Adapting ProcurCompEU for Innovation in Healthcare Procurement: A Competency Framework Approach

Healthcare Procurement of Innovation (HPI) is increasingly recognised as a strategic lever for addressing complex challenges in healthcare while fostering technological advancements. However, it is unclear which competences HPI personnel require. The European Commission’s ProcurCompEU framework provides a structured competency model for public procurement, yet its applicability to innovation procurement, especially HPI, remains underexplored. This paper examines how ProcurCompEU can be adapted to address the unique demands of HPI, emphasising the need for knowledge, skills, and behaviours that facilitate supplier engagement, risk management, and long-term strategic planning. Building on the competency-based view and the Knowledge-based View (KBV), we argue that HPI professionals require a distinct set of competences that go beyond traditional cost-efficiency models. Through a literature review, this paper explores the specific competency gaps and how they can be bridged through targeted capacity-building initiatives. The ongoing empirical research includes a series of future expert interviews that could not yet be included.