The National Centre for Research and Development (NCRD), Jordanian partner of PPI4MED, started working on Public Procurement of Innovation by organising a first webinar as a starting point to set up a living lab on the topic. It was organised on 5th May 2021. This webinar was important to understand the context of innovation in Jordan and what are the main challenges to promote it. The webinar marked the first of a long series of meetings totaling the active participation of 250 people during 2.5 years.

During this period, the Jordanian partner also signed 17 Memoranda of Understandings:  6 with governmental institutions, 7 with research centres and 3 from the private sector and 1 NGO (7 public procurer´s buyers and 10 sellers).

The NCRD also created a virtual national sectorial platform (brainstorming sessions from September 2022 until November 2022) targeting 5 sectors (health, agriculture, energy, water and transportation). This platform enabled public authorities and public procurers to discuss their needs and challenges, researchers and companies showed their capacities to resolve the challenges and needs by offering solutions and patents that could be commercialized. A total of 85 representatives from the government, private sector, universities, and research centres, attended these sessions and 44 needs were identified. A total of 30 patents (16 in health, 3 in agriculture, 6 in transportation and engineering, 1 in water and 4 in environment) were analysed, and around 10 were initially selected as potential projects for commercialization.

Out of the 44 needs identified, 14 needs tackled agriculture, 14 were on water, 10 on energy and transport and 6 in health) which clearly confirms that the main priorities in Jordan focused on water and food security.