innovation” and “innovation procurement.” Stakeholders emphasized that differing interpretations of these terms could hinder effective communication and the consistent application of innovation-related legislation. Addressing this issue could lead to more standardized and effective innovation management practices across sectors.
2. Cultural perceptions and resistance to innovation:
Cultural factors were identified as a major barrier to innovation and innovation procurement in the region. There is a pervasive concern of deviating from traditional public procurement methods, partly due to suspicions about compliance scrutiny by oversight bodies like the Court of Auditors. This cultural resistance to innovation, coupled with a lack of awareness about the potential benefits of innovative procurement, was seen as a significant obstacle to progress.
3. Innovation management practices:
The workshops highlighted a critical need for the development of innovation management practices in both public and private entities. Currently, such practices are either underdeveloped or entirely absent, which hampers the ability of organizations to effectively engage in innovation procurement. Continuous education and training on innovation procurement were identified as essential for both public administration and private sector stakeholders.
4. Barriers to implementation:
Practical challenges, such as high costs, bureaucratic hurdles, and resistance to change, were commonly cited as barriers to the implementation of innovative solutions. These factors slow down or even prevent the effective procurement and adoption of innovation, underscoring the need for more supportive regulatory and financial frameworks.
5. Need for enhanced collaboration:
Successful innovation often requires robust collaboration between public institutions, private companies, and research organizations. However, the local innovation ecosystem in Bucharest-Ilfov is often unstructured and opportunistic, making it difficult to initiate and sustain effective partnerships. Despite these challenges, recent years have seen a positive trend towards more dynamic and successful collaborations.
Recommendations for the future
The findings from the PREPARE Project so far point to several areas where targeted action could significantly enhance the innovation ecosystem in Bucharest-Ilfov and stimulate innovation procurement:
- Developing a shared understanding of innovation: efforts should be made to standardize the definitions and terminology related to innovation and innovation procurement. This could be facilitated through the development of clear guidelines and educational programs aimed at both public and private sector stakeholders.
- Promoting a pro-innovation culture: there is a need to shift the cultural mindset towards one that embraces innovation as a necessary and beneficial aspect of public procurement. This could be achieved through awareness campaigns, training programs, and the promotion of successful case studies.
- Strengthening innovation management: organizations in the region should be encouraged to adopt and develop robust innovation management practices. This includes providing access to training and resources that can help build internal capabilities for managing and implementing innovation projects.
- Facilitating collaboration and partnerships: stakeholders should be supported in forming and sustaining partnerships that can pool resources and expertise. Public-private collaboration, in particular, should be encouraged as a means of driving more effective and sustainable innovation.
In conclusion, the interaction with innovation procurement stakeholders has provided valuable insights into the state of innovation in the Bucharest-Ilfov region. By addressing the identified challenges and capitalizing on the region’s strengths, there is a strong potential to enhance innovation procurement and drive economic and social development.
