Course in Innovative Public Procurement in Cities
300-hour online course in innovative public procurement in cities. 6 Modules Covering Law 9/2017 on Public Sector Contracts, Directive 2014/24/EU on Public Procurement and Public Sector Contracting Platform. Assigned tutor and open enrollment.
Course in Innovative Public Procurement in Cities — studying from Malta
Malta's civil engineering sector is active, driven by ongoing construction, infrastructure upgrades, coastal works and urban regeneration projects across the islands. Demand for civil engineers is closely linked to public works, land development and the modernisation of transport networks. Smart city initiatives, including digital mapping, traffic management and sustainable urban planning, are increasingly relevant. Engineers typically find employment with contractors, consultancies, government departments and utility providers managing infrastructure in a densely populated environment.
Fees for Malta: €644 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which Maltese bodies regulate civil engineering and related professional practice?
The Chamber of Engineers (KSU) regulates the use of the title 'engineer' in Malta under the Engineering Profession Act. Planning and development matters fall under the Planning Authority, and public works and transport infrastructure involve government agencies including Transport Malta. A SEIUM qualification does not itself grant a regulated title; recognition is decided by employers or the relevant body.
What employers in Malta would value civil, rail or smart city engineering skills?
Malta's construction, infrastructure, consultancy and public sector firms are the main employers, along with transport and utilities bodies. Smart city and digital infrastructure work is growing in some areas. Employers typically look for chartered-level experience and licensing, so a private qualification should be seen as supporting your professional development rather than a substitute for those requirements.
How can I study this while working on site, and what support is there?
The programme is delivered entirely online in English, so you can study from anywhere in Malta without a student visa. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, and the course ends with a final project. Time commitment depends on the programme length, from 300 to 1,900 hours. Ask about instalment payments and employer sponsorship to help manage costs.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand public procurement as an instrument of innovation policy.
Apply the procedures of Ley 9/2017 to innovative challenges.
Prepare tender files with functional and performance-based specifications.
Manage the execution of pre-commercial procurement contracts.
Resolve the ownership of intellectual property arising from results.
Assess the economic and social impact of innovation procurement.
Design a complete innovative procurement process for a city.
Who it's for
- Public procurement technician wishing to specialise in Innovative Public Procurement in Cities.
- Municipal innovation manager wishing to specialise in Innovative Public Procurement in Cities.
- Consultant in innovation procurement wishing to specialise in Innovative Public Procurement in Cities.
- Smart city project manager wishing to specialise in Innovative Public Procurement in Cities.
- Legal adviser in procurement wishing to specialise in Innovative Public Procurement in Cities.
- European funds manager wishing to specialise in Innovative Public Procurement in Cities.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter local and regional government.
What you'll work with
- Law 9/2017 on public sector contracts
- Directive 2014/24/EU on Public Procurement
- Commission Communication COM(2007) 799 on pre-commercial purchase
- Communication from the Commission C(2021) 4320 Guidelines on public procurement in innovation
- Framework on State Research and Development and Innovation Aid (2022/C 414/01)
- Royal Decree 817/2009 of Partial Development of the Public Sector Contracts Law
- Law 14/2011 on Science, Technology and Innovation
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Public procurement and innovation policy1.2Innovation procurement: pre-commercial and innovative technology procurement1.3European public procurement strategy1.4Early demand maps1.5Preliminary market consultations1.6Urban challenges suitable for innovation1.7Risks and barriers in innovation procurement1.8Support programmes: CDTI and FEDER1.9European innovation procurement experiences1.10Case study: identifying challenges for innovation procurement
2.1Principles of Ley 9/20172.2Contract types and procedures2.3Excluded R&D services contracts2.4Innovation partnership procedure2.5Competitive dialogue and its phases2.6Negotiated procedure with publicity2.7Award criteria based on best price-quality ratio2.8Intellectual and industrial property of results2.9State aid and pre-commercial procurement2.10Practice: choosing the procedure for an urban challenge
3.1Functional definition of the need3.2Results-based specifications3.3Market study and technology watch3.4Value estimation and budget3.5Technological risk management3.6Lots and participation of SMEs and start-ups3.7Social and environmental criteria3.8Technical specification documents3.9Evaluation of bids by an expert committee3.10Workshop: functional specification for a waste management system
4.1Phases of pre-commercial procurement4.2Monitoring milestones and prototypes4.3Validation in real city environments4.4Contract modifications and their limits4.5Management of results ownership4.6Transition to commercial procurement4.7Scaling and replication in other cities4.8Joint procurement between administrations4.9Supplier relations during the pilot4.10Case study: monitoring an innovation partnership
5.1Impact indicators for innovation procurement5.2Economic and social return5.3Savings and efficiency of the public service5.4Organisational learning in the administration5.5Transparency and control of procurement5.6Integrity and prevention of conflicts of interest5.7Special appeal in procurement matters5.8Administrative tribunals for contract appeals5.9Good practices of the European Commission5.10Case study: evaluating a pre-commercial procurement project
6.1Identifying the urban challenge6.2Preliminary market consultation6.3Choice of contract procedure6.4Functional and results definition6.5Draft specifications and criteria6.6Management and monitoring plan6.7Intellectual property strategy6.8Proposed impact indicators6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: Students progress at their own pace within the enrollment period, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulations and applied exercises. The Working Software is Public Sector Contracting Platform, TED Esender, Microsoft Excel, MS Project, Miro, In Free, Academic or Evaluation Versions. Practicals are based on real procedures: designing a preliminary market consultation, drafting a results-based functional specification, and selecting the procedure for a smart city challenge. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus a Final Integrative Project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Understand public procurement as an instrument of innovation policy.
Apply the procedures of Ley 9/2017 to innovative challenges.
Prepare tender files with functional and performance-based specifications.
Manage the execution of pre-commercial procurement contracts.
Resolve the ownership of intellectual property arising from results.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The Course uses Public Sector Hiring Platform, TED Esender, Microsoft Excel, MS Project, Miro. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates a free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a Course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area count towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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