A large part of government spending in OECD countries goes into public procurement, which refers to the purchasing of goods, services, and labor by governments and state-owned enterprises. Strategic public procurement can aid in pursuing social, ecological, or innovative goals. The research project "SProcure," led by Prof. Dr. Miriam Hartlapp (FUB) and Prof. Dr. David Levi-Faur (HUJI), analyzes procurement regimes to determine when, how, and with what effect governments act strategically in public procurement.

In October, the two organized a first workshop in Berlin to mark the beginning of the project. In four panels, participants presented the results of their research and discussed their significance and implications for further studies. On the first day of the workshop, ecological and social goals were the focus of the panels. In addition, the role of corruption in procurement processes was also discussed. On the second day, the discussion centered around the actors and institutions that shape procurement regimes and the contribution of regulations. The workshop concluded with a discussion of current trends and international developments.