Policies for innovations in the new Rural Development Programs (RDP): the Italian regional experience

Abstract

The rural development policy for the period 2014-2020 gives an important role to the knowledge system and the innovation diffusion. In summary the main topics are: the same importance of tacit and scientific knowledge for the human capital development and the innovation diffusion, the better results for the innovation transfer when all the innovation chain players are involved (farmers, researchers, advisories etc.), the usefulness of the interactive approach to define farms’ problems and to find some innovative solutions. This article attempts to understand if the Europe 2020’s high and farsighted objectives had an effective implementation into the planning and rules of the Rural Development Regulation and if in Italy there are some ongoing problems.