The European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability Moving Innovation in Agriculture Ahead !EUFRAS Workshop Wroclaw - 26 February 2013Inge Van Oost DG Agriculture and Rural Development

Europe 2020 Strategy: Crucial role of research and innovation in preparing the EU for the future challengesCAP reform package gives innovation a key role for sustainable agriculture and rural developmentThe Budget for Europe 2020" under the CAP heading foresees 4.5 billion Euros for research and innovation in the field of food security, bio-economy and sustainable agricultureThe Europe 2020 flagship initiative "Innovation Union" specifies European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) as a new tool for fostering innovationContext

Challenges and Opportunities

Closing The Innovation GAP

What is Innovation ?In short: ideas put into practice with successnew, improved or successfully applied products, processes or services, for instance products with adapted quality, new production methods, opening to new markets and new forms of organizationinnovation is more than dissemination of research results: it occurs as a result of the creativity and interplay between actors for combining new and/or existing (tacit) knowledgeIn the end, it is only when a new creation really becomes more or less mainstream that it is called an "innovation Interplay and mediation between actors is key

The Interactive Innovation ModelThe innovation model under the agricultural EIP goes far beyond speeding up transfer "from laboratory to market" through diffusion of new scientific knowledge (referred to as a "linear innovation model"). The EIP adheres to the "interactive innovation model" which focuses on forming partnerships - using bottom-up approaches and linking farmers, advisors, researchers, businesses, and other actors in Operational Groups. This knowledge exchange will generate new insights and ideas and mould existing tacit knowledge into focused solutions that are quicker put into practice. Such an approach will stimulate innovation from all sides and will help to target the research agenda.

1. The EIP interlinking policy instruments for synergy

General PrinciplesThe EIP will provide challenge-driven solutions based on:interlinking innovation-related measures and initiatives to achieve synergies and enhance effectiveness facilitating communication among stakeholders and creating workable links between science and practiceproviding EU value added through networking and enhancing complementarityusing a lean governance structure, based on existing mechanisms

EIP Implementation via Rural Development ProgrammesEstablishing operational groups (Art 62) involving farmers, advisors, agribusiness, research, NGOs, etcSupport for Operational Groups (OGs) (Art 36) covers bothsetting up of EIP OGsfunding of their operations Bottom-up approach towards defining composition and operational purpose of a single operational groups: each operational group must establish its plan on expected results and share results within the EIP networkPossible combination of cooperation in "operational groups" with other measures such as knowledge transfer, advisory services, investment aid, quality schemes etc.

EIP Implementation via theEuropean Union Research Policy (Horizon 2020)Research projects enhancing the knowledge base, including on-farm experiments Support for practice-oriented formats such as multi-actor projects, and support for innovation brokers, innovation centres, and thematic networksCalls for proposals via work programmes (at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 Member States or associated countries)Interlinking knowledge generation and sharing experience through dissemination activities and thematic networks

FarmersNGOsAdvisorsResearchersAgri- businessOperationalGroupKey Acting Entities Within the EIP- Operational Groups -

OperationalGroupHorizon 2020NationalFundsERDFPrivate FundsRuralDevelop-mentDifferent Sources of Funding for Operational GroupsOperationalGroup

Different Sources of Funding for Operational GroupsRuralDevelop- mentHorizon 2020ERDFNationalFundsPrivate Funds

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EIP Network

Network Function of the EIPCollect information (research and innovation projects etc.) and best innovation practicesEffective flow of information (website, databases)Give advice on opportunities within policies (helpdesk function)Sharing knowledge on concrete practical work and connect actorsSystematic feedback to the scientific community about practice needs (Art.12 H2020)

Areas of Innovative Actions as outlinedin the EIP Communication (COM (2012)79)

Primary production: technical solutions to increasing productivity and economic viabilityResource management: eco-system services, soil functionality, water management, and genetic resources (public goods)Bioeconomy: innovative technology for the bio-based economy bio-refinery; new products; reduction of post harvest lossSupply chain: integrated supply chain solutions; new services; logistics, and management systems Quality and consumers: food quality, food safety, and healthy lifestyles (consumer information and consumer choice)

Steering Board European Innovation Partnership Agricultural Productivity and SustainabilityEip network facility AWP

