EIP Agri: Aims, focus groups and multi-actor-projects

How to use ERA-Net results for EIP activities?

Krijn J. Poppe (SCAR AKIS) with thanks to Inge Van Oost (European Commission DG AGRI) for Commission slides

Meeting ERAnets ICT AGRI and SUSFOOD, Bonn, 2014

My introduction

Co-chair Strategic Working Group AKIS (Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems)

of the EU SCAR (Standing Committee on Agricultural Research)

Economist and Research Manager at LEI Wageningen UR

With a link to ICT Research in the Future Internet PPP• Smart AgriFood• Fispace• Smart AgriFood2 and FInish

• The establishment of European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) in different sectors represents a new approach under the Europe 2020 Strategy to advance EU research and innovation.

• The Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative "Innovation Union" specifies European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) as a new tool for fostering innovation through linking existing policies and instruments

EIPs - a new Europe 2020 Strategy approach

• Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (COM (2012)79)

• Overarching concept – funding in CAP-RD and H2020 Research funds, et al

• Based on interactive innovation model:

linking up multiple actors for creation and diffusion of knowledge.

• Key entities: Operational Groups

• EU wide EIP network: communication, partnering, dissemination, knowledge flows and collecting practice needs http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/eip/documents/eip-opportunities_en.htm#eip-origins-of-eip-agri

The EIP-AGRI in short

Innovation is a broad concept

The implementation of a new or significantly improved product (good or service), or process, a new marketing method, or a new organisational method in business practices, workplace organisation or external relations. [source: OECD]

Also the public sector can innovate ! (and public aspects of agriculture)

Social Innovation

●The concept of social innovation originates in critiques of traditional innovation theory. By calling for social innovation, new theories point at the need to take the social mechanisms of innovation into account (social mechanisms of innovation)

●In the context of rural development, social innovation refers to the (social) objectives of innovation – that is those changes in the social fabric of rural societies, that are perceived as necessary and desirable in order to strengthening rural societies and addressing the sustainability challenge (social inclusion / equity: the innovation of society as well as the social responsibility of innovations)

7

The agro-innovation system and theory

Innovation happens in a social system: “an institutional clustering of practices among the participants (not necessarily implying consensus)” (Anthony Giddens)

Long-term infrastructural investment in ‘mental capital’ and its improvement is crucial for successful economic development and for competitive trade performance (Chris

Freeman for OECD, quoting List, Keynes, and investigating historical cases in Europe and Asia)

‘Coupling mechanisms’ between the education system, scientific institutions, R&D facilities, production and markets have been an important aspect of the institutional changes introduced in successful ‘overtaking’ countries. (Freeman)

Knowledge & Innovation System: 7 functions

1. Knowledge development and diffusion

2. Influence on direction of search and identification of opportunities

3. Entrepreneurial experimentation and management of risk and uncertainty

4. Market formation

5. Resource mobilisation

6. Legitimation

7. Development of positive externalities

(c) M. Hekkert et al.

Innovation by interaction in networks

Innovation as a process has strong learning aspects: learn how to do new things, bottom-up.

● Alternative: force (or pay for) quality standards, mandates

Thematically-focused learning networks of different actors can help.

Generating learning and innovation through interactions between the involved actors.

●participation for all in the planning of work and experiments, their execution up until the dissemination of results and the demonstration phase

Members can include farmers, extension workers, food industry, researchers, government and ngo representatives and other stakeholders.

Different objectives, methods, and public roles

Science versus Innovation driven research

Aspect Science driven research Innovation driven research

Incentive to program a topic

Emerging science that can contribute to solving a societal issue (or a scientific question)

An issue / problem in society that can be solved by new research, or a new idea to solve an existing issue

Participation of users

In demonstration phase / via research dissemination

In agenda setting, defining the problem and during the research process

Quality criteria Scientific quality Relevance (for the sector or a region)

Focus Research organisations Networks of producers and users of knowledge

Diffusion model Linear model System (network) approachType of government policy

Science / Research Policy Innovation Policy

Economic line of thinking Macro-economics Systems of innovation

Type of research

Interdisciplinary with absorption capacity in AKIS (to work with material science, ICT, chemistry etc.).

Transdisciplinary and translational with close interactions.

• Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (COM (2012)79)

• Overarching concept – funding in CAP-RD and H2020 Research funds, et al

• Based on interactive innovation model:

linking up multiple actors for creation and diffusion of knowledge.

• Key entities: Operational Groups

• EU wide EIP network: communication, partnering, dissemination, knowledge flows and collecting practice needs http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/eip/documents/eip-opportunities_en.htm#eip-origins-of-eip-agri

The EIP-AGRI in short

Rural Development Horizon 2020

• Funding for setting up of an “Operational Group“: farmers, advisors, agribusiness, researchers, NGOs, etc) planning an innovation project (Art 35)

• Project funding for the Operational Group’s project (Art 35). This co-operation could be combined with other measures (investment, knowledge transfer, advice)

• Supporting innovation support services

• Research projects, including on-farm experiments to provide the knowledge base for innovative actions

• Interactive innovation formats such as multi-actor projects and thematic networks genuinely involving farmers, advisors, entreprises,…."all along the project"

eip-agri

European Innovation Partnership

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ERANETs JPIs

EIP-Agri’s Operational

Groups

Operational Groups in Rural Development Programmes 2014-2020

• A group is implementing one concrete innovation project

• Combines the different competencies (practical and scientific: farmers, advisors, researchers etc), needed for the concrete project objectives

• The groups works action- and result-oriented, aiming to benefit from interaction for co-creation and cross-fertilisation (interactive innovation)

• Support for setting up the group and/or for the costs of the project of the group (Art 35)

Innovation Support Services

• Promoting innovation and innovation funding formats

• Brainstorming events and animation of (thematic) groups

• Brokering function for setting up operational groups

• Coordination and facilitation of projects as an intermediate between partners

• Dissemination of innovative results

Network Function of the EIP

• Collect information (research and innovation projects etc.) and best innovation practices

• Effective flow of information (interactive 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)

EIPNetwork

(Focus groups form part of the networking function of the EIP: up to 20 experts - typically: scientists, farmers, advisors)

Focus on practical knowledge in a particular field, and where to get that knowledge, organised in 4 strands:

1. Take stock of the state of the art of practice (list of best practices), listing problems and opportunities

2. Take stock of the state of the art of research, summarizing possible solutions to the problems listed (incl. list of useful projects with the contacts)

3. Identify needs from practice: dissemination and propose further research where needed

4. Propose priorities for innovative actions, e.g. list of ideas for future interactive OG projects

Focus groups

May 2013: 1. Organic farming - optimizing arable yields2. Protein crops3. Animal husbandry – reduction of antibiotics use in the pig sectorSept 2013: 4. Genetic resources co-operation models 5. Soil organic matter content in Mediterranean regions6. Integrated pest management (IPM) – BrassicaMarch 20147 High Nature Value (HNV) farming profitability8 Mainstreaming precision farming9 Profitability of permanent grassland10 Fertiliser efficiency – focus on horticulture in open field

Focus Groups 2013 - 2014

Interactive innovation and transdisciplinary research

Large pool of OGs

Many Networks

OperationalGroup

Thematic Network Multi-stakeholder Research Project

Farmers For replication and up-scaling:• End user material• Identify blockades• Research agenda

Transdisciplinary research:Operational Groups as cases and co-innovatorsNGO

Food company

Researcher

SeveralProjects

Focus groups

─ Fostering co-creation of knowledge in research and innovation projects through the so-called "Multi-actor approach"

─ Fostering knowledge exchange through Thematic Networks producing end-user oriented material (Coordination and Support Actions)

─ Establishment of research and innovation priorities taking account of the practice needs channelled through the AGRI European Innovation Partnership (Art. 12 H2020 Regulation)

How will Horizon 2020 boost interactive innovation ?

Thematic networks in Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2014-2015

• Projects involving all concerned actors (researchers, farmers, advisors, enterprises, education, NGOs, administration, regulatory bodies, EIP project groups…): no pure research networks

• Projects must develop end-user material for practice, such as info sheets in a common format and audio-visual material, that is long-term available and easy understandable, to be shared through the EIP (input for education and a research web-database for end-users)

• Partners should synthesise, discuss and present existing scientific knowledge & best practices, with a focus on: what do we have/what do we miss to be used

• Themes can be linked to products or sectors, e.g. arable crops, fruits, vegetables, pig,…etc) or a broad range of cross-cutting subjects, e.g. crop rotation, certain farming practices, energy, implementation approaches of a directive, eco-system services, social services, bio-based products, short supply chains,…etc

• As they bring together possible actors, thematic networks help the connecting and building of EIP interactive innovation groups & multi-actor projects

Thematic networks in Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2014-2015

Thematic networks in H2020 call 2014-2015

Topic ISIB 2 – 2015: call published 22 July 2014

5 networks on specific themes to be proposed bottom-up:

Sharing and presenting best practices and research results focusing on themes and issues that are near to be put into practice, but not known or tested by practitioners

1 stage-calls

Thematic network topics in 2014 & 2015

ISIB- 2 Closing the research and innovation divide (knowledge exchange)

Call 2014: deadline for proposals 26/6/2014

Call 2015: deadline for proposals 11/6/2015

WATER-4B:

Harnassing R&I results for industry, agriculture, policy makers and citizens: thematic network on water in agriculture (Soc Ch 5)

Call 2015: deadline for proposals 10/3/2015

• "multi-actor" is more than a strong dissemination requirement or what a broad stakeholders' board can deliver

• "all along the project" *: a clear role for the different actors in the work plan, from the participation in the planning of work and experiments, their execution up until the dissemination of results and the possible demonstration phase.

