"Innovative Purchasing/Purchasing Innovation".

16 Feb 2009

Workshop on 11 March at Manchester Business School.

Using public procurement to encourage innovation

Manchester Institute of Innovation Research

An ESRC Festival of Social Science Event
Wednesday 11 March 2009, 10.30am to 3.30pm

Innovation is central to growth in living standards and international competitiveness. The public sector is a major purchaser of goods and services. Yet the public sector shows little concern for encouraging innovation among its suppliers, with the notable exception of defence. Public procurement rules often discourage innovation among suppliers of services and goods.

This lively event will exchange knowledge on using procurement to encourage innovation. Manchester Institute of Innovation Research is the leading national centre for emerging thinking on using public procurement to drive innovation. Recent work includes NESTA-sponsored studies. The Institute is at the heart of the north-west innovation network. It is an ideal location for public sector managers and local suppliers to the public sector.

The Manchester Institute of Innovation Research is now the world's leading centre for research in this field of innovation and technology management. This informal meeting brings together academics, practitioners and policy makers in the realm of public procurement within the City-Region. Formal presentations will be kept to a minimum so as to promote discussion around key questions.

Venue: Harold Hankins Building, Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester

Time and Date: 10.30am to 3.30pm, Wednesday 11 March 2009

Target Audience: Informed senior managers, both in the public sector and among key supplier firms in the relevant sectors. Those involved in the public purchasing agenda around the north.