Public Procurement for Innovation: Insights from the IPEC Research Symposium
Experts gathered in ٍٍٍ½خرتسئµ to explore how public procurement can boost innovation and improve the delivery of public services.
On 4 June 2025, the ٍٍٍ½خرتسئµ Institute of Innovation Research (MIOIR) hosted the Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC) Research Symposium at Alliance ٍٍٍ½خرتسئµ Business School, in partnership with the Connected Places Catapult (CPC) and City-REDI at the University of Birmingham.
The full-day workshop brought together around 30 researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore the role of public procurement in driving innovation and improving public service delivery. The event offered a valuable opportunity to share insights across academia, local and central government, and industry.
The day opened with a welcome from Rikesh Shah (Connected Places Catapult), followed by a keynote from Professor Elvira Uyarra (University of ٍٍٍ½خرتسئµ), who set the scene with a review of the evidence on innovation procurement. Throughout the day, participants heard from a wide range of experts, including Malcolm Harbour (Connected Places Catapult), Andrew James (University of ٍٍٍ½خرتسئµ), Mehr Farhan (Tussell), Mark Leaver (ٍٍٍ½خرتسئµ City Council), Ian Brotherson (Innovate UK), Pelle Berkhout (Utrecht University), and Kostas Selviaridis (Lancaster University), alongside researchers from the Universities of ٍٍٍ½خرتسئµ and Birmingham.
Key themes included:
- Shifts in the UK procurement landscape and the implications of the new Procurement Act;
- Innovation-friend procurement practices, including market engagement, flexible procedures and contracts for innovation;
- Barriers and opportunities in sectors such as housing, defence and health;
- Procurement intermediaries and driving innovation in supply chains.
MIOIR Director Professor Elvira Uyarra, reflected:
It’s never been more important to understand how procurement can act a lever for systemic innovation. This event demonstrated the real appetite for collaboration between academia, government and practice to unlock this opportunity.
The symposium closed with a panel reflection on priorities for future research and practical action, including calls for improved data, institutional support, and cross-sector learning to embed innovation in procurement systems.
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