Strengthened defense and society through innovation procurement!

This was the question we sought to answer during SACS and SME-D's joint seminar on the theme "How can we strengthen societal security through innovation procurement?" The seminar offered different perspectives and interesting discussions. Among the speakers were representatives from the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, the Swedish Procurement Agency, Vinnova, FMV, MSB, Lund University and Ideon Science Park. All speakers agreed on the great potential that exists and how much there is to gain from harnessing expertise and innovation through innovation procurement.

SACS and SME-D's chairmen, Ulf Dahlberg and Magnus Sjöland each began with a speech, where Ulf highlighted the importance of being just as important as having the right equipment for a crisis is being prepared in terms of knowledge to handle a crisis. Ulf believes that strategies for this are an aspect in themselves that we should use consciously and utilize in innovation procurement. Magnus gave examples that show that we can become better at meeting needs through innovation procurement. He also highlighted the challenge in the very definition of the concept. Everyone has their own image of the concept.

Ellen Hausel Heldahl, Lawyer and expert on public procurement, at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, spoke about the new law that makes it possible to move from a price and cost focus to a value focus. We must dare to have a dialogue about the function that is being procured. The law allows this to a large extent. She also pointed to the UK, which has long used innovation procurement and thereby increased its exports. Ellen was asked questions about IPR and pointed to the importance of establishing this from the beginning. The basic principle is that companies own rights, but when procuring security, extra consideration must be taken and there are other arrangements. Ellen also talked about the process for innovation procurement.

Innovation in procurement – this is how we jointly harness the potential. That was the title of Niklas Tideklev's speech. Niklas is a strategist responsible for innovation at the Swedish Procurement Authority. Niklas, like Ellen, pointed out the importance of early dialogue. He also said that the Swedish Procurement Authority is involved in and supports innovation procurement. Please visit the website for tips and guidance in this area. Niklas and Ellen train hundreds of procurement officers around the country every year.

Nina Widmark, Call for Proposals Manager, Vinnova shared experiences and opportunities in innovation procurement. Nina called for several innovation projects, currently they are involved in 12 and 3 have been completed. Nina also said that through so-called client groups, where you gather regions or industries with common needs, for example, you work effectively to identify potential projects, clear messages and conditions.

Anna Clara Törnwall Wittgren, Head of Marketing and Purchasing, FMV, reflected on innovation from FMV's perspective. The defense sector by definition has a need to procure innovation, i.e. products and services that are not available on the market. Procurement through functional requirements provides innovation and therefore we want to promote this type of procurement. This requires processes that encourage new thinking, dialogue in early phases, regulations that support but also more resources for defense research and that we realize that time and risk appetite can be crucial.

Procurement for a safe society from MSB's perspective was presented by Håkan Axelsson. Håkan made it clear that MSB does not have a ordering role regarding innovation procurement, but at the same time they are expected to promote innovation in the area of security. MSB is aware that companies often have the technology but that the needs are unclear and that coordination and funds are lacking in the municipalities. Håkan also highlighted the role of politics and the importance of influencing it in the right direction. Together with Håkan, Karin Lintrup spoke about Win Guard, a project that has been running at Ideon Science Park in Lund since 2016 and is financed by MSB. Here, they work to match needs with solutions within the emergency services.

Maria Björkqvist, Purchaser at Lund University, contributed an example of an innovation procurement in the security area: Software for integration of locks and access systems. At the university, there was a need to be accessible, open and welcoming. At the same time, the premises need to have good shell protection. Her tips included elevating purchasing issues to management level, as is the case in many private companies, being competent and well-read, clarifying boundaries and having early dialogue with the companies to create room for manoeuvre. It can be expected that it will take time in a large organisation with many different needs. However, there is much to be gained: new products have been developed!
Led by Ellen Hausel Heldahl, the seminar concluded and we were able to summarize a number of points that will certainly give us more innovation procurements and strengthened defense and security:

#Make sure management is interested. Move purchasing into the boardroom
#Establish processes that support innovation and new thinking
#Have an enabling environment. Innovation requires risk-taking
#Create meeting venues for early dialogue between need owners and entrepreneurs

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