Procure4Health challenges the market to develop an innovative solution to implement a sustainable and effective pathogen protective system in the healthcare context that can replace single use face masks. The current use of single-use face masks in healthcare settings has brought to light a pressing concern: their lack of sustainability across various dimensions.

Beyond their immediate utility in combating infectious diseases, these masks symbolize broader challenges at the intersection of economics, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. The complexities of their production, importation, and disposal have made it evident that the current practices surrounding single-use face masks demand critical examination and strategic reevaluation.

In this context, Procure4Health is seeking the implementation of a sustainable and effective pathogen protective system that can replace single use face masks and significantly contribute to waste reduction, environmental sustainability, cost savings, and improved public health outcomes.

To register, and find more information on the event, click here

For more information on the other Procure4Health challenges, click here.

Public authorities and social economy entities are invited to take part in training activities organised as part of the WeBuySocialEU capacity-building efforts. The training events – delivered in the national languages – are designed to help stakeholders not only gain much-needed expertise in socially responsible public procurement but also to establish participants as the go-to person within their organisation for advice and expertise in this increasingly important field. These national training sessions are specifically tailored to professional and particular contexts, thanks to in-depth research and interviews conducted by national experts in autumn 2023.

For civil servants or public authority employees: You will learn how to design tendering procedures that are accessible to the social economy and include social aspects. You will learn how to include different types of social considerations across the procurement process, how to monitor their execution, as well as improve the knowledge of social economy entities in your country – how and in which markets they operate - to be able to design public tenders that are accessible to them.

For social economy entities: You will learn how to better compete for public tenders that include social considerations. You will discover how to form consortia among social economy entities and with conventional businesses, as well as how to participate in tenders as subcontractors.

The full agenda of the Lithuanian training session can be found here.

The European Commission's WeBuySocialEU initiative seeks to enhance social responsibility in public procurement by building capacity and awareness across the EU.The initiative aims to involve a broad spectrum of stakeholders, starting with public authorities and social economy entities across Europe, through tailored training events and comprehensive outreach on social media platforms. WeBuySocialEU encourages contracting authorities to integrate social considerations into their purchasing policies and practices. Simultaneously, it supports social economy actors in understanding and participating effectively in public procurement procedures. This effort also aims to foster collaboration and mutual understanding between the social economy and the public sector across the EU.

More information about the initiative can be found here.

Public authorities and social economy entities are invited to take part in training activities organised as part of the WeBuySocialEU capacity-building efforts. The training events – delivered in the national languages – are designed to help stakeholders not only gain much-needed expertise in socially responsible public procurement but also to establish participants as the go-to person within their organisation for advice and expertise in this increasingly important field. These national training sessions are specifically tailored to professional and particular contexts, thanks to in-depth research and interviews conducted by national experts in autumn 2023.

For civil servants or public authority employees: You will learn how to design tendering procedures that are accessible to the social economy and include social aspects. You will learn how to include different types of social considerations across the procurement process, how to monitor their execution, as well as improve the knowledge of social economy entities in your country – how and in which markets they operate - to be able to design public tenders that are accessible to them.

For social economy entities: You will learn how to better compete for public tenders that include social considerations. You will discover how to form consortia among social economy entities and with conventional businesses, as well as how to participate in tenders as subcontractors.

The full agenda of the Belgian (French language) training session can be found here.

The European Commission's WeBuySocialEU initiative seeks to enhance social responsibility in public procurement by building capacity and awareness across the EU.The initiative aims to involve a broad spectrum of stakeholders, starting with public authorities and social economy entities across Europe, through tailored training events and comprehensive outreach on social media platforms. WeBuySocialEU encourages contracting authorities to integrate social considerations into their purchasing policies and practices. Simultaneously, it supports social economy actors in understanding and participating effectively in public procurement procedures. This effort also aims to foster collaboration and mutual understanding between the social economy and the public sector across the EU.

More information about the initiative can be found here.

On 30 May 2024 from 9.00 to 12.30 the European Assistance for Innovation Procurement (EAFIP) initiative will present the webinar How to prepare an Innovation Procurement: Best Practices and Lessons Learned.

Illustrated by case examples of different European projects, the webinar takes participants through all the different stages and activities when preparing an innovation procurement: from needs assessment and scoping, conducting a market analysis (including identification of the State-of-the-Art, performing an Open Market Consultation and possible e-pitching sessions), to developing a business case and drafting the tender documents.

The webinar is mainly targeted towards European public buyers, but also suppliers of innovative solutions and policy makers are most welcome to join. Participation is free of charge, but registration is mandatory. Find more information about the webinar and register here!