Innovation is the driving force of a country's economic and social development, and Spain faces the challenge of making progress in this regard. Although less than 2% of GDP is currently invested in science and innovation, in contrast, 15% of GDP is allocated to public procurement. This is where public procurement of innovation (PPI) becomes a fundamental pillar for investing in research and development.
In this sense, it is essential to broaden the field of vision. It is no longer just a matter of buying innovation, but of innovating in public procurement.
Novadays is working with the CSIC on a pioneering model of public procurement of innovation aimed at promoting the development of new innovative markets from the demand side. In this way, it is about transferring the results of science to private companies that supply the public sector and that will meet the needs of society.
Novadays has designed the operation of this CPI model by identifying key sectors for society such as health, energy, water and waste management.
The CSIC has around 400 patents and other assets. It is the Spanish entity that registers the most patents each year in the official offices of Spain, Europe and WIPO.
Through an open platform for dialogue with all the agents that make up the Spanish innovation ecosystem called Living Lab, the aim is to identify the possible needs of society and markets in these and other areas and to create solutions and products through patents and scientific results.
This model of public procurement of innovation represents an important milestone in knowledge transfer and valorisation of science. If public science reaches TRL 4, the private sector can take it to TRL 9 and public buyers can be the first customers for new products and solutions.
Novadays already has extensive experience in the implementation of different CPI models, such as the Civil UAVs Initiative , sponsored by the Xunta de Galicia and the Ministry of Defense. This initiative aims to promote the industry, management and application of unmanned aerial vehicles, being the largest CPI operation to date in Spain.