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Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC) Research
Our ambition is to deepen understanding of the effectiveness of innovation procurement in driving innovation for better public services while boosting economic growth. Working with regional and local authorities we can disseminate best practice and empower local decision makers.
With the launch of the UK Innovation Strategy in 2021, and the Innovation, Science and Technology Framework in 2023, deploying public procurement as a driver of innovation has been recognised as a central UK policy objective. The 2024 Framework update said “We know that public procurement is a powerful lever to drive innovation nationally and nurture creativity and growth in local business communities”. However, as the Strategy spells out “the overall culture, expertise and incentive structure of the public sector means there is a low appetite for risk and experimentation”.
Partners
City REDI (University of Birmingham)
City REDI is a leading evidence-based and policy-focused academic research institute at the University of Birmingham, focused on inclusive economic, social, and environmental development.
Researcher in Residence (RiR) is an initiative developed by The Innovation Launchpad Network+, Innovate UK, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Catapult Network. The scheme supports UK strategic goals, promotes academic engagement and is designed to enable researchers to work with the Catapults, undertaking a project or activity in an area of strategic importance. Successful applicants are awarded up to £50k to cover university salary costs, travel and accommodation during the placement, and consumables used at the host Catapult.
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Ian Heptinstall is drawing on over 30 years’ experience gained as a project manager and consultant to champion the benefits of innovative procurement and critical analysis in construction, as a Researcher in Residence with Connected Places Catapult.
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Katherine Sugar champions efforts to spend more on energy infrastructure projects that promise a fairer transition to net zero in cities.
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Researcher Luis Torres-Retamal is exploring how procurement can be used as a lever for public organisations to adopt sustainable principles in construction and transport, and how a shift in company behaviours may help develop the circular economy.
Meet our research team
Rikesh Shah
Chair of the Advisory Board, Head of Procurement Technical – IPEC
Rikesh Shah is an innovation expert, guest lecturer at the Royal College of Arts and Harvard University, non-executive advisor at Cities Today, London Transport Museum and See.Sense who joined the Catapult in October 2023 to Head of IPEC.
Malcolm Harbour CBE
Associate Director – Connected Places Catapult
Malcolm Harbour is an Associate Director of CPC, with an expert steering role in the ‘Challenging Procurement” programme and in the development of IPEC. Chairs the Consortium for Research in Innovative and Strategic Public Procurement (CRISPP).
Nick Woodward
Academic Engagement Manager – Connected Places Catapult
Nick Woodward is Academic Engagement Manager and has been working with IPEC’s Academic Partners predominantly through CRISPP (Consortium for Research in Innovative and Strategic Public Procurement) since 2018, which is now renamed to IPEC Research.
Prof Elvira Uyarra
Executive Director – Manchester Institute of Innovation Research
Elvira Uyarra, a Professor of Innovation Studies at Alliance Manchester Business School and Director of the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, focuses on public procurement of innovation. Her research, featured in journals like Research Policy and Regional Studies, informs policymakers and international organisations like IADB and OECD on fostering innovation through procurement strategies.
Prof Fumi Kitagawa
Chair in Regional Economic Development – University of Birmingham
Professor Fumi Kitagawa holds Chair in Regional Economic Development at City Region Economic and Development Institute (City–REDI), University of Birmingham in the UK. She has conducted research related to regional innovation, entrepreneurship policies, and higher education policy and regional development, across a variety of local, regional, national and international contexts. She has expertise on the role of universities in innovation and entrepreneurial processes.
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