Research, innovation and knowledge exchange

The CAP and Horizon Europe

The EU supports research, innovation and knowledge exchange to deliver on the cross-cutting objective of the common agricultural policy (CAP) to address the needs of agriculture, forestry and rural areas and modernise these sectors.

The EU action for research, innovation and knowledge exchange builds on the strengths of two main policies, the EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme, known as Horizon Europe, and the CAP. They work in synergy under the common concept of the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) to stimulate co-creation, exchange of knowledge and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas.

Interactive innovation

As part of the CAP and Horizon Europe funding streams, the EU promotes the interactive innovation model following three key principles:

• focusing on actual needs of farmers, foresters and rural communities,
• bringing together project partners with complementary knowledge, and
• Practicing co-decision and co-creation throughout the entire project duration of the project.

The interactive innovation model is implemented in the CAP-funded Operational Groups and Horizon-funded multi-actor projects. In these projects, all relevant actors, such as farmers, foresters, advisors, researchers, rural actors, experts, businesses, and consumers who can contribute with complementary expertise, collaborate throughout the project. They co-decide and co-create solutions all along the project that respond to real needs on the ground. The actors involved become co-owners of the solutions, which have a greater chance to be relevant, shared and used in practice, as they are co-created with and for practitioners. This way, the interactive innovation model is expected to lead to quicker and higher impacts of the investments in research, innovation and knowledge exchange.

Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems

The Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) network is key for better access and use of knowledge and innovation in practice. AKIS is defined in Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 as the ‘combined organisation and knowledge flows between persons, organisations and institutions who use and produce knowledge for agriculture and interrelated fields’.

To reap the benefits from AKIS, the following actions need to be taken:

• enhancing and organising knowledge flows, including strengthening links between research and practice,
• improving advice and better integrating advisors within AKIS knowledge flows, and
• strengthening interactive innovation across themes, sectors and borders.

These actions within the AKIS network are essential to:

• accelerate the impact of research and innovation,
• develop the right skillset, and
• widely share and use knowledge and innovations in practice.

Networking in innovation and knowledge exchange

The EU CAP Network is a forum where National CAP organisations, administrations, researchers, entrepreneurs and practitioners come together to share knowledge and information, research needs and practical solutions in agriculture, forestry and rural development. The network offers specific support for innovation, knowledge exchange as part of EIP-AGRI by providing networking activities, learning material and managing the EIP-AGRI project database with the support of the EIP-AGRI Support Facility.