The Government promotes technological innovation through public procurement

The Generalitat has launched the first edition of the Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI) Program of RIS3CAT 2030. It is an instrument to promote technological innovation in the business fabric through public procurement thatwants to boost public-private collaboration. Likewise, it enables the opening of new markets for innovative technology-based companies (startups) and consolidates the public administration transformation process based on innovation. The program has been structured into 21 technology development and adaptation projects, designed by different units and departments of the Government, which will be made available to technology companies interested in very diverse areas such as security and emergencies, the environment, infrastructure management, and knowledge. The initiative is co-financed with European funds from the ERDF Operational Program of Catalonia 2021-2027 and establishes thatthe tender amount is a total of 4.2 million euros(200,000 euros per project, VAT included). The Minister of Economy and Finance, Jaume Giró, highlights about the program that "it brings together ideas to move forward. We want an intelligent program like this to provide intelligent answers to the challenges of the Catalonia of the future." Among the possible innovative solutions that can benefit from the program are, for example, the design of drones to improve emergency and security management, working with artificial intelligence (AI) for aspects as diverse as improving water management or preventing risk scenarios in penitentiary centers. It would also include the creation of a program to reduce noise pollution, the implementation of technology to detect animals on the road and reduce traffic accidents, the launch of digital twins of public institutions in the metaverse, satellite positioning in railways, an energy community management platform, the design of a mobile application to improve communication between schools and families, or the development of technology capable of monitoring livestock in high mountain areas with coverage problems.

On May 4, the Government held a public event in Barcelona to present the Public Innovation Procurement Program. In a preliminary market consultation mode, more than 200 companies participated, which, before May 24, can submit their proposals to the 21 challenges posed. Based on these ideas, the Catalan administration will design the contract conditions. The process will continue with the publication of the tender documents this coming summer, prior to the awarding of the contracts in autumn, which must be executed and implemented in a pilot phase during 2023.

The first edition of the Program has been promoted by the Department of Economy and Finance, in coordination with the Department of the Vice-presidency and Digital and Territorial Policies and with the collaboration of the departments of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda; Education, Business and Work, Interior, Justice, Research and Universities.

RIS3CAT, a European project

The objective of RIS3CAT 2030, a tool of the Generalitat for the promotion of research and innovation, is to favor smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, based on knowledge and innovation, within a greener, digital, resilient and fair model, as marked by the guidelines of the European Commission (EC).

Within this strategy, in the period 2014-2020, the Generalitat already promoted projects worth 936 million euros, executed by 563 entities. Within the European financial framework 2021-2027, the Generalitat has updated the program with RIS3CAT 2030, which will be approved in the first half of 2022. One of the first and most important actions of RIS3CAT 2030 is the Public Procurement of Innovation Program.