Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

End-users’ involvement in the preliminary phases of innovation projects

Important activities that projects should plan are training sessions and workshops. They will enable the project to understand end-user needs and to disseminate outside the network. As farmers need to be involved from the preliminary phases of the project, these tools have proven to be an efficient strategy to engage with them. We suggest, if possible, creating a community of end-users before the start of the project. The Thematic Network (TN) Smart AKIS (https://www.smart-akis.com/) successfully involved traditional media and farmers from the beginning, successfully adjusting the originally planned path in favour of their needs.



Two efficient ways of collecting end-user inputs are questionnaires, and face-to-face interviews, which can then be discussed during the workshops. Their outcomes can be verified by establishing focus groups.



To have a successful end-user involvement, each project should create a space where the end-users can feel comfortable and are willing to participate. This can be done by

• Explaining how they can benefit from the project

• Organising an informal scenario while meeting them (with food and drink)

• Existing networks and groups should be utilised to further engage them

• Update them regularly during the lifetime of the project. They will feel that their input was valuable

• Contact them directly, this will implement their trust in the interviewer and project.

• Invite them to project events, they will feel involved.

• Cover and compensate end-user’s costs while joining project events

Source Project
EURAKNOS
Ongoing | 2019-2021
Main funding source
Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
Belgium
Project details

Project Keywords