ORIGINN Study Visit to Prešov, Slovakia
From May 20–22, 2025, the picturesque Prešov Self-Governing Region in Slovakia played host to the fifth Study Visit of the ORIGINN project. The event brought together partners from Ireland, Sweden, Romania, Italy, Estonia, and Catalonia to share and explore good practices in soft innovation in our regions. Soft innovation can be a difficult concept to pin down, but in broad terms, whereas “hard innovation” refers to new technologies or functionalities, soft innovation encompasses more aesthetic or intellectual innovations, ranging from artistic expressions to management processes. In the context of ORIGINN, the project is focused on soft innovations that support the economic and social development of rural communities.
The three-day gathering opened with a full-day conference held at the PSGR Office in Prešov. Participants were welcomed by the Deputy Chairman of the region, who introduced the diverse landscape and potential of Prešov. This was followed by contributions from several regional experts. Mario Popper of the Strategic Development Department outlined the Prešov Region’s broader development strategy, while Štefan Pavlík spoke on integrated territorial strategies and their application in agricultural initiatives.
A key theme of the morning session was the role of education and regional collaboration. The Department of Education highlighted its work with secondary schools to support agri-food and technical vocational training. Daniel Šimčík discussed the region’s Tourism Strategy as a complementary driver of local economic sustainability.
The afternoon presentations turned to innovation in natural products and sustainable farming. Ivan Šalamon, PhD, of the University of Prešov, spoke on the healing potential of the region’s medicinal plants, while fellow academics Emília Huttmanová and Jana Chovancová introduced the university’s new sustainability-focused study programmes. Case studies from Agrokarpaty Plavnica and the family-run Hemp Bona farm provided tangible examples of how organic farming and medicinal plant cultivation are contributing to the region’s agricultural transformation.
The project partners also visited Urban Flora, a family-run urban farm in Prešov specialising in aeroponic cultivation of herbs and leafy greens—a forward-looking example of high-efficiency indoor urban agriculture with minimal environmental impact.
On the second day, the focus shifted to hands-on learning with study visits in the Plaveč and Hniezdne areas outside the town of Prešov. In Plavnica, attendees toured Agrokarpaty, Slovakia’s largest medicinal plant producer and one of the largest in Europe. The visit offered an up-close view of sustainable large-scale herbal cultivation and processing. In Hniezdne, the group experienced Nestville Park, a modern distillery, chocolate factory, and cultural centre, where traditional skills are being revitalised for modern markets.
The final day was dedicated to the internal workings of the ORIGINN project. Partners gathered for a steering meeting to review progress and plan future collaboration. This was followed by a session showcasing good practice examples in soft innovation from each partner region. The exchange of ideas highlighted diverse methods being used across Europe to support rural development, including innovative models of stakeholder engagement in Sweden, supporting local creativity as a driver of innovation in Ireland, and an online retail platform for local food producers in Romania.
The event concluded with a shared lunch and closing remarks, affirming the project’s commitment to knowledge exchange and cooperation. With a strong blend of policy dialogue and real-world examples, the fifth ORIGINN Study Visit reaffirmed the value of cross-border partnerships in building more resilient and sustainable rural communities.
