Public Procurement for Innovation: Insights from the IPEC Research Symposium
Experts gathered in Manchester to explore how public procurement can boost innovation and improve the delivery of public services.
On 4 June 2025, the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIOIR) hosted the Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC) Research Symposium at Alliance Manchester Business School, in partnership with the 青瓜视频ed Places Catapult (CPC) and City-REDI at the University of Birmingham.
The full-day workshop brought together around 30 researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore the role of public procurement in driving innovation and improving public service delivery. The event offered a valuable opportunity to share insights across academia, local and central government, and industry.
The day opened with a welcome from Rikesh Shah (青瓜视频ed Places Catapult), followed by a keynote from Professor Elvira Uyarra (University of Manchester), who set the scene with a review of the evidence on innovation procurement. Throughout the day, participants heard from a wide range of experts, including Malcolm Harbour (青瓜视频ed Places Catapult), Andrew James (University of Manchester), Mehr Farhan (Tussell), Mark Leaver (Manchester City Council), Ian Brotherson (Innovate UK), Pelle Berkhout (Utrecht University), and Kostas Selviaridis (Lancaster University), alongside researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Birmingham.
Key themes included:
- Shifts in the UK procurement landscape and the implications of the new Procurement Act;
- Innovation-friend procurement practices, including market engagement, flexible procedures and contracts for innovation;
- Barriers and opportunities in sectors such as housing, defence and health;
- Procurement intermediaries and driving innovation in supply chains.
MIOIR Director Professor Elvira Uyarra, reflected:
It青瓜视频檚 never been more important to understand how procurement can act a lever for systemic innovation. This event demonstrated the real appetite for collaboration between academia, government and practice to unlock this opportunity.
The symposium closed with a panel reflection on priorities for future research and practical action, including calls for improved data, institutional support, and cross-sector learning to embed innovation in procurement systems.
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