Welcome to the European Parliamentary Research Service podcast on public sector innovation.

An efficient and modern public system is a precondition for smart societies and economies.

But how do we foster public sector innovation?

The EU doesn't have a direct role here, but it can definitely provide direction.

So stay with us as we spell out a new vision for the public sector in Europe.

These are difficult times for Europe.

The corona crisis has hit already fragile economies,

threatening the economic stability of the Union and the performance of many public services.

And this is happening while governments across the continent struggle to find answers to pressing

challenges such as climate change, ageing societies, youth unemployment or the digital gap.

With such an uncertain future ahead, citizens are turning to governments and public sector

organisations for answers, but are they fit for the job? Can the European public sector help

create a better Europe for the future? The key phrase here is public sector innovation,

but what does this mean?

Well, it's not only firms who innovate. Public sector organisations can also innovate by introducing

new approaches to provide quality public services and better respond to the challenges and needs

of modern societies. So public sector innovation can be defined as the process of generating

new ideas and processes and implementing them to create value for society. That's correct,

and the potential is huge. The public sector plays a key role in modern economies, and it accounts

for more than 25% of total employment. And it's not only an important

employer, but also a major provider of services and a source of public procurement. So as for

businesses, an efficient and effective public sector can be key to fostering economic growth

...