The European Innovation Partnership (EIP)
„Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability“
Moving Innovation in Agriculture Ahead !
EUFRAS Workshop – Wroclaw - 26 February 2013
Inge Van Oost – DG Agriculture and Rural Development
Context
• Europe 2020 Strategy: Crucial role of research and innovation
in preparing the EU for the future challenges
• CAP reform package gives innovation a key role for
sustainable agriculture and rural development
• The “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 agriculture
• The Europe 2020 flagship initiative "Innovation Union"
specifies European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) as a new tool
for fostering innovation
Challenges and Opportunities
Biodiversity
Habitats
Economic
Viability
Food
Bio-energy
Biomass
Climate Change
Resourcemanagement
Supply Chain
Integration
Closing The Innovation GAP
Interaction
Results
Advisors
Feedback
Research
Farming Practice
What is Innovation ?
In short: ideas put into practice with success
•new, 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
organization
•innovation 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) knowledge
•In 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 Model
• The 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.
1.1. The EIP interlinking policy
instruments
2.
3.for synergy
General Principles
The 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 practice
• providing EU value added through networking and
enhancing complementarity
• using a lean governance structure, based on existing
mechanisms
EIP Implementation via
Rural Development Programmes
• Establishing “operational groups” (Art 62) involving
farmers, advisors, agribusiness, research, NGOs, etc
• Support for Operational Groups (OGs) (Art 36) covers both
 setting up of EIP OGs
 funding 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 network
• Possible combination of cooperation in "operational groups"
with other measures such as knowledge transfer, advisory
services, investment aid, quality schemes etc.
EIP Implementation via the
European Union Research Policy (Horizon 2020)
• Research projects enhancing
including on-farm experiments
the
knowledge
base,
• Support for practice-oriented formats such as multiactor projects, and support for innovation brokers,
innovation centres, and thematic networks
• Calls 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
Key Acting Entities Within the EIP
- Operational Groups -
Farmers
NGOs
Agribusiness
Advisors
Operational
Group
Researchers
Different Sources of Funding
for Operational Groups
Rural
National
Operational
Horizon
Private
ERDF
DevelopFunds
2020
Funds
Group
ment
Different Sources of Funding
for Operational Groups
Horizon
2020
National
Funds
Rural
Development
ERDF
Private
Funds
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
NW
Workshop
OG
OG
OG
OG
OG
OG
OG
OG
Seminar
Focus
group
Focus
group
OG
OG
Seminar
OG
NW
OG
OG
NW
OG
OG
EIP
Network
Focus
group
OG
OG
Focus
group
Workshop
OG
OG
OG
Focus
group
OG
OG
NW
OG
Workshop
OG
OG
OG
OG
OG
OG
OG
OG
Seminar
EIP
Network
Network Function of the EIP
• Collect information (research and innovation projects etc.) and
best innovation practices
• Effective flow of information (website, databases)
• Give advice on opportunities within policies (helpdesk function)
• Sharing knowledge on concrete practical work and connect
actors
• Systematic feedback to the scientific community about practice
needs (Art.12 H2020)
Areas of Innovative Actions as outlined
in the EIP Communication (COM (2012)79)
• Primary production: technical solutions to increasing
productivity and economic viability
• Resource 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 loss
• Supply 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)
Research & Innovation
Framework:
Steering Board
SIP & Sherpas
European Innovation Partnership
Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability
Rural
Development
Network
Steering Group
Rural
Development
Committee
EIP
Network
Eip network
facility
AWP
•
•
•
•
•
Standing
Committee
on Agricultural
Research
(SCAR) AKIS
Rural Development
Policy:
•
•
•
•
•
•
CWG
ETPs, ERANets, JPIs,
etc.
Operational
Groups
Innovation guidelines
Knowledge transfer
Cooperation
Pilot projects
Demonstration
Advisory services
Investment
Research projects
Multi-actor projects
Pilot project clusters
Innovation brokers
On-farm experiments
Member
States
Programmes
Operational
Groups
Operational
Groups
Horizon 2020
Programme
Committee
Operational
Groups
Operational
Groups
Farmers . Advisers . Enterprises . Scientists. NGOs
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 actors
Advisors 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 approaches
The 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
RD Support from 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% cofinancing
• Cooperation support: 80% co-financing
• Support for knowledge transfer & inf. actions: 80% co-financing
• 40% + 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 innovation
National rural networks support network activities for innovation
Art 36 - “cooperation measure” for OGs & networks
• 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.
Innovation guidelines: 100 % bottom-up
innovation projects under Rural Development
(RDC 20 Feb 2013)
• Establishment of operational groups (Art. 36) can be 100% bottom-up
• Criteria 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))
24
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))
25
Joining in actions of Horizon 2020
Research Framework 2014-2020
• 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 work
Advisors are key for innovation
3. Multi-actor projects to boost
innovation
Under Horizon 2020
as discussed in the SCAR AKIS CWG
1. Legal base under Horizon 2020
Horizon 2020 Regulation:
• A “multi-actor approach" "will ensure the necessary crossfertilising 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 2020
Specific 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 2020
Specific 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 projects
1. 1. Relevance of the research object for end-users:
2. (importance of subject, demand driven, complementarity,
creativity, absorption capacity…)
3. 2. Targeted composition of the partnership of actors
4. (coverage of partners, complementarity, adequacy, …)
5. 3. Refining of possible solutions: knowledge exchange
and cross-fertilisation during the project (actions
generating co-ownership)
6. 4. Short-term dissemination (via involvement of actors &
end-users, expertise and track record of actors, translation)
7. 5. Long-term dissemination (output and outreach)
3. Innovation brokering in & outside
multi-actor projects
Innovation 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 2020
as discussed in the SCAR AKIS CWG
Thematic networks
Who?
• Involving all concerned stakeholders (researchers, farmers,
advisors, enterprises, education, NGOs, administration,
regulatory bodies…):
no pure research networks
• Stocktaking, mapping and state-of-the-art of existing
scientific knowledge & best practices: what do we
have/what do we miss to make used
• Develop tools and instruments to facilitate the discussion on,
sharing and dissemination of knowledge in an easy accessible
way: end-user material
Thematic 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 2014
Thematic 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 projects
• Facilitate exchange of knowledge on a specific theme,
improve coordination, avoid overlapping of relevant activities
• Possible subnetworks with a more limited focus, e.g. the
local/regional/national level or for a specific
crop/product/farming type (see Dairyman example)
regional:
(subnetwork
could be in a
region, on a
specific crop,
farming system,…
interregions and
MS:
Think tank,
generating
knowledge
exchange & enduser material
, listing practice
needs for research
Example: Dairyman
The EIP can help to make innovation happen:
Let’s move on...
…to exchange knowledge between all actors in the EU
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