Overall, the experts discussed the benefits, and the challenges, of enhancing SME uptake through inclusive public procurement principles and practices. And in extension, how enhancing SME-based innovation uptake in public procurement can support overall government sustainable development objectives and help address the critical global challenges that we are facing today. Through Inclusive Public Procurement practices, SME-based innovation like eco-technologies and social innovation can play a critical role in accelerating progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

The Panel explored the need for government-side capacity and bandwidth, the different innovation potential of SMEs, and why local governments seem more successful with implementing SME uptake strategies. The playbook provides examples of how innovation integration can work in public procurement and outlines enabling conditions and measures, like market dialogue, demand accelerators, and tender designs, in support of SME engagement.

If interested, have a look at the new Playbook to explore how enhancing diversification and SME-based innovation uptake in public procurement can help solve critical societal challenges!

The playbook addresses the main challenges affecting enterprises at the bottom of the economic pyramid, such as small business enterprises, women-owned businesses. In order to provide concrete solutions, it explores in deep 7 strategies to promote their participation in procurement procedures, for example, through division into lots, preferential treatment and subcontracting.