The Ecosystem of ICT Based Innovation in the Public Sector. The Role of Public Procurement

The intrinsic link between public procurement and social innovation is moreover present both in the field literature and policies, documents of the European Union or other international organizations or institutions. The priority topics refer both to public procurement as driver of innovation in the public sector and to the "smart guide" on innovation for services. The 'smart' feature reflects ICT role and importance as support of innovation in the public services and in general, in social innovation. In Europe, as in other states/regions of the world, the actual trends describe a systemic behaviour of social innovation, stimulated by substantial measures and tools for its promotion through continuous improvement of its informational and technological support. The paper aims to substantiate and describe the ecosystem of ICT based innovation in the public sector.