• Project proposals should illustrate sufficient quantity and quality of knowledge exchange activities

This should generate innovative solutions that are more likely to be applied thanks to the cross-fertilisation* of ideas between actors, the co-creation and the generation of co-ownership for eventual results.

(*legal base in Specific Programme)

Multi-actor projects in Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2014-2015

A multi-actor project needs to take into account:• how the project proposal's objectives and planning are

targeted to needs / problems and opportunities of end-users

• the composition of the project consortium must get sufficient involvement of key actors with complementary types of knowledge (scientific and practical) to reach the project objectives and make its results broadly implemented.

Facilitation between actors and openness to involve additional partners in the project, for instance relevant groups operating in the EIP context, are strongly recommended.

Multi-actor projects in Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2014-2015

2 stage-call – topics for the call published 22 July 2014 (deadline for proposals 3/2/2015)

Which multi-actor projects in 2015?

SFS-1C Sustainable terrestrial livestock production: Assessing sustainability of livestock production

SFS-2B: Sustainable crop production: Assessing soil-improving cropping systems

SFS-5 Strategies for crop productivity, stability and quality SFS-13 Biological contamination of crops and the food chain SFS-20 Sustainable food chains through public policies: the

cases of the EU quality policy and of public sector food procurement

WASTE 7

Ensuring sustainable use of agricultural waste, co-products and by-products (Soc Ch 5)

ISIB-4B Improved data and management models for sustainable forestry

Practical tips and further implications

How can a researcher find other stakeholders ?

●Many do have contacts in their region with farmers, extensionists, food companies

●Many have international contacts with other researchers (that have local contacts)

●Search LinkedIn, join Eur. Assocations

●And ICT is at your disposal...

And how about my publication and citation indices ?

●Review papers and transdisciplinary research can be published (be creative !)

●Incentives on excellence should be complemented by indicators for relevance and impact

Multi-actor innovation benefits from ICT

Software type Tools evaluated Successful examples

Knowledge portals (KP) Search engines: Google, YahooSlide and document sharing: SlideshareVideo and photo sharing: YouTube, Flickr

VOA3R, eXtension, Chil

E-document management systems ( E-MS)

Digital libraries: Groen Kennisnet in NL, Organic Eprints

Organic Eprints, Agriwebinar

Data Warehouse (DW) Eurostat, FADN FADNGroupware (GW) Wikipedia, Yammer,

CrowdsourcingBritish Farming Forum, Lego Cuusoo, Climate CoLab, P&G Connect+Develop, Betacup Challenge

Community of practice (CoP) ResearchGate, Erfaland Disease surveillance and warning systems, IDRAMAP

Social communities of interest (SCI)

Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Ning, Quora

AgTalk+, E-Agriculture, Jeunes-agricultuers, Rede Inovar

Individual communities of interest (ICI)

Wordpress, Twitter, Blogs AG Chat

Use networks or post in social media to find partners at farm

level.And database Operational Groups

will be created

In ICT you can get inspired by the FI-PPP

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service available Call closes 15 November 2014

Visit us at: www.smartagrifood.com

EIP workshop 14/1/2014 on multi-actor projects and thematic networks

Multi-actor projects and thematic networks:

http://vimeo.com/84381196

Proposal submission and evaluation:

http://vimeo.com/84381198

Multi-actor project example:

http://vimeo.com/84385119

Video, including Q & A session, and presentations on

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/eip/events/eip-research-workshop-2014_en.htm

More info on Multi-actor projects and Thematic networks in WP 2014-2015:

Follow the EIP website (newsletters, info, examples, and for common EIP formats for the output of thematic networks):

Info on EIP formats under Horizon 2020:http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/eip/pdf/fact-sheet-horizon-2020_en.pdf

Looking for partners in Horizon 2020 multi-actor projects or thematic networks?http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Partner-Search-Horizon-2020-Food-7416906

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/eip/index_en.htm

Factsheet on innovation support: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/eip/events/berlin-11-2013/innovation-support-services_en.pdf

More info on Multi-actor projects and Thematic networks in WP 2014-2015:

Thank you for your attention

krijn.poppe@wur.nl

www.lei.wur.nl

References• Reflection paper AKIS 1• Orientation paper AKIS 2• Summarizing powerpoint

presentation available on SlideShare