Base de Datos de Proyectos de PDR
Innovation in Machinery for Farming and Forestry - the Agro Living Lab Approach
Summary
Innovation in making machinery for farming and forestry is what this project is all about. Three expert organisations are partnering to help manufacturers to identify specific end-user needs, experiment and test, and evaluate the outcomes.
Background
User-driven innovation is a high priority in Finland. Living Labs are real-life test and experimentation environments where users and producers co-create innovations. The Agro Living Lab is a collaboration in the sub-region of Seinajoki between experienced partners the Technology Centre, the University of Applied Sciences (both Seinajoki) and the Ruralia Institute of Helsinki University. The services are targeted at companies making machinery for use in agriculture and forestry.
Objective
Development of a business plan is a key aim. Then there are three operational objectives: 1) improve usability and added value of agricultural and forestry machines for the end users; 2) promote international-level living lab activities on smart technologies in agriculture and forestry; and 3) animate agricultural and forestry machinery producers to co-operate with end users and to consider user needs at an early stage in product development.
Main activities
In practice, interested machinery companies contact the Agro Living Lab, which maintains a user network and negotiates the assignment with the company. The Lab coordinates and facilitates the assignment with the end-users and reports the results. Various output targets are being set each year. This includes devising and applying models and methods, studies of user needs, assessments of usability of technologies, seminars and publicity.
Results & Benefits
Agro Living Lab does pioneer work for considering agri-machinery user needs and developing methods. It applies techniques earlier used in ICT and other sectors. In agriculture and forestry methods must be experimented and developed further to meet the specific sector needs. The results of the targeting, experimentation and innovation are better machinery to meet the needs of farm and forestry clients, and improved viability for companies and farmers/foresters.
Lessons learnt
Good dialogue with the paying agency on eligibility and preparation of the application is essential. “You have to ask all details from the paying agency because you cannot be sure if some action is eligible or not."
Project location and other information
Tiedekatu 2, 60320 Seinajoki sub-region
Region
Etelä-Pohjanmaa
RDP Territory
Mainland
Total project cost (€)
570 000
Private contribution (€)
57 000
Project website
Contact name
Sanna Kankaanpaa
Telephone
00 358 400 743 422
Languages for contact
English, Finnish
At a glance
Country
Finland
Final beneficiary type
Individual farmers, Producer groups, Other
Budget range
> €500 000
Start date:
01/01/2009
End Date:
31/12/2011
Theme / Measure:
Rural Quality of Life & Economic Diversification
Rural economic diversification
312. Support for business creation and development
Keywords:
Agroforestry, Public-private-partnership, Research, Innovation, Machinery
Last update
14/03/2014