Press release of SmartAgriHubs, a brand-new, ambitious EU project that NEUROPUBLIC is a partner of and gaiasense among the Digital Innovation Hubs.
EU accelerates the digital transformation of the European agri-food sector
Brussels, 01 November 2018
The SmartAgriHubs project enables a broad
digital transformation of the European farming and food sector. With a €20
million budget co-funded by the European Union, the project aims to build an
extensive pan-European network of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs). The project starts
today on November 1st, 2018.
SmartAgriHubs: 140 Digital Innovation Hubs, 9 regional cluster & 28 flagship innovation experiments
The project has the potential to be a real
game changer in the adoption of digital solutions by the farming sector. Recent
initiatives showed the eagerness of the sector to seize the opportunities offered
by ICT, network and data–oriented technologies. However, current available
applications are still fragmented and mainly used by a small group of
early-adopters.
SmartAgriHubs will leverage, strengthen and connect
local DIHs, and 20 000 Competence Centres (CCs) throughout Europe.
SmartAgriHubs has already put together a large network of 140 DIHs by building
on its existing projects and ecosystems such as Internet
of Food and Farm (IoF2020). All DIHs are aligned with 9 regional clusters, which are led
by organizations that are closely related to national or regional digitization
initiatives and funds. This multi-layer approach is supported by 28 Innovation
experiments in which ideas, concepts and prototypes are further developed and
introduced into the market.
More than 2 million farms are expected to be
involved through 4000 experiments, bringing the process of digitization closer
to the specific needs of the farmers. Demystifying digitization is vital to the
project, helping farmers and their businesses to achieve real and attainable
results.
A multi-stakeholder approach
SmartAgriHubs brings together different
expertise and involves a broad value-chain network covering all EU member
states. The consortium includes a vast network of start-ups, SMEs, business and
service providers, technology experts and end-users. End-users from the
agri-food sector are at the heart of the project and the driving force of the
digital transformation.
Strong focus on communication, training and stakeholder engagement
SmartAgriHubs aspires to create an interconnected
ecosystem where stakeholders work together in the different phases of
innovation from early research to application on farms. Therefore, promoting
stakeholder dialogue and providing timely information on progresses and
achieved results lies at the heart of the project’s communication
activities. To involve, train and inform its audience, several tools will
be put in place by the consortium throughout the duration of the project. For
instance, in the innovation portal information will be easily accessible by
farmers and their businesses, creating an effective, efficient and satisfactory
user experience. A catalogue for farmers and agribusiness is also foreseen,
mapping the existing digital technology field, to exchange best practices among
the network.
“SmartAgriHubs will not only increase the competitiveness and sustainability of Europe’s agri-food sector. It will become the 4th industrial revolution that will strategically re-orient the digital European agricultural innovation ecosystem towards excellence and success. Together with our partners we believe SmartAgriHubs will unlock the potential of digitization by creating a pan-European network of Digital Innovation Hubs, organizing an inclusive ecosystem around them and fostering them to achieve their full innovation acceleration capacity.”
George
Beers, Project Manager at Wageningen University & Research /
SmartAgriHubs Project Coordinator
Key facts at a glance:
- Instrument: Horizon 2020, DT-RUR-12-2-18:
ICT Innovation for agriculture
- Contribution of the European
Union: €20 million
- Duration: 4 years, 2018-2022
- Consortium: 108 initial
partners, possibility to extend through open calls
- 140 digital
innovation hubs, 9 regional cluster & 28 flagship innovation
experiments
- Bridge public-private funding
by mobilising additional funding (30 M€)
- Strong focus on establishing a sustainable network of DIHs with viable business models and investment funds
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