The Centro Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) organized on 20th June2022 a workshop entitled “Needs and Challenges of the Innovation Procurement in Italy” in collaboration with AgiD – Agenzia per l’Italia Digitale.

Sixty participants joined the workshop held in the framework of PPI4MED project with the main objective of favoring the innovation procurement in Italy in the following main areas: environment and sustainability, information and communication technology (ICT) and digitalization, water management and water saving.

The workshop consisted of two parts: the first one, opened by a Key-note speech by Guglielmo De Gennaro, AgID about the EU and national rules for Innovation procurement was enriched by the contributions of high level officers from Public Institutions such as the Head of Research and Open Innovation of Sogei s.pa, the Head of Environmental Department of the Region of Calabria, the Head of the Procurement Office of the Ministry of Justice, the Purchasing Manager and R&D of the Polygraphic and State Mint Institute and the Responsible of Innovation procurement of AgID. Through this first part, the different speakers illustrated calls, some gaps, their needs and future perspectives.

The second part opened with a presentation by Nicola Fantini, from CNR, who illustrated some activities for the valorisation of CNR research results, as well as opportunities at EU level. Distinguished national and international researchers, such as the Director of the Institute of Nanostructured Materials of the CNR and researchers from the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, the Institute of Bioeconomy and the Institute of Nanoscience, illustrated the results of their work activities, their collaboration with industries, patents and innovative solutions in the sectors of greatest interest.

Participants especially appreciated the best practices put forward by Mister Smart Innovation, a public-private partnership dealing with innovation in health, smart materials, industry 4.0 and the finding of new molecules, which are useful for health screening and inflammation diseases.

Some points for further debate were the gaps in the managerial approach of researchers, a slow procedure from the innovation to the patent, the importance of EU grants as an accelerator of innovative solutions, the market approach of scientists and the importance of the eco-system to have -and make the best use- of innovation. Last but not least, the importance of such debate to enhance open innovation and the identification of opportunities was underlined by all the speakers as a necessary next step.

The workshop was very fruitful and valued by both the speakers and the attendees. The exchange of experiences is essential in the field of innovation to add new steps and enhance knowledge.