Concerning Support for SME's as Suppliers of Public Health Tech Innovation: Some Reflections and Case Evidence

The purpose with the article is to examine the role of public procurement as a means to stimulate innovation among Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME’s). The paper combines a narrative literature review with a multiple... [ view full abstract ]

The purpose with the article is to examine the role of public procurement as a means to stimulate innovation among Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME’s). The paper combines a narrative literature review with a multiple case study of six innovation projects. The literature provides only ambiguous support for the general claim that SME’s should be more innovative than larger firms. The case study findings suggest that few of the challenges innovating SME’s face would be ameliorated by developing public procurement of innovation policies specifically targeting SME promotion. Unlike many studies and policy reports connecting ostensibly public procurement of innovation policies with SME promotion, this paper calls for a more critical view.