Abstract
Capturing innovations from farmers and spreading them into practice requires a comprehensive analysis, combining the expertise of actors from science and practice, to identify requirements, strengths and weaknesses of innovations. Within the Inno4Grass H2020 thematic network, a framework for innovation analysis in participatory, multi-stakeholder discussion groups has been provided. A method comprising ve elements was developed: (1) brieeng, ensuring baseline knowledge sharing, (2) simpliied, brainstorm-like SWOT-analysis, (3) PESTLE-analysis (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental factors), (4) exploration of predeened sub-topics and (5) standard questions to the innovator. e method was made available to the project partners, along with more general suggestions, in form of non-compulsory guidelines. A survey of the rst 55 discussion groups revealed that the guidelines were used in 57% of the meetings. e frequency of application of the single elements of the method decreased with their increasing complexity (from element 2 to 4). With the progress of the project, the guidelines were used more frequently. On a 5-grade score system, the meetings were judged to be successful (4.4 on average) regardless of the method used. is suggests that a plurality of approaches does not negatively aaect the eeectiveness of discussion groups.