Preparing and promoting innovation procurement for soil decontamination

Specific Challenge:Soil contamination is typically caused by industrial activity, mining and smelting practices, agricultural chemicals or improper disposal of waste and is increasingly becoming a very serious environmental and health problem. Member States are making efforts to establish national decontamination/remediation strategies which are generally very costly. It is therefore crucial for public authorities to be able to identify the most fit-for-purpose and cost-effective solutions.

Scope: Proposals should establish and promote a network of public procurers in the area of soil decontamination/remediation, with a focus on sustainable methods which in particular avoid 'dig and dump', in order to raise awareness, share knowledge, debate common procurement needs and draw up common specifications, taking into account longer-term public sector requirements and socio-economic aspects, with the aim of investigating the feasibility of launching joint pre-commercial procurement (PCP) to find common innovative solutions in the field.

Expected impact:In the mid-term, leverage of additional investment in research, development and innovation in the area of soil decontamination and provision of innovative solutions to address associated challenges. In the medium/long term, promotion of innovation in the sector from the demand side at reduced costs. Over the medium/long term, creation of new markets in the area of soil decontamination/ remediation. Increased competitiveness of SMEs and industrial partners in this area.

Type of action: Coordination and support actions