Sustainable and innovative built environment through public procurement

Public clients in the construction sector need to strengthen their innovation and transition capabilities to achieve future sustainability goals.

This research project is based on previous and ongoing research that the national research group ProcSIBE has carried out for almost 10-years.

By utilizing ProcSIBE´s extensive studies on procurement and sustainable development in the construction sector, this project supports implementation of procurement strategies that can promote innovation for a transition to a sustainable society.

The purpose of the research project is to develop knowledge and routines for how public clients can identify and analyze their innovation needs as well as design and implement procurement strategies that increase suppliers´ opportunities and incentives to innovate in accordance with needs.

Work package 1 involves a multiple case study of 8-10 ongoing projects that represent four types of procurements, covering the entire lifecycle of the built environment: procurement of technical consultants, construction contractors, operation and maintenance contractors, and procurement of innovation projects.

Work package 2 involves development work and a series of workshops with the end-users Trafikverket, Byggherrarna, and Upphandlingsmyndigheten.

The development work focuses on two different routines, enabling public clients to 1) identify and analyze their innovation needs, and 2) design appropriate procurement strategies to fulfill the innovation needs.