Big science, learning, and innovation: evidence from CERN procurement

We study the way in which public procurement by big research infrastructures enhances suppliers’ performance. Using survey data on 669 CERN suppliers, we built a unique data set to analyse, through an ordered logit model and Bayesian networks, the determinants of suppliers’ sales, profits and development activities. We find that collaborative relations between CERN and its suppliers improve suppliers’ performance and increase positive spill overs along the supply chain. This suggests that public procurement for innovation policies should promote cooperative relations and not only market mechanisms.