Technology procurement for innovation in Swedish construction

Major quality problems have occurred in the Swedish construction sector during the last decades simultaneously with high increases in construction costs. Innovation and the mastering of these problems are important and will become even more so when Sweden becomes a member of the European Community with ensuing increased competition.

The technology procurement concept is an instrument on the demand side with the purpose of promoting innovation. Analyses are made of five case studies where technology procurement has been used, viz. Lifts for existing buildings, Rational refurbishment of bathrooms, Energy-efficient sport halls, Electricity-efficient household appliances and Renovation of water and sewerage pipes. The cases are analyzed as regards objectives, organization, control instruments, interaction/networks and user involvement. In comparison with other sectors, the two latter issues have been of great importance for the achievement of successful innovations. Several of the projects analyzed show good results with better functioning solutions, very rapid work and extensive reductions in costs and energy consumption (up to 40 per cent). The case studies also point at the importance of long-term engagements and conditions in order to obtain a diffusion of the results.

Comparisons are made with some well-known technical projects which were the result of contests and challenges--chronometers, locomotives and space projects. In an international outlook comparisons are made with some projects and programs mainly in the USA and France. Preliminary characteristics of projects suitable for technology procurement include concrete goal setting, societal needs, functional requirements, top-level support, lead user involvement and dedicated project teams. Besides other technology procurement projects which may constitute a basis for a thorough evaluation of the characteristics, suggestions for further research in the construction sector are: studies of innovation and the procurement policy in Japan, impact of different control instruments, functional contracts, use of LCC techniques, forms of cooperation between leading owners and government organizations as well as different actors in the construction sector.