Innovative Perspectives in Public Procurement

The article examines the evolution of European public procurement within the framework of the forthcoming reform of the EU Directives, which places innovation at the core of digital transformation for sustainability goals. The contribution highlights the emerging paradigm of cooperative procurement, grounded in collaboration, trust and shared responsibilities. Innovative contractual instruments – from R&D and pre-commercial procurement to the innovation partnerships – are analysed to rethink legal levers for mission-oriented solutions for inclusive growth. The Italian “collaboration agreement” recently introduced in the national Public Contracts Code is discussed as a pioneering example of this cooperative approach, enhancing performance and transparency during the contract execution. Within this framework, the “right to repair” is proposed as a new frontier of social innovation, embedding durability, accountability, and collective well-being into European procurement strategies.