The project SkiLMeeT (Skills for labour markets in the digital and green transition) has three main objectives: 1) generate data and indicators which quantify the extent of labour and skills shortages and mismatch in Europe; 2) explore the drivers of these gaps and shortages, with a focus on the digital and green transitions; 3) analyse and identify pathways to reduce skill gaps and shortages. SkiLMeeT advances the knowledge how the work programme’s main goals can be achieved: to equip the workforce with the demanded skills, to encourage successfully the necessary reskilling and upskilling of the workforce and ultimately to realise the full potential of the digital and green transitions for Europe as a whole. To achieve these aims, SkiLMeeT builds on an inter- and transdisciplinary approach bringing together quantitative and qualitative methods. The combination of in-depth case studies and broad analyses of European economies using a rich variety of data sources ranging from survey and administrative data to big data provides highly valuable complementary insights into the nature of shortages, their drivers and pathways out. The indicators created are transparent and easily accessible. The analyses of drivers and pathways are conducted both for all European countries and for particularly relevant example countries. To validate the quantitative analyses, to explore mechanisms and to identify particularly promising pathways, we engage in extensive consultations and set up feedback loops with the research community, especially with relevant international and national research initiatives, and with stakeholders. The stakeholder consultations help to develop concrete policy proposals aimed at a thriving economy and an inclusive society. To maximise SkilMeeT’s impact, we disseminate the project’s indicators and insights, as well as concrete policy proposals to policymakers, stakeholders and the public.

COCOREADO is a project designed to rebalance the position of the farmer as an individual actor, as a key player in innovative food supply chains and as a supplier for public procurement. Based on the multi-actor approach and a deep understanding of agricultural knowledge and innovation systems (AKIS), the project applies a three-fold approach to maximize impact, relying on ambassadorship, good practices, and a focus on youth. COCOREADO will foster opportunities for young people in rural areas to co-create innovative solutions that overcome current hurdles for farmers and respond to consumer needs, while simultaneously improving the conditions for sustainable public procurement of local and seasonal food. The consortium connects key youth actors including young farmers, college youth, youth movements in an environment that offers support and encouragement to undertake action. A key tool for creating such environment is the COCOREADO Ambassador Training Program. Furthermore, the project involves both academic and close-to-farmers partners across Europe, recognising regional differences and barriers in terms of replicability of good practices and regional opportunities in terms of solutions. Active youth engagement in co-creating solutions remains at the core of the well balanced consortium including three EU-level youth organisations, and is embedded within COCOREADO’s methodologies, thus ensuring that innovative supply chains remain future-proof. COCOREADO starts with the collection of innovative initiatives that enhance the position of the farmers and improve their connection with consumers. Good practices will be assessed for their replicability and translated into educational materials. Furthermore, user-friendly decision support tools with high potential will be made accessible. Communication and dissemination of good practices and tools will focus on farmers, rural communities, policy makers, actors in the food chain such as chefs and local food processors.

The main goal of ProSkills2Work is to raise the international research visibility of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology (IPS) of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and to develop its traditionally strong focus on sociology of education and work towards a world-class level of research excellence. This will be achieved by advancing scientific knowledge on the Bulgarian vocational skills formation system, continuous skills enhancement, individual transitions from education to work, and workplace learning, alongside the respective methodological challenges. The project's research component will advance scientific knowledge by further developing sociological concepts which allow for analysing the complex relationship of education and work in the current societal and economic context of Bulgaria. Five specific objectives will guide the implementation of ProSkills2Work: 1) Appointment of Prof. Dr. Christian Imdorf to establish and lead the ERA Chair research unit; 2) Develop the research and innovation capacity of the IPS towards international excellence; 3) Ensure the constant development of various skill sets and competencies among IPS researchers; 4) Implement structural changes to create the conditions to achieve research excellence on a sustainable basis; 5) Position the IPS as a hub for scientific excellence and policy-relevant stakeholder exchange on progressing promising skills to work through the institutionalisation of a future Bulgarian Observatory of Education and Work. The increase of research capacity at IPS by the ERA Chair unit is expected to promote collaborations between research teams in the IPS and external research groups, as well as translating research results into policy recommendations and innovative models of vocational skills formation in Bulgaria and the Western Balkans. Importantly, this agrees with the recent European Union (EU) and social partners’ commitment and upcoming action plan to address labour and skills shortages in Bulgaria.

LIAISON aims to make a significant and meaningful contribution to optimising interactive innovation project approaches and the delivery of EU policies to speed up innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas. Researchers, policy advisors, actors from interactive innovation projects, initiatives and networks, farm/forestry advisors, decision-makers and administrators will jointly investigate the design and implementation of interactive innovation project approaches. Looking with the eyes of a larger number of interactive innovation initiatives we will assess the infrastructure of H2020 and Rural Development Programmes at the project, national and European levels. Central in the project are a 'light-touch' review of the experiences in 200 projects and initiatives, and an in-depth assessment of 32 interactive innovation project approaches in a broad range of agricultural and forestry sub-sectors and countries. We will present the diversity of projects and practices through an online 'story map' with entries from all over Europe and select 15 practitioners from innovation projects who will contribute to the project's analyses and outcomes. LIAISON will produce practice-ready methods, protocols and tools, co-designed in processes involving the target users themselves. These include participatory tools for co-creation and co-learning, for networking, communication and dissemination, impact assessment tools, and methodologies and tools for self-evaluation. An Interactive Online System will help innovation actors to access these. LIAISON will develop detailed best practices and approaches for H2020 multi-actor projects, Thematic Networks, Operational Groups and other interactive innovation approaches that contribute to the implementation of EIP-Agri. All project outputs generated by LIAISON will be subject to a process of validation and fine-tuning based upon practical peer-review by consortium members and other closely involved actors and stakeholders.

EFUA’s objectives are to unlock Urban Agriculture’s potential by achieving better knowledge, better deployment, and better policies in this field. By setting up an UA Forum it aims to develop a new level of stakeholder engagement to better inform decision making and turn Urban Agriculture into a European, regional and local policy domain. EFUA will contribute to the work programme by defining next practices and stakeholder based R&I programmes for Urban Agriculture and also by investigating its role as an innovator in the agricultural and food sector and the urban bioeconomy. UA is a thriving subject, globally, but has not made its way into European policies due to barriers resulting from gaps in both knowledge and advocacy. EFUA will overcome these barriers by establishing the UA Forum, thereby allowing a new level of stakeholder engagement, co-building of knowledge, better deployment and specifically targeted policies. The UA Forum is set up following a quad helix approach and as durable format to ensure ongoing networking in Urban Agriculture and to give European policies a partner to better support UA in the long term. EFUA’s workflow is organized in three loops culminating in 3 public conferences and the co-design of a UA vision. EFUA’s work is facilitated by the UA platform offering various tools for engaging stakeholders and co-building of knowledge together with the UA Forum, but also for communication and dissemination. Special networking methods are used to access cutting edge knowledge from R&I projects to define next practice of Urban Agriculture. Benefits of Urban Agriculture and recommendations for action are targeted to European policy makers thereby supporting various agendas and programs. Impact is increased by target audience oriented communication, making use of excellent dissemination channels. Impact is sustained by perpetuating the UA Forum’s work.