Public Support of the Processing and Marketing of Agricultural Products: A Driver of Innovation in the Food Industry?

At issue in this paper is the role of innovation within the public support of food-industries under EU rural development policy. It is focused on the questions: Are there fundamental economic characteristics of highly innovative in comparison to less innovative enterprises? And, what are successful strategies to promote innovations by intervention of the state. Baseline information is given through the data ascertainment of investment grant applications and collaboration with local state departments.