Public e-procurement as a key-impact factor in the UE welfare context-The Italian public e-markets: Research findings and E-solutions analysis

“For Governments thinking about the competitiveness of nations and states has focused on the overall economy, with national-level policy as the dominant influence” (Porter, 2000). The goal of the present paper is to help Governments Decision Makers, Public Buyers, Private Markets Representatives, and ICT Companies to understand the opportunities and the present challenges of the public processes digitalization strategy for the EU Welfare goals. Evidences on the Italian experience in public (health) e-procurement and e-markets will be brought forth. Public (E)-Procurement of goods/services, in the EU context, is strategic because of five main reasons: a) economic relevancy (public expense can be from 10% to 20% of EU Countries GDP); b) impact on citizens´ service quality c) impact on markets competitiveness and innovation capacity, d) necessity to guarantee transparency and security of transactions and e) improvement of its processes efficiency. In particular, e-procurement models and solutions play a major role in the present EU digitalization strategy. Moreover, it seems that none of them has emerged as the optimal yet. After a literature review and an analysis of the updated relevance, main factors and dynamics effecting public (e)procurement of goods/services and public-private in the EU and in the Italian context two cases will be presented: A. transactions data analysis in a four years´ period on the Italian Public e-Marketplace B. Calabria Italian Region on the Health Care Sector. As the findings give evidence of high potential as well as criticalities connected with A. Major differences among macro geographical areas and, B. Public client segment (specifically the Public Health), consistently, potential solutions, future perspectives and research studies will be presented and discussed.