Foreword: networking for innovation in agrifood SMEs

ISSN 1569-1829 print, ISSN 1875-0931 online, DOI 10.3920/JCNS2014.x002 79 The NetGrow project (2010-2014) has the overall objective to enhance network learning in order to increase innovation, economic growth, and sustainable competitive advantage for European food SMEs. Instrumental for achieving this is a thorough understanding of: the nature of network learning, the attitude of food SMEs in different EU member states and the functioning and performance of different types of networks. According to this general approach, the NetGrow project has several specific research objectives, including: (1) gaining a profound understanding of the role of network learning in developing innovation in food SMEs and of its impact on economic growth and sustainable competitiveness, its success factors and barriers; (2) identifying the characteristics of food SMEs network preferences and behaviour explaining the positive effect of networking on innovation; (3) analysing differences in the preference for network characteristics between food SMEs with a different innovation capacity; (4) developing an analytical prototype tool for evaluating network learning performance which allows comparison of performance between regions, countries and sectors; (5) identifying and explaining the differences between highand low performing networks by testing the network learning performance tool; and finally (6) enhancing the competences and skills of food SMEs, network organisations and policy makers related to this topic of innovation networks and networking activities for innovation.