DARD Evidence and Innovation Stakeholder Forum 2010
DARD Evidence and Innovation Stakeholder Forum
A key principle of our Evidence and Innovation Strategy 2009 - 13 is that stakeholders will play an important and on-going role in identifying DARD evidence and innovation (E&I) needs and priorities.
We held our first Annual E&I Stakeholder Forum on 20 October 2010 at Loughry campus, Cookstown. The one-day Forum updated stakeholders on new arrangements for commissioning and managing DARD E&I activities and provided an opportunity to seek their views on the initial gaps and priorities identified by the new Programme Management Boards (PMBs).
The agenda included both plenary discussions and breakout sessions for each of the PMBs. We sent a copy of the initial gaps and priorities identified by PMBs to all stakeholders beforehand.
The Forum attracted over 100 participants from a wide range of sectors and interests, including representatives from:
- agriculture, food, fisheries, forestry and renewable energy sectors;
- rural and environmental interest groups;
- other local and southern government departments and agencies; and
- academia/research providers/funders.
Feedback has been very positive, with stakeholders warmly welcoming the opportunity to give their views.
NEXT STEPS
We have taken all the views received, both on the day and in subsequent emails and letters, and included these in the PMB tables of E&I gaps and priorities.
These will help us produce a final list of DARD’s top E&I priorities for 2011/12 which will form the basis for a call for research proposals in late December.
You can download information from the event by following the links below:
