2. WHAT IS RISS?
The Rural innovation Support Service (RISS) is a bottom-up approach to rural innovation, addressing the needs of land managers
RISS gets the right people together to define challenges and opportunities and explore solutions
40 facilitators from our partner organisations form a working group around a farmer, forester or crofter’s idea
They facilitate group working towards a final project plan
All innovation must be practical and sustainable
The aim is to benefit rural businesses and producers
This is a bottom-up approach. Funding comes from the EU and Scottish Government through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (all other member states have their own RDPs). At its heart, this will benefit rural businesses, and producers (farmers, foresters and crofters).
There are other IS in EU member states, and these are all done slightly differently. Often they are based on a more top-down approach with researchers and advisors setting the agenda.

3. WHO IS INVOLVED?
RISS is funded by the EU and Scottish Government through the Scottish Rural Development Programme
There are other Innovation Services in the EU but they tend to end up being more top-down, with researchers and advisors often setting the agenda
Instead, in RISS, farmers, crofters and foresters set the agenda
We are part of the Scottish Rural Network, led by Soil Association Scotland
Our partner organisations are SAC Consulting (SRUC), Scotland Food and Drink and SAOS. Partners provide facilitators
The facilitators bring in group members from any sector: supply chain businesses, research, tech, data – depending on the group aim

4. Universities & Innovation Centres Trade Bodies
This is not a definitive list, but shows the networking scope
RISS is a part of the of innovation landscape
Universities & Innovation Centres Trade Bodies

5. HOW DOES RISS WORK?
Farmers, foresters and crofters approach Soil Association Scotland via or RISS project officer Analy Hannah
OR partners and/or facilitators suggest ideas and possibly interested farmers
Analy captures ideas on the innovation pinboard and communicates them to the SMT, who suggest a facilitator and possibly interested parties
The facilitator writes an Expression of Interest form to define the aim of the group and check for eligibility – it’s approved if it’s practical and sustainable
The facilitator brings in additional group members from a wide range of sectors, depending on the aim, and draws up a partnership agreement
The facilitator enables a period of group working to trial and test ideas and solutions
A project plan is agreed, which can used to apply for funding if necessary and establishes next steps for handover

6. NGOs / NDPBs / Professionals Supply chain businesses
GROUPS
Researchers
Land managers
(CORE GROUP)
NGOs / NDPBs / Professionals
Supply chain businesses

7. NGOs / NDPBs / Professionals Supply chain businesses
GROUPS
Land managers
(CORE GROUP)
Researchers
NGOs / NDPBs / Professionals
Supply chain businesses
FACILITATORS / BROKERS

8. STAGE ACTIVITY REPORTING
1. IDENTIFICATION
A media campaign by the central team. Use of existing partners’ networks identify interest.
Ideas, problems, opportunities, resources, contacts
2. COLLABORATION
Formation of preliminary groups, connected together by the entire RISS team and other stakeholders.
Expression of Interest form
3. DEFINING
Identifying the values and expectations of group members. Confirming the common challenge / opportunity, and getting initial ideas.
Partnership agreement
4. DISCOVERING
Gathering a wide range of information, and carrying out provisional analysis. Asking: why, for what purpose, and is it practical and sustainable? Identify key themes.
Summary of evidence and resources
5. DEVELOPING
Hold workshops to investigate how to further test these key themes. Asking: why, for what purpose, and is it practical and sustainable? Identify a wide range of ideas to test, considering feasibility.
Summary of options
6. DIGESTING
Consideration of ideas generated in the last stage, eventually selecting and agreeing on a few options to investigate further. Decide how these narrowly defined options can be investigated in a project plan.
Initial Project Plan
7. LEGACY
Prepare handover of project delivery.
Final Project Plan

9. WHAT SUPPORT DO GROUPS GET?
INITIAL STAGES
GROUP STAGES
LEGACY
Website to log all information, and for all to access
SMT
Dedicated staff to support reporting at all stages
Innovation marketplace
Media content to promote and raise awareness
SMT
Culture of innovation

10. WHAT DO BROKERS DO? INITIAL STAGES GROUP STAGES LEGACY
Identification through networks
Point of contact
INITIAL STAGES
Prepare and complete a Project Plan
Next steps for the group
GROUP STAGES
LEGACY
Point of contact (also project officer Analy)
Trialing, testing, evaluating, improving
Submit an Expression of Interest

11. GROUP PRINCIPLES * Rural business challenge Transparency
Finding problems together, and thinking of solutions together
‘Learning loops’
Formal participation
Working across disciplines
1/ RDP funded so must be a rural business challenge 2/ Accounts for intellectual property concerns 3/ Peer learning 4/ Learning from experience elsewhere; constantly reflecting and asking why 5/ Members must participate as part of their jobs – for researchers shows impact and helps with bids; for supply chain businesses innovation can increase efficiency, reduce cost, improve quality; for others it can help achieve organisational objectives eg help with business development 6/ As wide a range of people as possible
Waheed, M H (2017)

12. OUR FUNDERS:
Funding for this activity is made available through the SRDP Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (which is jointly funded by the Scottish Government and the European Union)