1. Bjørn Grønli
Head of Innovation
Pre-commercial procurement
and innovation: Thoughts on
how to approach the challenges

2. Why innovation?
• There is a strong
need for a better
and more efficient
health sector
• There is a
generally stronger
priority of
innovation
Connecting innovation and procurement can be a smart
approach!

3. Legal framework
• General procurement legislation
• Art 16 F(exemption)
Public authorities can buy innovation without
commitment to the procurement directives

4. PCP Procurement process

5. The difference between article 16 f
and PCP

6. The tendering process
• The EU Commision recommends a strict
approach based om equal treatment and
transparency
• Article 16 f allows a more flexible
approach where you can choose a
supplier without competition

7. Basic challenges/risks connected
to PCP approach
• No automatic purchase
of the developed
product/service
• The risk of supplier
exclusion
• The fear of illegal state
aid

8. The typical public procurement
officer
• Conservative
• Risk reluctant
• Bound by budgets
• Afraid of doing mistakes – unclear
legal framework
Consequences minimal innovation

9. Recommendations
• The EU Commision promotes strongly
innovation and PCP
• Several countries have started spesific PCP-
programmes (Finland, Denmark, Netherlands,
Great Britain among others)
• The public buyer needs more support and
knowledgde
• The potencial must be seen in the light of the
gains

10. What can we gain by integrating
innovation and procurement?
• Products bought are not always ”off the shelf”
• Within the ICT area there is a rapid innovation
development
• A large risk of buying yesterdays products and services
again and again
To modernise the health sector we need to integrate
innovation and procurement in a better way!

11. BJORN.GRONLI@HELSE-SOROST.NO