The power of the Synergy Days

Digital technology is transforming agriculture, impacting how food and other products are produced and  consumed. Yet technology is only a tool; its true value lies in how it integrates into broader digital innovation processes. 

A digital innovation's journey begins with an idea and ideally culminates in a mature, market-ready solution. Success hinges not only on technical functionality but also on addressing essential questions: What added value does it bring? What are the legal implications, especially around data sharing? What ethical or social impacts might arise, such as shifts in labour? 

As part of the European digital innovation ecosystem, I collaborate with diverse experts and organizations on these issues in projects. However, projects often risk fragmentation, focusing too narrowly on specific aspects or replicating efforts across regions. Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs), serving as local one-stop shops connected to a network of competence centres and other hubs, offer a solution to this fragmentation. 

The annual Synergy Days, launched by SmartAgriHubs, play a vital role in uniting projects and (E)DIHs. They foster collaboration, allowing initiatives from programs like Horizon Europe and Digital Europe to exchange knowledge, insights, and sustainable strategies that DIHs can apply locally. 

This collective effort is crucial for establishing a shared infrastructure that advances research, innovation, and the deployment of digital technologies—ensuring the European agri-food sector remains competitive. 

The success of Synergy Days 2024 in Barcelona underscored this momentum, and I am looking forward to the next editions!