Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SMAFINE (SMart Agriculture & Food INnovation Ecosystem)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2024-02-01 do 2026-01-31
Southern Italy is characterised by a rich agrifood tradition but continues to face structural barriers that limit its innovation potential. These include fragmented ecosystems, limited international connectivity, weak investment readiness among startups and SMEs, and a lack of structured collaboration between public authorities, research institutions, industry actors and civil society. At the same time, global transitions in food systems, sustainability requirements and climate pressures create both urgency and opportunity for regions like Southern Italy to modernise their agrifood value chains and strengthen their innovation capacity.
The overall objective of the SMARTERRA powered by SMAFINE project was to build the foundations of a resilient, internationally connected agrifood innovation ecosystem in Southern Italy. To achieve this, the project combined three mutually reinforcing pillars:
(1) capacity building and upskilling for local startups, SMEs and innovation stakeholders;
(2) internationalisation and intermediation services connecting Southern Italy with leading European ecosystems;
(3) participatory policy co‑creation to support long‑term governance and regional innovation strategies.
Through these actions, the project aimed to address key regional needs: increasing skills and investment readiness, improving access to markets and funding, facilitating cross‑border partnerships, and strengthening cooperation across the quintuple helix. Its expected impact was to help Southern Italy shift from a fragmented innovation landscape to a more coordinated, capable and outward‑looking ecosystem, better positioned to attract investment, engage in European value chains and deliver sustainable agrifood solutions.
The project’s approach integrated: ecosystem analysis, community building, policy co‑creation, and stakeholder engagement that were designed around participatory, socio‑economic and governance perspectives.
The overall objective of the SMARTERRA powered by SMAFINE project was to build the foundations of a resilient, internationally connected agrifood innovation ecosystem in Southern Italy. To achieve this, the project combined three mutually reinforcing pillars:
(1) capacity building and upskilling for local startups, SMEs and innovation stakeholders;
(2) internationalisation and intermediation services connecting Southern Italy with leading European ecosystems;
(3) participatory policy co‑creation to support long‑term governance and regional innovation strategies.
Through these actions, the project aimed to address key regional needs: increasing skills and investment readiness, improving access to markets and funding, facilitating cross‑border partnerships, and strengthening cooperation across the quintuple helix. Its expected impact was to help Southern Italy shift from a fragmented innovation landscape to a more coordinated, capable and outward‑looking ecosystem, better positioned to attract investment, engage in European value chains and deliver sustainable agrifood solutions.
The project’s approach integrated: ecosystem analysis, community building, policy co‑creation, and stakeholder engagement that were designed around participatory, socio‑economic and governance perspectives.
SMARTERRA produced two public baseline studies: one mapped Southern Italy’s agrifood innovation ecosystem; the other distilled effective practices from leading EU regions. These studies provided the methodological spine for the action (actor taxonomy, evidence sources, mapping rules and challenge/solution patterns). Building on this, the team designed a modular training curriculum and mentoring formats for startups/SMEs and intermediaries, structured for reuse and validated with a broad practitioner audience. The consortium launched an Innovation Stakeholder Platform as the open container for methods and programme assets, paired with a helpdesk and 1:1 brokerage workflow that standardised discovery, qualification and matching so foreign stakeholders and local actors could meet efficiently. Finally, SMARTERRA made a replicable co‑innovation event format and validated it through an international summit convening a critical mass of startups, speakers and ecosystem builders. Outcomes of the action:
- A coherent, reusable portfolio of results: methods and analytical baselines;
- a training and mentoring kit and an intermediary programme (thematic webinars, etc.);
- a policy guideline package "A Strategic Vision for the Future of Food Transformation in Southern Italy";
- a redeployable event formula;
- the Innovation Stakeholder Platform.
- A coherent, reusable portfolio of results: methods and analytical baselines;
- a training and mentoring kit and an intermediary programme (thematic webinars, etc.);
- a policy guideline package "A Strategic Vision for the Future of Food Transformation in Southern Italy";
- a redeployable event formula;
- the Innovation Stakeholder Platform.
By the end of the SMARTERRA project, a coherent set of results has been delivered across all WPs, forming an integrated model to strengthen agrifood innovation ecosystems in Southern Italy. Key results include:
- Comprehensive ecosystem intelligence through the International Best Practices Report and the South Italian Innovation Ecosystem Report.
- A Capacity Building Programme including market orientation, ecosystem‑building skills, business modelling, finance planning, IP management, and innovation trends. This included several webinars, mentoring cycles, and personalised coaching
- An Innovation Stakeholder Platform and Helpdesk, giving international and local stakeholders structured access to resources, startup directories, webinar materials, funding opportunities.
- Roadshows in Denmark, Germany, and Sweden, enabling Southern Italian startups and innovation actors to connect with European networks, investors, incubators and public agencies.
- The Smarterra Agrifood Summit as a flagship international event combining panels, pitching sessions, matchmaking, thematic speed‑dating, and experiential learning on innovation for sustainable Mediterranean agrifood.
