Collaborative Innovation between Startups and the Public Sector

Due to the growing urgency and complexity related to urban challenges, many city administrations are now exploring ways to engage startups in the development and implementation of new cutting-edge solutions. With startups being engines of growth, working continuously to bring pioneering products or services to the market and society, cities hope to utilize a part of their output to improve the urban quality of life and avoid economic stagnation. It is critical for growth at both a local and national level that cities foster programs to encourage entrepreneurship, while providing the economic and legislative motives to further assist these efforts. A new focus on promoting the local startup ecosystem, by making procurement budgets and experimentation opportunities available to entrepreneurs, is now sought necessary. 

In this session we describe and analyze this thesis from the perspective of both main stakeholders in this collaboration: i) the perspective of the entrepreneur, by trying to showcase how existing programs based on government-startup collaboration can advance startups and bring them new business opportunities, and ii) a policymaker perspective, where we focus on whether city administrations can benefit from the entrepreneurial spirit of startups and create better urban solutions with their help; leading to a more innovative culture within city government. 

Session Overview

This session will be split in 3 subsequent blocks covering all different aspects related to government-startup collaboration. 

1. Block 1: What challenges and opportunities are there for entrepreneurs to work together with (semi) public organizations? (30 mins)

A block focusing on showcasing challenges faced by new entrepreneurial endeavors when working with a (semi) public organization followed by a presentation on best practices to overcome them. In this part both AMS institute and the Gemeente Amsterdam will present their ways of collaboration with startups sharing information on the benefits provided by their entrepreneurship-aiding programs. 

1. Block 2: Startup Testimonials – How do entrepreneurs experience working together with (semi)public organizations? What benefits do they accrue? (30 mins)

Here, successful startups that were incubated by AMS Institute or Startup in Residence, will present their journeys, sharing important milestones that this collaboration has helped them reach.

1. Block 3: How can public organizations start working together with (smaller) innovative parties/solutions? (30 mins)

This block will take up the questions coming from policymakers who want to establish ways of communication and collaboration with innovative parties such as startups. It will display how public organizations can solve pressing urban challenges by opening public procurement calls and offering opportunities for experimentation within the urban fabric (testbeds, living labs). Representatives from AMS Institute and the Gemeente Amsterdam will present their approaches in fostering a climate of collaboration between startups and public actors. The session will be concluded with an open Q&A section where all relevant questions will be addressed.