Public private partnerships are increasingly seen as an effective way in which
the public sector can achieve public policy objectives by working with the private
sector. For the public sector such partnerships have the potential of harnessing
the efficiency of the private sector, as well as overcoming budget restrictions
and leveraging limited public funds. For the private sector, they aim to help
overcome some of the internal and external barriers which prevent appropriate
technology transfer taking place, and to create interesting business opportunities.
Central to the concept is the recognition of corporate self-interest, and the
opportunity to harness this self-interest to achieve goals such as greenhouse
gas reduction.
Public private partnerships can take many forms and involve different entities.
From the public sector, they can involve central government departments, agencies,
multinational organisations or local government. On the private side, they can
involve technology suppliers, technology user or private financiers.
