EU thematic knowledge hubs
The EU thematic knowledge hubs will build on the strengths of the thematic and advisory networks to improve the flow of knowledge within Europe’s AKIS. They will aim to widely disseminate information on specific themes among practitioners, contributing to a more informed, interconnected and engaged AKIS community.
The hubs will serve as central reference points for valuable content, making it easier for users to access thematic research results, innovative solutions, practical knowledge and inspirational ideas.
Knowledge hubs will put a stronger focus on how innovations and results are communicated, using formats tailored to practitioners’ needs: videos, interactive workshops, and digital tools. Beyond gathering thematic results, they will offer services that enhance networking, cross-fertilisation and knowledge exchange between the different AKIS actors.
The first two hubs will focus on protein crop competitiveness and sustainable water management. They will align and connect results from Horizon projects, EIP-AGRI Operational Groups, and nationally-funded projects, ensuring that knowledge is shared and applied across AKIS actors throughout Europe.
Although knowledge hubs are new, they will build on earlier initiatives and projects, ensuring complementarities between them.
The Swedish Knowledge Hub for the Digitalisation of Agriculture promotes digital technologies in agriculture. Led by Linköping University, it connects farmers, researchers and tech firms, shares knowledge, offers advice, identifies needs, tests solutions on farms, and supports EU projects such as Tools4CAP and Farmtopia.
Examples from EIP-AGRI projects
- Horizon Europe project SHERPA developed a rural knowledge repository, increasing access to rural innovation outcomes.
- Horizon Europe project AdvisoryAgriHub pools results from five advisory networks (fertilisation, pest management, livestock, forestry, organic farming) into one shared platform.
- EIP-AGRI Operational Group HARMONY is a farmer-controlled digital hub integrating livestock data for real-time decisions and sector innovation.