Innovation Procurement Stockholm is Stockholm’s approach to using public procurement as a tool for solving concrete urban problems. The initiative is part of the city administration’s work on procurement and purchasing, and it is used when existing solutions do not fully meet the city’s needs. Instead of buying a predefined product or service, Stockholm defines the functional challenge and invites suppliers to develop solutions together with the city.
The method is closely linked to the city’s broader goals on climate, mobility, construction, and public services. In practice, innovation procurement is used to test new approaches in areas such as fossil-free construction, circular building, and other infrastructure-related challenges. One example cited in Stockholm’s own material is the use of competitive dialogue in 2022 for a fossil-free construction site at Hallvägen in Slakthusområdet, where the dialogue helped produce better results than expected. Stockholm’s climate-contract work with national agencies and Viable Cities also refers to innovation procurement as one of the instruments used to speed up climate transition.
The project is led by Stockholm City, in cooperation with relevant municipal departments and, depending on the case, national agencies, research actors, and private suppliers. The city’s procurement framework stresses that public purchasing should contribute to sustainable development, an inclusive labour market, and long-term value for residents.
While the initiative is not a single fixed project with a start date, it reflects a long-term municipal policy direction that has been visible in Stockholm’s budgets and procurement programmes for several years. Its scope covers both planning and implementation, especially where the city wants to reduce emissions, improve resource efficiency, and encourage market development.