On 23 April 2026, the first German‑language national webinar of the ATTRACTISS national webinar series, “Innovation Through Cooperation: The Role of Networks”, marked a strong start to the series on networking and innovation.
The webinar was jointly organised by two German partners, Landwirtschaftskammer Schleswig‑Holstein (LKSH) and Agrathaer, together with two Austrian partners, Wirtschaftsagentur Burgenland (WAB) and Landwirtschaftskammer Österreich (LKO), reflecting a close cross‑border collaboration on the topic of networks and cooperation.
The session brought together more than 60 participants, including advisors, innovation actors, and other stakeholders, and featured engaging speakers and an active exchange of perspectives. The strong participation highlighted the high interest in understanding how networks contribute to strengthening innovation processes in agriculture and rural development.
Discussions highlighted the importance of networks as key drivers of innovation and knowledge transfer, underlining how structured collaboration enables ideas to evolve into practical solutions. Participants reflected on how networks facilitate learning, trust‑building, and cooperation across actors and sectors.
Long‑term perspectives on networking were illustrated through the example of 25 years of network development in organic farming in the Berlin‑Brandenburg region, showing how a single idea can grow into a strong, institutionalised network with lasting impact. This reflection emphasised the value of continuity, shared purpose, and adaptive governance in sustaining innovation over time.
A further perspective came from regional innovation and transformation experiences, demonstrating how networks can support place‑based development processes. The example of the LEADER region Holzwelt Murau highlighted how cooperation at regional level can foster innovation, strengthen local capacities, and support transition processes.
The webinar also introduced the ATTRACTISS project, as well as AKISConnect, the ATTRACTISS Toolbox, and the AKISConnect Forum, highlighting how these resources support ongoing exchange, collaboration, and learning beyond individual events.
This first webinar marked an important milestone in the German‑language national webinar series, setting the foundation for continued reflection and learning on networking and innovation. The series will continue with the next German webinar on 28 May at 10:00 CEST.