Agricultural knowledge and systems in Basilicata, southern Italy: key actors and implementation of dialogue

This paper relates the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) to be implemented by Operational Groups (OGs) in Basilicata. New relationships and regeneration produced a “bio-economic Cluster”, creating “smart” specialization and a system linking research, innovation and the enterprise world. The Cluster consolidated competence and knowledge in small and medium enterprises, including agriculture and forest farms and encouraged the dissemination and implementation of innovative products and processes. Creating this system was a shared objective in Basilicata through horizontal and vertical collaboration between research organizations and the enterprise world in order to introduce innovations for companies and rural territories. This paper analyses the relationships between scientists, advisors and small and medium enterprises through interviews with experts from the Cluster in order to establish OGs