SIP & SherpasInnovation guidelinesAKIS CWG

2. Role of advisors for enhancing innovation

What could be the role of advisors for Innovation?All advisors can play a major role in enhancing innovation, whether they form part of the FAS or not. Advisors may form part of operational groups as one of the actorsAdvisors will be integrated in the actions of the EIP in particular because of their mediator role via EIP Network. Advisors will help sharing of innovative solutions among farmers and avoid frontrunner approachesThe EIP network can support advisors in providing ready to use research results and examples of good innovation practices. Moreover, advisors may indicate practical stumbling stones for the implementation of existing solutions and reveal needs for further research related to productivity and sustainability.[MSs FAS coordinating bodies may play a coordinating role]

Support from the EU for knowledge exchange

Rural Development funds provide for financing if the Member State makes it part of its Rural Development Plan(s):Support for the use of advice by farmers, the setting up of farm advisory services and for the training of advisors: 50% co-financingCooperation support: 80% co-financingSupport for knowledge transfer & inf. actions: 80% co-financing40% + top up 20% support rate for collective investments[100% for funds transferred from first pillar for operations with a significant contribution to innovation relevant to agricultural productivity and sustainability: capping on a voluntary basis]RD programmes have a horizontal priority on knowledge transfer and innovationNational rural networks support network activities for innovation

RD Support from EU for knowledge exchange

Support for Operational Groups (OGs) covers both setting up EIP OGs funding their operations:

- Support for the development of new products, practices, processes and technologies - Support for "pilot projects, pursuing the testing and adaptation of technologies, processes etc. to "new" geographical/environmental contexts (i.e. contexts in which they have not yet been used)The cooperation measure also supports many other activities which pursue the objectives of the EIP, e.g. support for networks, which bring together a variety of actors and by sharing needs and knowledge may initiate actions of OGs and/or support actions of existing groups.

Art 36 - cooperation measure for OGs & networks

*Innovation guidelines: 100 % bottom-up innovation projects under Rural Development (RDC 20 Feb 2013)Establishment of operational groups (Art. 36) can be 100% bottom-upCriteria can be related to:- relevance of the project for actors and end-users*- targeted composition of the partners in view of co-creation*- quality & quantity of knowledge exchange & cross-fertilisation- demonstrating competences on state of play/avoiding repetition- easy understandable & long-term communication effect(*evidence from examples collected by the KT & I focus group (ENRD))

*Innovation guidelines: innovation brokerage under Rural Development (RDC 20 Feb 2013) Innovation brokerage can be supported via- technical assistance (Art 55 (2)) - animation under the co-operation measure (Art 36 (5)) - advisory services (Art 16 (1))

Horizon 2020 funding will provide for opportunities for actors to be active and update/exchange their knowledge via :Forming part of a consortium in a multi-actor research project, e.g. for a workpackage (e.g demo, farm experim, calculation)Integration of hands on mixed operational groups in multi-actor projects Thematic networks.Be active in agriwikipedia?First actions already in FP7 WP 2013 (call closed Feb 2013): A boosting translation project will be collecting research results and translating them into understandable and concise information. This could serve as practical input for testing in OGs and giving feedback to researchers for further research workJoining in actions of Horizon 2020 Research Framework 2014-2020

Advisors are key for innovation

3. Multi-actor projects to boost innovation-Under Horizon 2020as discussed in the SCAR AKIS CWG

1. Legal base under Horizon 2020Horizon 2020 Regulation:

A multi-actor approach" "will ensure the necessary cross-fertilising interactions between researcher, businesses, farmers/producers, advisors and end-users".

This approach fully matches with the concept of OG and the EIP interactive innovation model

1. Legal base under Horizon 2020Specific Programme Horizon 2020:

"The impact and dissemination of research results will be actively supported through specific actions on communication, knowledge exchange and the involvement of various actors all along the projects.

"increased participation of farms, fishermen and other types of micro-enterprises in research and demonstration activities. The specific needs of the primary production sector for innovation support services and outreach structures will be taken into account.

1. Legal base under Horizon 2020Specific Programme Horizon 2020:

"The impact and dissemination of research results will be actively supported through specific actions on communication, knowledge exchange and the involvement of various actors all along the projects.

