The Big Science Business Forum (BSBF) 2024 recently took place in the vibrant city of Trieste, Italy, gathering a diverse audience from across Europe’s science, technology, and business sectors. This congress, renowned for fostering connections between research infrastructures and industry, is dedicated to high technology and innovation. Moreover, it serves as the principal platform for aligning European industry with the needs of Big Science. Following highly successful editions in Copenhagen and Granada, this year’s event drew over 1,000 delegates from more than 500 organizations and 30 countries. INPROCAP being one of them.
As a vital point of exchange for insights, trends, and emerging opportunities, the BSBF provides European businesses and organizations access to lucrative Big Science projects. Each year, international Big Science organizations manage billions in funding, creating opportunities for businesses willing to innovate within structured and competitive frameworks.
INPROCAP’s Mission at BSBF 2024: Innovating Procurement in Big Science
We proudly participated in BSBF 2024, sharing our vision for transforming innovation procurement in the Big Science ecosystem. INPROCAP’s presence highlighted essential methods for advancing procurement practices tailored to the unique needs of Big Science Organizations (BSOs) and Business Support Organizations (BSOs). Below, you can find a recap of our sessions and discussions.
Session 1: Introduction to Innovation Procurement
In our introductory session, INPROCAP’s experts explored the fundamentals of innovation procurement. Particularly how it can empower Innovation Liaison Officers (ILOs) and BSOs. This session brought together influential voices in the field:
- Jozef Kubinec, Lawyer and Expert on Innovation Procurement.
Jozef provided insights into the essentials of innovation procurement, detailing its role and significance within the procurement landscape. - Esther Davidsenfrom BigScience.dk
Esther shared strategies for increasing innovation procurement within BSOs. She addressed challenges facing these organizations and discussed approaches to better engage small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Key topics from this session included:
- What is innovation procurement?
- Why is it critical for BSOs?
- Relevant domains for innovation in BSOs
- Training needs of ILOs
Discussions reinforced the value of innovation procurement, helping BSOs understand their potential to drive sustainable growth and competitiveness in the Big Science sector.
Session 2: Innovation & Green Procurement and Public/Private Partnership
Our second session, held on Thursday, 3. October, delved into the role of procurement as a driver of innovation and sustainability. It focused on how BSOs can foster eco-friendly, green technologies through strategic procurement practices. Discussions emphasized tools, strategies, and best practices that can help organizations implement innovative and environmentally sustainable solutions.
The session covered critical areas, including:
- Pre-commercial and innovative procurement
- Preliminary market consultations
- Value engineering
- Competitive procedures with negotiation
- Competitive dialogue
This exploration underscored the impact of procurement in fostering public-private partnerships that not only meet organizational goals but also contribute to broader sustainability objectives. By leveraging innovative procurement processes, BSOs are able to adopt cutting-edge technologies and practices, reducing their environmental impact while enhancing operational efficiency.
Looking Ahead: Building Procurement Capabilities in Big Science
The BSBF2024 provided a robust platform for INPROCAP to share insights, engage with industry leaders, and foster collaborative relationships. These sessions helped illustrate the transformative potential of innovation procurement within Big Science, offering practical strategies and tools that can be implemented by BSOs and ILOs across Europe.
INPROCAP extends its gratitude to BSBF 2024 for providing the opportunity to contribute to this important dialogue and connect with peers dedicated to advancing science and innovation.
We are looking forward to continued collaboration and progress in making Big Science more innovative, sustainable, and impactful.
