Presentation of the EIP & EIP network

Martin Scheele DG AGRI

The European Innovation Partnership „Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability“

Moving Agriculture Ahead!

Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development

Martin Scheele

• Europe 2020 Strategy: Crucial role of research and innovation

in preparing the EU for the future challenges

• The Europe 2020 flagship initiative "Innovation Union"

specifies European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) as a new tool

for fostering innovation

• The “Budget for Europe 2020" foresees 4.5 billion Euros for

research and innovation in the field of food security, bio-

economy and sustainable agriculture

• CAP reform package gives innovation a key role for

sustainable agriculture and rural development

Context

General Principles

The EIP shall provide challenge-driven solutions based on:

• interlinking existing innovation-related measures and initiatives

• facilitating communication among stakeholders and creating workable links between science and practice

• providing EU value added through networking and enhancing complementarity

• achieving synergies and enhancing effectiveness of existing instruments

• using a lean governance structure, based on existing mechanisms

Food

Biodiversity

Habitats Economic

Viability

Climate Change

Resource-

management

Bioenergy

Biomass

Supply Chain

Integration

Challenges and Opportunities

Closing The Innovation GAP

Research

Farming Practice

Resu

lts

Feed

back

Inte

rac

tion

Closing The Innovation GAP

Research

Resu

lts

Feed

back

Inte

rac

tion

Farming Practice Farming Practice Interaction

The Interactive Innovation Model

• The innovation model of the agricultural EIP goes far beyond speeding up transfer "from laboratory to market" ("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.

• Knowledge "exchange" generates new insights and ideas and integrates existing tacit knowledge. It also helps to better target the research agenda towards practice needs.

Means

Rural Development Programmes:

• Setting up "operational groups" involving farmers, advisor, agribusiness, research, and NGOs

• Combining the setting up of operational groups with project funding (investment, knowledge transfer, advisory services)

• Establishing "innovation brokers"

European Union Research Policy (Horizon 2020)

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

• Interactive formats such as multi-actor projects and thematic networks

(1) fostering knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry, and rural areas with a focus on the following areas:

(a) fostering innovation and the knowledge base in rural areas;

(b) strengthening the links between agriculture and forestry and research and innovation;

(c) fostering lifelong learning and vocational training in the agricultural and forestry sectors.

Priorities for Rural Development (Article 5)

• Secure, sufficient supplies of safe and high quality food and other bio-based products,

• Develop productive and resource-efficient primary production systems

• Foster related ecosystem services, alongside competitive and low carbon supply chains.

• Accelerate the transition to a sustainable European bioeconomy

Aims of "Societal Challenge 2" on Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and the Bio-Economy

- Horizon 2020 Regulation – Annex I -

Farmers

NGOs Advisors

Researchers

Agri- business Operational

Group

Key Acting Entities Within the EIP

- Operational Groups -

Operational Groups of the EIP are:

Built around concrete innovation projects targeted towards finding innovative solutions for a specific challenges or new opportunities

A combination of different competencies (practical and scientific), needed for implementing a concrete project or mission

Action- and result-oriented "hands-on" groups (no balanced representation needed) aiming to benefit from interaction for co-creation and cross-fertilisation

Composed, in different constellations, by innovation actors such as farmers, scientists, advisors, agri-business, and NGOs

Concept of Operational Groups

Operational Group Horizon

2020

National Funds ERDF

Private Funds

Rural Develop-

ment

Different Sources of Funding for Operational Groups

Operational Group

Different Sources of Funding for Operational Groups

Rural Develop-

ment

Horizon 2020

ERDF National

Funds 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

EIP Network

NW NW

NW

Focus group

Focus group

Focus group

Focus group

Focus group

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG OG OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

OG

Workshop

Workshop

Workshop

Seminar

Seminar

Seminar

Network Function of the EIP

• Collecting information (research and innovation projects etc.)

• Effective flow of information (website, helpdesk function)

• Exchange on overall innovation topics (seminars, workshops)

• Sharing knowledge on concrete practical work (focus groups)

• Systematic feedback about practice needs (e.g. to SCAR)

EIP Network

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”)

• Bio-economy: 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)

Rural Development

Policy:

• Cooperation

• Innovation brokers

• Knowledge transfer

• Pilot projects

• Advisory services

• Investment

Research & Innovation

Framework: • Research projects • Multi-actor projects • Thematic networks

Operational

Groups Operational

Groups

Operational

Groups Operational

Groups

Operational

Groups

Member

States

Programmes

ETPs, ERA-

Nets, JPIs,

etc.

EIP

Network

Rural

Development

Committee

Rural

Development

Network

Steering Group

Steering Board

European Innovation Partnership

‚Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability ‘

Standing

Committee

on Agricultural

Research

(SCAR)

Farmers . Advisers . Enterprises . Scientists. NGOs

Horizon 2020

Programme

Committee

Milestones

• February 2012: Communication on the EIP "Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability"

• November 2012: Stakeholder Conference on EIP Priorities and Delivery Mechanisms

• December 2012: Workshop on the scope of Rural Development Policy for fostering the EIP (as a part of a ENRD conference on Rural Development Programming)

• January 2013: Discussion in SCAR (AKIS) of the Annual Work Programme 2013 for the EIP Network

• February 2013: First meeting of the High Level Steering Board (HLSB) setting the terms for the Strategic Implementing Plan

• April 2013: Meeting of HLSB Sherpa group to discuss and further elaborate draft Strategic Implementing Plan (prepared by Sherpa drafting groups)

• April 2013: Signature of the contract for EIP Service Point

• May 2013: 1st call for expression of interest for EIP Focus Groups (organic farming, protein crops, antibiotic use)

• June: Seminar on EIP programming in national and regional Rural Development Programmes (hosted by Spain)

• July 2013: Second meeting of the High Level Steering Board aiming to adopt the Strategic Implementing Plan

Milestones

• September 2013: 2nd call for expression of interest for EIP Focus Groups (genetic resources, soil, integrated pest management)

• December 2013: EIP Workshop on integrating research activities and projects of Rural Development Programmes

• From 2014: First call for proposal under Horizon 2020

• From 2014: Implementation of RD Programme, including the setting up of Operational Groups under RD Programmes

• From 2014: Continued implementation of Annual Work Programmes of the EIP Network Service Point

Milestones

Thank you for your attention!