What’s happening in my country
On the country pages you will find useful information about what is happening in EU Member States concerning the planning and implementation of smart villages.
The information aims to orient people on policy planning, key contacts and resources on smart villages. However, it neither aims to be fully comprehensive, nor necessarily reflects the official government or European Commission position.
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Jesús Diez
(
06/2020
–
Ongoing
)
The Community Food Lab uses a community space equipped with kitchen facilities (ovens, microwaves, sinks etc.) and modern equipment, including advanced food processing tools in order to teach and train the local population in culinary and preservation techniques. Training also focuses on the use of the different equipment provided. Courses focus on typical local food products cultivated in the area, building the capacity of local people to process the food locally. Course participants learn to transform produce from local gardens, orchards and forests into products that can be marketed and consumed locally. The aim is to enable and encourage individuals and start-ups to make preserves and other foods from local produce, which they can then sell. The Community Food Lab also provides a space where the local population and new entrepreneurs can meet and exchange around new products, recipes and business ideas.
The Community Food Lab uses a community space equipped with kitchen facilities (ovens, microwaves, sinks etc.) and modern equipment, including advanced food processing tools in order to teach and train the local population in culinary and preservation techniques. Training also focuses on the use of the different equipment provided. Courses focus on typical local food products cultivated in the area, building the capacity of local people to process the food locally. Course participants learn to transform produce from local gardens, orchards and forests into products that can be marketed and consumed locally. The aim is to enable and encourage individuals and start-ups to make preserves and other foods from local produce, which they can then sell. The Community Food Lab also provides a space where the local population and new entrepreneurs can meet and exchange around new products, recipes and business ideas.
Ostoja Natury
(
12/2020
)
The Smart Village Strategy of Tomaszyn has been developed in the context of the ‘Preparatory Action for Smart Rural Areas in the 21st Century’ project funded by the European Commission.
Type of resource : Document
The Smart Village Strategy of Tomaszyn has been developed in the context of the ‘Preparatory Action for Smart Rural Areas in the 21st Century’ project funded by the European Commission.
Type of resource : Document
Municipality of Remetea
(
12/2020
)
The Smart Village Strategy of Remetea has been developed in the context of the ‘Preparatory Action for Smart Rural Areas in the 21st Century’ project funded by the European Commission.
Language : English
Type of resource : Document
The Smart Village Strategy of Remetea has been developed in the context of the ‘Preparatory Action for Smart Rural Areas in the 21st Century’ project funded by the European Commission.
Language : English
Type of resource : Document
(
18/03/2022
)
A full recording of the 4th Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop held in Torup (Denmark) under the heading ‘The strength of society in developing resilient rural communities’.
Language : English
Type of resource : Video
A full recording of the 4th Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop held in Torup (Denmark) under the heading ‘The strength of society in developing resilient rural communities’.
Language : English
Type of resource : Video
Tyge Mortensen
(
18/03/2022
)
A presentation on the importance of facilitation and cooperation in small communities, given at the 4th Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation on the importance of facilitation and cooperation in small communities, given at the 4th Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
Peter Plant
-
Torup Ting
(
18/03/2022
)
A presentation on the LEADER Programme and its achievements in Torup (Denmark), one of the Smart Rural 21 selected villages, given at the project’s 4th Regional Workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation on the LEADER Programme and its achievements in Torup (Denmark), one of the Smart Rural 21 selected villages, given at the project’s 4th Regional Workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
Anne Gravsholt Busck
-
University of Copenhagen
(
18/03/2022
)
A presentation on the developments and results achieved in Torup (Denmark), one of the Smart Rural 21 selected villages, given at the project’s 4th Regional Workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation on the developments and results achieved in Torup (Denmark), one of the Smart Rural 21 selected villages, given at the project’s 4th Regional Workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
Heino Smed Sørensen
, Kirsten Birke Lund
-
MINLANDSBY
(
18/03/2022
)
A presentation on Smart Rural 21 project support to Torup (Denmark), one of its selected villages. ‘Tools and talents’ is an application designed and developed by the local community with the project’s support. The presentation was given at the fourth Smart Rural 21 regional workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation on Smart Rural 21 project support to Torup (Denmark), one of its selected villages. ‘Tools and talents’ is an application designed and developed by the local community with the project’s support. The presentation was given at the fourth Smart Rural 21 regional workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
Susanne Abildgaard Rud
-
BARK Rådgivning
(
18/03/2022
)
A presentation on sustainable development in rural communities given at the fourth Smart Rural 21 regional workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation on sustainable development in rural communities given at the fourth Smart Rural 21 regional workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
Peter Plant
, Wiet van Meel
, Edina Ocsko
, Alberto Alfonso Pordomingo
, Szidónia Nagy-Menyhárt
-
Municipality of Remetea
, Torup Ting
, Tussenheid Hilvarenbeek
, E40
, Apadrinaunolivo.org
(
18/03/2022
)
