The Confederation of British Industry has called on the
government to remodel its Technology Strategy Board to push for
development and public sector adoption of new
technologies.
A report published by the CBI and defence technology firm
QinetiQ urges the development of an “advanced research and projects
agency” to work with government procurers and help them become
early adopters of new ideas.
The new agency could identify and sponsor areas of technology
development to address government needs, the report says.
It could also promote “pre-commercial procurement”, sharing the
benefits and risks with industry in order to exploit the results of
research as fast as possible.
CBI director general Richard Lambert said that spending just a
portion of the government’s annual £150bn procurement budget on
“nurturing and acquiring innovative products”, this could “deliver
dramatic returns”.
In a separate report urging improvements to public procurement,
the CBI called for government departments to set up commercial
directorates, staffed by “procurement professionals able to make
and close deals”.
Government bodies should also “prioritise constant market
engagement, including dialogue with suppliers outside of the
tendering process”, it says.