Innovation and Development Support – Experiences from Food Networks in Canada and New Zealand

Abstract

A common feature among networks is the focus on innovation but, the approach to driving innovation and handling the innovation procedure differs widely between networks. The formal social networks aim at building personal relationships among members and transfer industry-relevant knowledge to the forum. The formal networks designed with an objective of supporting innovation fund in many cases R&D work, support interdisciplinary collaboration, and provide activities that drive business development. This paper discusses how different networks can promote learning and innovation among their members, however, remembering that the network can only provide a framework – the learning and innovation is up to the members themselves to obtain.