Public procurement can potentially boost demand for innovation and promote lead markets. With public procurement equalling 16% of EU GDP, authorities can stimulate private investment in research and innovation, when they procure either products/services incorporating new technology or the R&D to develop the technology to a point where such products reach the market. However, this type of procurement of innovation is at the moment much less widespread than one would expect from such a promising activity; one of the reasons for this is the large amount of risk inherent in research and innovation activities. The purpose of this report is to understand the various risks that public procurers are currently facing, identify existing risk management practices and derive recommendations that could help overcome this key barrier.