• the preparation of high-quality proposals for the Horizon Europe Cluster 6 calls in the fields of agriculture and rural areas, creating linkages between EIP-AGRI Operational Groups and Horizon projects, and
• the identification of opportunities for scaling up and scaling out innovations developed under Horizon and the Common Agricultural Policy, thereby maximising their contribution to a more competitive, sustainable and resilient agriculture, and rural areas.

Objectives

The scope of the event was related to selected topics that are included in the calls for proposals for the Horizon Europe R&I Cluster 6 work programme 2025. The topics were grouped into the following thematic areas:

• digital and data technologies
• sustainable, healthy and resilient crop and livestock production
• new business models and value chains
• circular water management and soil health

In addition to Horizon Europe, other funding opportunities were explored to enhance further innovation and collaboration across the sector. These include the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Institute of Technology (EIT), the European Innovation Council (EIC), and other relevant European and national, private and public funding mechanisms.

During the event, participants interested in becoming project coordinators could attend a training session that provided essential skills, insights into key responsibilities, and practical guidance on managing projects effectively.

The specific objectives of the event were to:

• facilitate the exchange of experiences and insights on the preparation of high-quality proposals for the Horizon Europe calls for Cluster 6, with a focus on the involvement of EIP-AGRI OGs in Horizon multi-actor projects (MAPs), and enhancing cooperation possibilities for EIP-AGRI projects
• create an exchange forum to foster collaboration and networking among MAPs and EIP-AGRI OGs, innovation brokers, advisors, farmers, and private and public funding organisations
• showcase innovations, stemming from Horizon and EIP-AGRI OG projects that address concrete needs from practice and that are suitable for further development, market uptake, up-scaling and commercialisation, addressing needs from practice
• increase participants’ awareness of available funding opportunities, including CAP, EIB, EIT, EIC and other mechanisms to further develop and scale up practical and innovative results

Main target groups

This event was dedicated to matchmaking and networking among key stakeholders in agricultural and rural innovation. Target groups included representatives of R&I projects (EIP-AGRI OGs and Horizon-funded MAPs), National Contact Points (NCPs), farmers and organisations, innovation brokers, advisors, private and public funding organisations, EU R&I partnerships (Animal Health and Welfare, Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures, and Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking), businesses and networks, Managing Authorities (MAs), National CAP Networks (NNs), innovation support services, journalists, researchers including universities and spin-offs, venture capital, etc.

For registered event participants only

Visit the virtual event platform to connect with other participants and access all event documents.