RURACTIVE

The Project

RURACTIVE aims to support rural communities and territories to transition towards vibrant centres for sustainable, balanced, and inclusive development based on innovation, local resources, grassroots action, creativity and social inclusion, resulting in attractive places for all people to live, work and stay. As recognised by the EC, ‘rural areas will have a vital role to play in delivering the green transition and meeting Europe’s ambitious climate and environmental targets’ (EC, 2020a). This role is also acknowledged in the Green Deal and the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, with the latter emphasising how rural areas could embrace the emerging opportunities of the EU green and digital transitions and lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic. These accounts underscore the importance of rural areas in leading the way towards sustainable transition. Nevertheless, long-term challenges including contentious issues of food production versus land preservation, infrastructural bottlenecks, demographic structure and depopulation, education and capabilities factors are still unresolved and are affecting the possibilities of rural development that is just and inclusive (Huguenot-Noël & Vaquero Piñeiro, 2022).

The project fosters long-term sustainability by promoting multilevel governance, capacity building, place-based development, and inclusive processes. Digital connectivity, mutual learning and skill exchange are emphasised as crucial tools for economic diversification in rural areas, ensuring that all individuals, especially those at risk of being left behind, are equipped with digital skills and resources. This will be achieved through a variety of activities such as knowledge exchange, capacity building, training and networking. Within RURACTIVE, all rural communities’ members – leaving no one behind – will be included in the transition towards a sustainable, balanced, and inclusive development.

Our Contribution

RURACTIVE works closely with the 12 pilot areas, called Dynamos, to establish local Multi-Actor Rural Innovation Ecosystems. To ensure their sustainability, the project places great emphasis on addressing and strengthening multilevel governance, training and capacity development, place-based progress and inclusive participatory processes looking also at more vulnerable groups such as young and older people, people with disability, migrants and minorities, and long term unemployed. In a transversal way, the project also aims to unlock women-led innovation, tapping into the unique perspectives and capabilities women bring to rural development. Digital connectivity and learning are considered key enablers for the diversification of economic activities and smart solutions for rural communities.

Who is it for?

RURACTIVE is for all members of rural communities, with a strong focus on including groups historically excluded or underrepresented in rural development, such as young people, older people, people with disabilities, migrants and minorities, and the long-term unemployed. Its solutions are co-created with communities to ensure no one is left behind in building sustainable, inclusive, and balanced rural futures.

Research and Innovation Action for smart solutions for smart rural communities funded by European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under Grant Agreement 101084377