The event, chaired by the Councillor for Employment and Development, Mari Carmen de España, featured presentations by experts Enrique Zapata, Sandra Sinde and Guillermo Mas.

Alicante, 7 June 2022 – The Alicante Futura Govtech HUB hosted the presentation of the study ‘Public procurement as a catalyst for Govtech ecosystems’, a study that is being released for the first time in Spain. The report, presented by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and IDOM at the Territorial College of Architects of Alicante, was chaired by the Councillor for Employment and Development of the Alicante City Council, Mari Carmen de España. In addition, the presentation also featured presentations by Enrique Zapata, Coordinator of Data Intelligence, Govtech and Open Government; Sandra Sinde, Director of CPI and Open Innovation at IDOM, and Guillermo Mas, Director of Innovation at AGBAR.

Govtech ecosystems are increasingly emerging internationally, accompanied by a new generation of public policy, data and innovation that see cooperation with startups as a new way to solve public problems and cover services, even at the municipal level. In this sense, the Govtech space is a relationship that goes far beyond startups and governments, as it requires, in turn, a customer who understands and seeks innovation in order to buy it and, at the same time, help create a market. This relationship is a key element in connecting governments with digital entrepreneurship. “This ecosystem implies regulatory changes as well as changes in the culture of the public authorities, capable of generating opportunities that are advancing at great speed and that our city, with Alicante Futura at the forefront, is firmly committed to promoting and leading it”, said the Councillor for Employment and Development of the Alicante City Council, Mari Carmen de España.

Likewise, during her speech, the councillor expressed the importance of promoting a HUB of technology and government within Alicante Futura, this being conceived as a space that represents a real opportunity for the digital transformation of public institutions and governments, as well as an essential instrument that is capable of generating economic opportunities for companies in the province, focusing all its products and solutions on resolving conflicts, both in cities and in citizens. In this context, Mari Carmen de España also expressed that “Meetings like today’s represent an opportunity to emphasise my personal commitment and that of Alicante Futura to innovation and the generation of opportunities for digital and technological entrepreneurship, also favouring opportunities for progress, business and well-being in Alicante”.

The presentation was also addressed by prominent personalities in the sector such as Enrique Zapata, leader of Digital Innovation of the State at the Development Bank of Latin America, CAF and current member of the ODI (Oracle Data Integrator) Open Data Leaders Network, the Open Data Charter and the Mexican Council for International Affairs (COMEXI).

Sandra Sinde, considered an international pioneer in the design and implementation of Innovative Public Procurement (IPP) systems in countries such as Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Dominican Republic and Peru. And Guillermo Mas, Innovation Director of AGBAR and in charge of the innovation dynamics of the network of Agbar and Dinapsis operation and digital transformation centres, as well as fostering the relationship with key innovation ecosystems for the company.

After their presentations, Enrique Zapata, Sandra Sinde and Guillermo Mas participated in a debate in which they were able to express their point of view regarding startups and scaleups and their participation, demand and interest in PPI processes. In this sense, it has been concluded that 90% of the startups and scaleups consulted stated that they have not participated in different PPI processes, while 80% of them consider that PPI is a favourable instrument for the public sector to acquire innovative solutions. On the other hand, 84% also stated that it is difficult to access information on PPI from different government entities, which is why, according to the experts, new, more agile formulas for raising awareness and approaching them should be sought in order to favour their attraction. 

Likewise, Councillor Mari Carmen de España concluded: “If the authors of the study conclude on the need to incorporate experimentation, innovation and public-private collaboration as a gear for the development of Govtech ecosystems, rest assured that Alicante Futura is already working to make it a reality”. In this way the Alicante Futura GovTech Hub is working to consolidate, with the best allies, a productive ecosystem of technology and government in the city of Alicante, claiming the leadership and capital of Alicante in this process of innovation and opportunities for our ecosystem.

Study published here: http://scioteca.caf.com/handle/123456789/1872