Innovation Launch Pad
A new online tool, the Innovation Launch Pad, enables small businesses to pitch their ideas on improving the business of government.
The government has launched a new online tool, the Innovation Launch Pad to enable small businesses to pitch their ideas on how they could do the business of government more cheaply or more efficiently.
The Innovation Launch Pad is part of a series of measures, announced in February by the Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister Francis Maude, designed to open-up the public sector marketplace to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Through the Innovation Launch Pad you will be able to submit your business ideas between Monday 28 March and Friday 22 April.
The best ideas will be handpicked by a community of civil servants and, after intensive mentoring from some of Britain’s foremost entrepreneurs, those that demonstrate the highest impact will be invited to present their ideas at a “Product Surgery” in the summer.
Downing Street will also host a reception for those with the best ideas. This will aim to stimulate new open competitions in government markets in which these suppliers will be able to participate.
Minister Francis Maude has welcomed the initiative saying it will bring “better value for government”:
SMEs can offer government more innovative, more flexible and more cost effective products and services, but we know they often find it difficult to bring their ideas to our attention.
Through the Innovation Launch Pad, we will get better value for government and support small business. Government needs more online engagement like this.