Gyeongnam Province Launches Full-Scale Implementation of Innovative Technologies and Products Utilizing Public Procurement Purchasing Power

Supporting Private Technology Innovation and Innovation Growth ... Leading Early Procurement of Innovative Products

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Choi Hyun-joo] Gyeongnam Province announced on the 22nd that it will form a ‘Procurement Innovation Promotion TF’ to support the creation of initial markets for innovative technologies and products by utilizing the purchasing power of public procurement, and will officially implement ‘innovation-oriented public procurement.’

The ‘Innovation-Oriented Public Procurement Policy’ was selected as a task in the ‘Comprehensive Government Innovation Promotion Plan’ last July. A ‘Pan-Government Promotion Team’ was launched to promote this, and plans are underway to amend the National Contract Act, Procurement Business Act, and Local Contract Act. Therefore, it will be possible to make direct contracts for ‘innovative products,’ and exemption provisions for innovative procurement administration have also been prepared.

‘Innovative products’ refer to products recognized for their innovation that improve public services and are designated by central administrative agencies. Each agency will purchase products registered in the ‘Innovation Marketplace,’ which are classified into ▲a fast track for purchasing excellent products certified for innovation through research and development (R&D) by central administrative agencies and ▲a fast track for purchasing prototypes just before commercialization recognized for innovation through a Public Procurement Service contest.

The Innovation Marketplace contest is divided into the 3rd and 4th rounds. The 3rd round is held from June 1 to July 3, and the 4th round is held from May 29 to July 31.

The province has established an Innovation Procurement Promotion TF to discover innovative demands in the public sector and activate innovative purchasing, building an interdepartmental collaboration system. It has set three main promotion strategies: ▲building an innovation procurement policy ecosystem ▲discovering innovative demands and expanding public purchases ▲strengthening innovation procurement education and publicity, and has prepared detailed promotion plans.

Lee Sam-hee, Director of the Gyeongnam Province Autonomous Administration Bureau, said, “Innovation procurement is not simply an addition to purchasing policies, but a change in the public procurement program and the creation of a new platform. It is expected to serve as a catalyst for corporate innovative growth and technological innovation, ultimately improving the quality of public services.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.