Report Sixth Meeting of the Subgroup on Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (SoIKE)

The report describes the different sessions of the sixth meeting of the Subgroup on Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (SoIKE). This includes a welcome and introduction, with presentations from Hugo Almeida, Unit D1 ‘Rural areas and Networks’ of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), and Orsolya Frizon Somogyi, Deputy Head of Unit F2 ‘Research and Innovation’ (DG AGRI).

In Session I on 'EU CAP Network activities on innovation & knowledge exchange | EIP-AGRI: annual work programme 2024-2025', Pacôme Elouna Eyenga, Team Leader EIP-AGRI Support Facility, EU CAP Network, introduced the next annual work programme of the EIP-AGRI Support Facility.

In Session II on 'News from SoIKE members', SoIKE members had the opportunity, in small groups, to share relevant updates and activities from their country or organisation aimed at fostering innovation and knowledge exchange. Participants were then invited to share their takeaway experiences from the discussions or to share something from their own experiences.

Session III was on 'EU CAP Network activities – how are their results being used at the Member State level'. SoIKE members were introduced to two inspirational examples of what can be done as follow-up to SoIKE meetings and EU CAP Network activities. Giorgio Trentin, AREPO representative to the SoIKE, presented different follow-up steps he takes after activities that he joins. Pawel Krzeczunowicz, the Polish National Network, explained that reporting is only one aspect of following up on EU CAP Network events.

After these two presentations, there were discussions organised in smaller groups where SoIKE members shared their experiences and ideas on how the results from EU CAP Network activities are being/could be used at Member State level.

A summary of the discussion is also mentioned in the report.

Session IV was on 'Results from Operational Group projects'. Carlotta Valli, COGEA / Bip Group, presented highlights from the ‘Study on outcomes achieved by EIP-AGRI Operational Group projects under the CAP’ carried out by the EU CAP Network – European Evaluation Helpdesk for the CAP. Jenny Taylor, Swedish Board of Agriculture, presented the preliminary results of the Swedish Evaluation study of completed EIP-AGRI OG projects.