This working paper is part of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose’s (UCL IIPP) publication series.
Explore more working papers and policy reports here.
Missions and Public Procurement in Europe: A systematic literature review | UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) Working Paper (WP 2025-13)
Authors:
- Rainer Kattel | Deputy Director and Professor of Innovation and Public Governance,
UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) - Amy Lai | IIPP Master of Public Administration (MPA) Alumn,
UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) - Chiara Bleckenwegner | IIPP Master of Public Administration (MPA) Alumn,
UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) - Piret Tõnurist | Innovation Lead,
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - Veiko Lember | Professor of Innovation Studies,
Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech)
Abstract:
Academic research and policy discussions show increased interest in public procurement as a powerful lever for achieving various policy goals, such as green transition or inclusive economies. Purposeful public procurement is fragmented, however, and practices are discussed in disconnected policy areas, such as strategic public procurement; functional procurement; procurement of innovation; green and sustainable procurement; and agile procurement of digital solutions. In each of these branches of procurement there have been both significant attempts to change existing practices and lively academic reflection of these changing practices. In parallel, governments are increasingly attempting to reform their financial, economic, STI and public policies with a view to tackling specific ‘grand challenges’. Public procurement features prominently in these discussions. In this paper, we will bring together these ongoing and emerging policy practices and academic discussions to understand how public procurement has been used for mission-oriented policy-making. The analysis is based on a systematic literature review of the period 1978-2020, focusing on the European context. The paper introduces the concept of ‘mission-oriented procurement’ as an umbrella approach for procurement practices aimed at attaining societal challenges.
Reference:
This working paper can be referenced as follows: Kattel, R., Lai, A., Bleckenwegner, C., Tõnurist, P., and Lember, V. (2025). Missions and public procurement in Europe: A systematic literature review. UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, Working Paper Series (IIPP WP 2025-013). ISSN 2635-0122
Available at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/publications/2025/jul/missions-and-public-procurement-europe-systematic-literature-review
This working paper is part of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose’s (UCL IIPP) publication series.
Explore more working papers and policy reports here.