Can Public Procurement spur Innovations in Health Care

Karl Lundvall, Henrik Ballebye Okholm, Mats Marcusson, Svend T Jespersen & Mikkel Egede Birkeland

COPENHAGEN ECONOMICS

The purpose of this report is to evaluate the potential of public procurement of innovation in health care services. The report is a part of the background material for the conference Public Procurement of Innovation – A Driver for Future Health in Europe, organised by VINNOVA in October 2009.

Examples of public procurements of innovations are, indeed, few in the world. Nevertheless, those that exist tell us an inspiring story. Our five original case studies from Europe and the US provide a clear message to policy makers. We conclude that the public sector has an important role as a partner to commercial interests in achieving the innovations in health care that otherwise would not materialise.