THE ROLE OF THE INNOVATION BROKER IN THE FORMATION OF EIP-AGRI OPERATIONAL GROUPS

The European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) is part of the support for agricultural economic development. EIP-AGRI operational groups are groups of people who are working together on an innovation project funded by Rural Development Programs (RDP). Their essence is to transform innovative ideas into real solutions. The coordination of the formation process of operational groups has been entrusted to agricultural advisory units, especially to innovation brokers working there. The aim of the study was to determine the role of the innovation broker in the formation of EIP-AGRI operational groups. Mechanisms of innovation support in the agricultural sector were presented, paying particular attention to the tasks of the National Network for Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas (NRN) and the Measure “Cooperation” implemented under RDP 2014-2020. The “e-Networking” operation implemented by the Pomeranian Agricultural Advisory Centre in Lubań (PODR) in 2020-2021 was analysed and a survey study was conducted using an original survey questionnaire prepared on the Webankieta platform. The conducted survey shows that the role of an innovation broker is, first of all, to support entities interested in cooperation in obtaining funds for innovative activities, prepare project proposals and documents related to the functioning of the EPI operational group and identify entities willing to undertake cooperation as well as to assist in its establishment