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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

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