"increased participation of farms, fishermen and other types of micro-enterprises in research and demonstration activities. The specific needs of the primary production sector for innovation support services and outreach structures will be taken into account.

2. Features for multi-actor projects1. Relevance of the research object for end-users: (importance of subject, demand driven, complementarity, creativity, absorption capacity)2. Targeted composition of the partnership of actors(coverage of partners, complementarity, adequacy, )3. Refining of possible solutions: knowledge exchange and cross-fertilisation during the project (actions generating co-ownership)4. Short-term dissemination (via involvement of actors & end-users, expertise and track record of actors, translation)5. Long-term dissemination (output and outreach)

3. Innovation brokering in & outside multi-actor projectsInnovation broker: (Source: Howells, 2006) an organization or body that acts as an agent or broker in any aspect of the innovation process between two or more parties. Such intermediary activities include: helping to provide information about potential collaborators; brokering a transaction between two or more parties; acting as a mediator, or go-between bodies or organizations that are already collaborating; and helping find advice, funding and support for the innovation outcomes of such collaborations.(see EIP Kick-off event 19 Nov 2013 for the brokering process)

3. Innovation brokering .in & outside multi-actor projects- As an element in multi-actor projects (for subjects linked to the call topic in the H2020 workprogramme)- Generating blue sky ideas from practice via brokering to turn them into innovation (innovation guidelines "100% bottom-up innovation": e.g. example 6 of the EIP event)- Learning from each other: a CSA/thematic network for innovation brokers (including future innovation brokers?)

4. Thematic networks to boost innovation-Under Horizon 2020as discussed in the SCAR AKIS CWG

Who?Involving all concerned stakeholders (researchers, farmers, advisors, enterprises, education, NGOs, administration, regulatory bodies): no pure research networksStocktaking, mapping and state-of-the-art of existing scientific knowledge & best practices: what do we have/what do we miss to make usedDevelop tools and instruments to facilitate the discussion on, sharing and dissemination of knowledge in an easy accessible way: end-user materialThematic networks

End-user material !Generate input for a research database for end-users (long term availability of results in a common format and translated into EU languages)Feeding into education (schools, higher education) and lifelong learning (vocational training for advisors and farmers)

Link to demonstration or pilot (?)Test idea in WP 2014Thematic networks

Themes?Themes may be linked to Sectors, e.g. arable crops, fruit&veg, pig,) or,Subjects, e.g. crop rotation, certain farming practices, energy, eco-system services, social services, biobased products, short chains,or ? (Exercise in AKIS 3rd workshop)Thematic networks

As they bring together possible actors, they may help the connecting and building of EU Operational groups & multi-actor projectsFacilitate exchange of knowledge on a specific theme, improve coordination, avoid overlapping of relevant activitiesPossible subnetworks with a more limited focus, e.g. the local/regional/national level or for a specific crop/product/farming type (see Dairyman example)

Thematic networks

regional: (subnetwork could be in a region, on a specific crop, farming system,interregions and MS: Think tank, generating knowledge exchange & end-user material , listing practice needs for research

Example: Dairyman

to exchange knowledge between all actors in the EUThe EIP can help to make innovation happen:Lets move on...

Advisors are key for innovation and an Agriculture of Knowledge..

Join the EIP

Thank you for your attention!

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/eip/index_en.htm (Kick-off event 19 Nov 2012)

AGRI research and innovation 7 March 2012 Kick-off event:http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/events/research-conference-2012_en.htm

Inge.Van-Oost@ec.europa.eu

********Rural Development Programmes:Cooperation (establishing operational groups)Pilot and demonstration projectsKnowledge transfer and advisory servicesInvestmentQuality schemesEuropean Union Research Policy (Horizon 2020)Research projects enhancing the knowledge baseClusters of innovation actions and multi-actor projectsSupport for innovation brokers and innovation centresOn-farm experiments

Rural Development Programmes:Cooperation (establishing operational groups)Pilot and demonstration projectsKnowledge transfer and advisory servicesInvestmentQuality schemesEuropean Union Research Policy (Horizon 2020)Research projects enhancing the knowledge baseClusters of innovation actions and multi-actor projectsSupport for innovation brokers and innovation centresOn-farm experiments

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