WINETWORK project is built on a methodology based on three key elements working in coordination to ensure multi stakeholder innovation: the facilitator agent (FA), the technical working groups (TWG) and the European scientific working groups (SWG).
The main element of this methodology is the facilitator agent that is the missing link between science and practice. He encourages the exchange of information and knowledge between companies, researchers and other relevant actors of the sector. This new professional profile is the key of the success because it allows all actors involved to be in permanent contact, ensures the interaction and flow of information between them and facilitates communication and mutual understanding.
The facilitator agent has the responsibility of updating all the actors with the most relevant information for each one, connecting all the actors and facilitating interactive knowledge flow. He will identify and collect information (problems and practice needs, best practices, scientific technological knowledge, projects and so on). He will summarize, synthesize, translate and simplify information in order to convert complex information into useful and accessible knowledge. Moreover, the facilitator agent will help disseminate these knowledge linking up multiple actors for the creation of new knowledge.
The network is formed of 10 facilitator agents, one in each wine region.
The facilitator agent will have to lead the technical working group at regional level (one in each region).
The main function of the technical working groups is to provide a macro-vision of the situation of each region. Their role is crucial for promotion and dissemination actions, its members are in direct contact with stakeholders of their region, they will collect good practices and experiences and will collaborate to the preparation of materials adapted to end-users. These technical working groups are establish at the regional level and constituted of the FA, technicians in support services and applied science and winegrowers. The technical working group will allow identify winegrowers to interview to collect and analyze their practices. The role of this group is to exchange on the results of the interviews, the good practices and the good practices at the European level that can be transferred into regional level.
In parallel the FA will be supported by the scientific working groups and will work with researchers in making understandable and accessible scientific knowledge regarding grape trunk diseases and flavescence dorée. The scientific working groups will collect data at scientific level about research and results on these diseases and transfer this information to the facilitator agent. The scientific working groups is composed of 10 experts for each disease.
The success of the methodology is the establishment of a direct relationship through facilitator agents with winegrowers and entities in reference in the sector.