Exploring regional disparities and stakeholder engagement in Slovenian EIP-AGRI projects

Mikolič, Sara (author), Potočnik Slavič, Irma (author)

The European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) was introduced to enhance EU’s capacity for agricultural innovation by bridging the gap between research and practise. This paper explores the implementation of EIP-AGRI Operational Groups in Slovenia, focusing on spatial distribution, stakeholder networks, and thematic priorities. Findings indicate that farmers often take a passive role in innovation processes. Strengthening their role as co-creators could improve applicability impact. Environmental sustainability and climate adaptation are key thematic priorities, but project selection remains administratively driven rather than reflecting stakeholder needs. A higher concentration is found in the Eastern and Central Slovenia, likely due to agriculture’s role, farm density, as well as support networks, including educational, research institutions and advisory services.

• Language: English
• Keywords: EIP-AGRI Operational Groups, agricultural innovation, multi-actor networks, innovation and agricultural policies
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 89-104
• Numbering: 20, [št.] 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-176725
• UDC: 338.3:43(497.4)
• ISSN on article: 1854-665X
• DOI: 10.18690/rg.20.1.5041
• COBISS.SI-ID: 246643459
• Publication date in RUL: 10.12.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Revija za geografijo
• Publisher: Univerza v Mariboru, Filozofska fakulteta, Univerza v Mariboru, Filozofska fakulteta, Univerzitetna založba Univerze v Mariboru
• ISSN: 1854-665X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 229718016

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Analiza regionalnih razlik in vključenosti različnih deležnikov v EIP-AGRI projektih v Sloveniji

Abstract

Evropsko partnerstvo za inovacije na področju kmetijske produktivnosti in trajnosti (EIP-AGRI) je bilo uvedeno z namenom krepitve inovacijske zmogljivosti in premostitve vrzeli med raziskavami in prakso. V prispevku preučujemo prostorsko razporeditev, mreže akterjev in deležnikov ter tematska področja EIP-AGRI operativnih skupin v Sloveniji. Ugotovitve kažejo, da imajo kmetje pogosto pasivno vlogo. Krepitev njihove vloge kot so-ustvarjalcev inovacij bi lahko izboljšala praktično uporabo in zagotovila dolgoročni učinek. Ključni tematski področji sta okoljska trajnost in prilagajanje podnebnim spremembam, vendar njun izbor predvsem določajo administrativna merila. Večja zgostitev EIP-AGRI projektov je v vzhodni in osrednji Sloveniji, kar je povezano z vlogo kmetijstva, številom kmetij, pa tudi z mrežnim delovanjem podpornega okolja (izobraževalno-raziskovalne ustanove, kmetijska svetovalna služba).

• Keywords: EIP-AGRI operativne skupine, kmetijske inovacije, večdeležniški projekti, inovacijske in kmetijske politike