Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam wins Public Procurement of Innovation Award

The Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, from the Netherlands, was yesterday announced as the winner of the Public Procurement of Innovation Award, at the EcoProcura conference, in Ghent, Belgium. The Dutch hospital, which saw off competition from five other finalists, was praised by the jury for its innovative robotic bed washing facility.

“The Erasmus University Medical Centre really stood out for its procurement process but also the use of a technology that looked at energy, health and economic aspects,” said Mark Hidson, Global Director, ICLEI’s Sustainable Procurement Centre. “All the finalists were so close, which made it very difficult to judge, so we decided that three of the finalists would receive honourable mentions for excelling in one particular area. But of course our winner excelled in a number of areas.”

The Erasmus University Medical Centre asked the bidders to design a more cost and environmentally efficient solution to disinfect the hospital’s 70,000 beds and mattresses. The contract was won by IMS Medical, who proposed a creative approach, which involved high precision cleaning robots that disinfect the beds in a conveyor belt format, similar to the set-up employed by car manufacturers. Through the facility, the cleaning costs per bed were lowered by 35 percent compared with the existing solution, and the carbon dioxide footprint reduced by 65 percent.

“It is fantastic to win this award as this was a brand new process for us at the Erasmus University Medical Centre and so we were learning all the time,” said Anja Van Bavel, Head of Care Facilities at the Erasmus University Medical Centre, who was presented the award by Bonifacio Garcia Porras of DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission. “If I had any advice it would be dare to try and you might just be able to create something great. Also procurers and suppliers need to get on the same level.”

The jury also praised the private companies who supplied the innovative solutions, with each company involved in the procurement processes commended for contributing to a more efficient and competitive Europe. Through winning the contract with the Erasmus University Medical Centre, IMS Medical, an SME (small and medium enterprise), has been able to increase its staff by 25 percent and will soon start a larger international marketing campaign.

The City of Oslo, Norway (smart house for elderly living), Région Rhône Alpes, France (distance learning using robotics), and A Coruna City Council, Spain (smart city platform) were the finalists given honourable mentions during the ceremony.

“Public procurement has a significant role to play in stimulating innovation to ensure that Europe successfully meets future economic, social and environmental challenges,” said European Commissioner Ferdinando Nelli Feroci. “Procurement requirements that demand innovative solutions can stimulate new sources of jobs and growth in Europe. I warmly congratulate the winner of the PPI Award and hope that the procurement practices of the winner and the nominees will act as an inspiration to others.”

The Public Procurement of Innovation Award aims to recognise successful public procurement practices that have been used to purchase innovative, more effective and efficient products or services.