Activities of Malcolm HARBOUR related to 2008/2139(INI)
Reports (1)
REPORT Report on pre-commercial procurement: driving innovation to ensure sustainable high quality public services in Europe PDF (168 KB) DOC (103 KB)
Amendments (8)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notwithstanding the distinctive approach taken in pre-commercial procurement, notes that good principles of procurement should still apply, namely transparency and competitiveness, to ensure that integrated end-solutions meet customer needs;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Commends the above-mentioned Commission staff working document on 10 elements of good practice for innovative solutions in public procurement and welcomes the broader activities of Pro Ino Europe in support of innovation; calls on the Commission to draw up a similar best practice guide for pre-commercial procurement, which should also cover how design contests might be used;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to identify in the innovation policy mix medium- to long-term public challenges to be solved by technological solutions developed through pre- commercial procurement; is of the opinion that such solutions could include design contests and challenge funds, such as the US Driverless Vehicle Challenge;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Considers that knowledge transfers between technologically innovative universities, research centres and contracting authorities form an integral part of successful pre-commercial procurement;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Notes that European innovation agencies, such as VINNOVA in Sweden, Tekes in Finland, Senternovem in the Netherlands and Innovation Norway, play an integral part in the transfer of knowledge between prospective customers and researchers; by fostering cooperation between parties involved in research and development, they encourage the uptake of pre-commercial procurement; therefore encourages the Member States to examine the operation of these agencies as a benchmark for their own activities;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Notes the importance of EU Technology Platforms in providing a framework to define research and development priorities and in linking innovations which are ready for exploitation to the needs of prospective customers; also notes that Technology Platforms can align the early market development of new technologies with the needs of public authorities; calls on the Commission, therefore, to ensure better integration of Technology Platforms into pre-commercial procurement;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Commends the Commission proposal for clarifying the role of public authorities in fostering research and development and stimulating innovation through their procurement activities; stresses that Member States’ procurement policies should not be overly prescriptive, since pre-commercial procurement can be practically organised in different ways to suit specific projects and needs whilst still complying with Community rules;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Notes that financial incentives forConsiders that pre-commercial procurement can work most effectively if there are sufficient incentives for public authorities to tap into research and development markets and for suppliers to become involved in government projects; therefore notes that financial incentives are extremely important in the uptake of pre- commercial procurement and already exist in certain Member States, where up to 50% of the costs of the first pre- commercial procurement are matched by a central authority;