NWO funds research on collaboration in circular agriculture missions
Research into new forms of collaboration to promote innovation.
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) is funding a four-year research project "Collaborating on Mission-Driven Innovation," which will address the complex challenge of the transition to circular agriculture.
Despite being one of the most innovative Dutch sectors, agriculture faces obstacles in spreading sustainable solutions. The research project REWIRE, aims to foster new collaborations between stakeholders to develop and transfer agricultural innovations between ecosystems. This initiative includes the creation of a digital recommendation system for collaborations, in addition to tools for ecosystem management, coalition building and the development of collaborative business models.
As with many modern societal challenges, forging closed value chains in agriculture requires new forms of collaboration among organizations. The REWIRE project aims to develop practical methods, from an ecosystem perspective, that enable such collaborative efforts, with a special focus on coordination between national and regional governments and various local organizations.
The project is led by a diverse consortium of researchers and civil society partners, with the Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy Observatory (MIPO) of the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University leading the way. TU/e ITEM group is a research partner with scientists Marcel Bogers, Arjan Markus, Rianne Valkenburg and Isabelle Reymen. The ITEM team will collaborate closely with Greenport West-Holland to develop an ecosystem strategy for the region’s Circular Metropolis mission. They will co-create solutions with Greenport West-Holland, and several public, educational, and private organizations, including Forever Plants, Lentiz | MBO Oostland, the Waddinxveen municipality, and the Province Zuid-Holland.
To ensure that the insights gained are validated and applied, the project includes modules for training both students and professionals, along with a Collective Learning Platform. This platform will serve as a space for existing partners and interested parties to connect and collaborate on ecosystem innovations at multiple levels.
About the REWIRE project on the NWO website