On 27 January 2026, the Secretary General of PREPARE, Miodrag Matavulj, accompanied by Tom Jones from ERCA, held a productive meeting with representatives of DG Agri.
The meeting brought together officials from DG Agri units responsible for Social Sustainability, Research and Innovation, LEADER/CLLD, and Rural Areas and Networks. It was convened at the request of PREPARE in order to present its policy proposal for the European Community-Led Innovation Framework (E-CLIF).
Advancing community-led open innovation
E-CLIF proposes a new, dedicated policy framework to strengthen community-led open innovation across Europe. It enables local actors to co-create, test, and refine practical solutions that respond directly to their territorial needs and circumstances. By mobilising the knowledge, experience, and creativity of citizens, SMEs, civil society organisations, academia, and local authorities, E-CLIF supports the development of place-based innovations across a wide range of sectors, including economic diversification, social services, and environmental sustainability.
The proposal builds on decades of experience from European rural and community-led development movements, while linking these approaches to open innovation principles in order to better bridge the gap between grassroots initiatives and wider innovation ecosystems.
Positive exchange and strong interest
The discussion took place in a very positive and constructive atmosphere. DG Agri representatives showed strong interest in the E-CLIF concept and were keen to learn more about the proposed mechanisms, governance model, and its potential role within the EU’s post-2027 policy and funding frameworks.
PREPARE welcomed the opportunity to exchange views with DG Agri and looks forward to continued dialogue on how community-led innovation can contribute to a more competitive, cohesive, and resilient Europe.
Here is the full document:
PREPARE Policy Brief E-CLIF v3