Overview
The TRANS-FORM project will apply both proven and emerging methodologies for innovation procurement to the diverse and complex area of sustainable transport in cities. It will thus advance the state-of-the-art in general and help accelerate the much-needed market transformation in this important area for European society and Innovation Partnerships.
A tripartite core group of nine organisations will carry out the project and draw on their existing networks of public authorities, major companies that will control extensive supply chains and national/regional innovation agencies. It will be led by innovation procurement experts from the UK and the Netherlands that will provide practical know-how and proven methodologies. The public/private sector procurement community will be represented by City Councils from Barcelona, Birmingham and Rotterdam for the public sector and also the EU Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change. Innovation Agencies from Poland, Spain and the UK will complete the triangular partnership and provide the gateway to the fruits of FP7, national R&D and the most innovative companies in Europe.
Since it will build on a strong foundation of previous European/national initiatives, the three-year project will go well beyond the networking stage. A larger group of influential organisations from both the procurement and innovation communities will engage in joint procurement strategy development activities through procurement foresight workshops.
The objective will be to facilitate collaborative procurement projects that have sufficient critical mass to achieve market transformation and replication impacts. These will be realised through leader-led actions and/or joint statements of procurement demand (Compacts) involving both the core consortium and a wider group of associated procurers.
The lessons learned will be disseminated widely through case study publications and existing networks of procurement professionals.
Funding
Results
Novel innovation procurement methods for sustainable urban transport
Cities strive for transport mobility that is sustainable, energy efficient and eco-friendly. An EU initiative brought together public and private stakeholders from European cities to realise sustainable zero-carbon transport systems.
Innovation procurement can provide answers to a long-term vision for sustainable transport. The public procurement of innovative solutions (PPIs) helps public authorities to achieve more efficient and effective public services and deliver answers to reduce environmental impacts. Moreover, PPIs are socially responsible.
To address sustainable transport challenges in urban areas, the EU-funded http://www.transform-europe.eu/ (TRANS-FORM) (Towards sustainable zero carbon transport through innovation procurement) project gathered groups of procurers from local governments and the transport industry across Europe.
The city councils of Barcelona, Birmingham and Rotterdam implemented PPI pilot projects. They also identified appropriate subjects and implemented outcome-based procurement projects.
Each city delivered a case study report to describe their innovation experience in practice. The case studies presented the methodology, approach and lessons learnt. Outcomes fed into a good practice report that draws on the methods used and lessons learnt from the three city projects. It provides useful insight into PPI project implementation by the three cities. The report also makes recommendations to city councils for modifying their procurement processes in order to support and encourage innovation.
Project partners developed joint demand statements of common need for future innovative solutions. These are for zero-emission urban deliveries to city authorities, zero-emission public transport in historical cities and zero-emission minibuses for social care transport.
Two procurement foresight workshops facilitated exchange between city authorities, transport-intensive companies, the research and innovation community, complementary networks and policymakers. The events helped to overcome information barriers that hinder progress towards sustainable transport and mobility systems for society's future needs. They also encouraged informed collaborative procurement initiatives.
Researchers produced two policy reports to create a debate on emerging policy issues and review policy learning from TRANS-FORM. In addition, they produced a research report on policies, strategies and procedures that summarises potential obstacles and possible solutions for green procurement in Barcelona, Rotterdam and Warsaw.
By exploring future zero-carbon targets and emerging potential solutions, TRANS-FORM contributed towards more sustainable urban transport mobility.