- A Policy Co‑Creation Framework structured around 3 participatory sessions producing guidelines for policymakers to strengthen regional innovation governance in modest/moderate innovator regions.
Potential Impacts
The project contributes to a structural shift from fragmented, locally‑bounded innovation efforts to a more connected, data‑driven, internationally anchored ecosystem. Expected medium‑term impacts include:
- Increased capacity of local actors to design scalable solutions, collaborate across the value chain, and access international support structures.
- Greater visibility and attractiveness of Southern Italy for investors, accelerators, and innovation networks, supported by professional roadshows, international events, and a shared innovation narrative.
- Improved pipeline of investor‑ready startups, supported through pitching training, business modelling, funding navigation, and exposure to European networks.
- Enhanced cooperation between public and private actors, facilitated through structured policy dialogues, multi‑stakeholder sessions, and the adoption of quintuple‑helix principles.
The project has generated:
- New cross‑border connections between Southern Italian actors and leading ecosystems in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden.
- Skills on open innovation, ecosystem building and community leadership among Ambassadors and local intermediaries.
- A long‑term community platform (Innovation Stakeholder Platform) making training, resources, and matchmaking accessible beyond the life of the project.
- Actionable insights for regional policymakers on how to build and sustain innovation ecosystems tailored to local conditions.
- A transferable model that other moderate/modest innovator regions can adopt combining capacity building, internationalisation, and policy co‑design.
Key Needs to Ensure Further Uptake and Success
- Further capacity building and mentoring, especially for Ambassadors, to maintain community leadership roles.
- Advanced training modules on venture readiness, IP strategies, cross‑border market access, and technological adoption.
- Support mechanisms for: Seed and early‑stage finance for agrifood startups, Participation in European fairs and roadshows; Matchmaking with EU investors, clusters and corporate innovation programmes.
- Alignment with national and EU funding instruments.
- Integration of SMAFINE insights into regional policies (e.g. startup incentives, innovation procurement, rural development measures).
- Institutionalisation of the policy co‑creation methodology developed in the project.
Overall Conclusion
The project has:
- built capacities and leadership,
- created a functioning innovation community and platform,
- facilitated international integration,
- established a framework for future policy development.
- Comprehensive ecosystem intelligence through the International Best Practices Report and the South Italian Innovation Ecosystem Report.
- A Capacity Building Programme including market orientation, ecosystem‑building skills, business modelling, finance planning, IP management, and innovation trends. This included several webinars, mentoring cycles, and personalised coaching
- An Innovation Stakeholder Platform and Helpdesk, giving international and local stakeholders structured access to resources, startup directories, webinar materials, funding opportunities.
- Roadshows in Denmark, Germany, and Sweden, enabling Southern Italian startups and innovation actors to connect with European networks, investors, incubators and public agencies.
- The Smarterra Agrifood Summit as a flagship international event combining panels, pitching sessions, matchmaking, thematic speed‑dating, and experiential learning on innovation for sustainable Mediterranean agrifood.
- A Policy Co‑Creation Framework structured around 3 participatory sessions producing guidelines for policymakers to strengthen regional innovation governance in modest/moderate innovator regions.
Potential Impacts
The project contributes to a structural shift from fragmented, locally‑bounded innovation efforts to a more connected, data‑driven, internationally anchored ecosystem. Expected medium‑term impacts include:
- Increased capacity of local actors to design scalable solutions, collaborate across the value chain, and access international support structures.
- Greater visibility and attractiveness of Southern Italy for investors, accelerators, and innovation networks, supported by professional roadshows, international events, and a shared innovation narrative.
- Improved pipeline of investor‑ready startups, supported through pitching training, business modelling, funding navigation, and exposure to European networks.
- Enhanced cooperation between public and private actors, facilitated through structured policy dialogues, multi‑stakeholder sessions, and the adoption of quintuple‑helix principles.
The project has generated:
- New cross‑border connections between Southern Italian actors and leading ecosystems in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden.
- Skills on open innovation, ecosystem building and community leadership among Ambassadors and local intermediaries.
- A long‑term community platform (Innovation Stakeholder Platform) making training, resources, and matchmaking accessible beyond the life of the project.
- Actionable insights for regional policymakers on how to build and sustain innovation ecosystems tailored to local conditions.
- A transferable model that other moderate/modest innovator regions can adopt combining capacity building, internationalisation, and policy co‑design.
Key Needs to Ensure Further Uptake and Success
- Further capacity building and mentoring, especially for Ambassadors, to maintain community leadership roles.
- Advanced training modules on venture readiness, IP strategies, cross‑border market access, and technological adoption.
- Support mechanisms for: Seed and early‑stage finance for agrifood startups, Participation in European fairs and roadshows; Matchmaking with EU investors, clusters and corporate innovation programmes.
- Alignment with national and EU funding instruments.
- Integration of SMAFINE insights into regional policies (e.g. startup incentives, innovation procurement, rural development measures).
- Institutionalisation of the policy co‑creation methodology developed in the project.
Overall Conclusion
The project has:
- built capacities and leadership,
- created a functioning innovation community and platform,
- facilitated international integration,
- established a framework for future policy development.