A presentation on the state-of-play of the Smart Rural 21 project and four of its participating villages: Remetea (Romania) and Torup (Denmark); and the Come Along! villages Oliete (Spain) and Hilvarenbeek (The Netherlands). The presentation was given at the 4th Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation on the state-of-play of the Smart Rural 21 project and four of its participating villages: Remetea (Romania) and Torup (Denmark); and the Come Along! villages Oliete (Spain) and Hilvarenbeek (The Netherlands). The presentation was given at the 4th Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
Stefan Jensen
-
European Commission – Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development
(
18/03/2022
)
A presentation on the latest developments around Smart Villages, given at the 4th Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation on the latest developments around Smart Villages, given at the 4th Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
E40
(
18/03/2022
)
A presentation on the state-of-play of the Smart Rural 21 project, given at the 4th Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation on the state-of-play of the Smart Rural 21 project, given at the 4th Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
Udo Onnen-Weber
(
2015
–
Ongoing
)
The Citizen-run Bus Service is an on-demand transport service, using voluntary local drivers and operated by a non-profit association – called a citizens’ bus association – made up of local stakeholders, including local mayors, interested citizens, the district government, and the regional public transport operator. The association purchases the required vehicles – typically including minibus or people-carrier size vehicles to cater for larger groups and also favouring electric vehicles where possible. The association also recruits local drivers, who make themselves available on a voluntary basis and live in the villages so that they can really serve spontaneously when called. Although under no obligation to be available at any given time, the volunteer drivers can still be rewarded financially through an honorary flat rate or sometimes employed in a ‘mini-job’ scheme. Local people can book a journey using a telephone booking service or through an app. Journeys can be booked for door-to-door trips between any locations in the region as well as for making connections with the standard public transport network – particularly for onward travel to major cities. Many passengers are thus travelling intermodally, as they use both the on-demand service and the main public transport network for their journey. People booking the journey do not have to pay. The costs are born by the citizen bus association. However, it is up to the users to give a voluntary donation for a ride, which some people tend to do. The service can connect even the most remote villages to the public transport network, or between each other, enabling potentially isolated users to have improved access to good, services and social connections. This includes access to shops, leisure facilities and public services/administration – as well as with friends and relatives living in other villages.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
The Citizen-run Bus Service is an on-demand transport service, using voluntary local drivers and operated by a non-profit association – called a citizens’ bus association – made up of local stakeholders, including local mayors, interested citizens, the district government, and the regional public transport operator. The association purchases the required vehicles – typically including minibus or people-carrier size vehicles to cater for larger groups and also favouring electric vehicles where possible. The association also recruits local drivers, who make themselves available on a voluntary basis and live in the villages so that they can really serve spontaneously when called. Although under no obligation to be available at any given time, the volunteer drivers can still be rewarded financially through an honorary flat rate or sometimes employed in a ‘mini-job’ scheme. Local people can book a journey using a telephone booking service or through an app. Journeys can be booked for door-to-door trips between any locations in the region as well as for making connections with the standard public transport network – particularly for onward travel to major cities. Many passengers are thus travelling intermodally, as they use both the on-demand service and the main public transport network for their journey. People booking the journey do not have to pay. The costs are born by the citizen bus association. However, it is up to the users to give a voluntary donation for a ride, which some people tend to do. The service can connect even the most remote villages to the public transport network, or between each other, enabling potentially isolated users to have improved access to good, services and social connections. This includes access to shops, leisure facilities and public services/administration – as well as with friends and relatives living in other villages.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
Pierre-Bernard Van Acker
(
2017
–
2018
)
The smartphone app uses geolocation to show information on available local services and facilities according to the location where it is consulted. It gives the inhabitant or visitor detailed information about everything that can be used and experienced in the area, including public services and resources, including shops, restaurants, leisure facilities and playgrounds. The app can be designed to cover all the municipalities of a rural region or focus in on one particular area, but it provides a more attractive offer to users if it covers a wider range – making it more likely to be used. The overall aim of the app is to facilitate municipal services, improve the digital visibility of local entrepreneurs, and raise the profile of tourism, providing a digital communication channel for residents and visitors. The app can be based on an existing online platform (website) that regroups the available services and businesses in a set area. The app can also be used to collect data to inform market understanding and even to inform policy decisions.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
The smartphone app uses geolocation to show information on available local services and facilities according to the location where it is consulted. It gives the inhabitant or visitor detailed information about everything that can be used and experienced in the area, including public services and resources, including shops, restaurants, leisure facilities and playgrounds. The app can be designed to cover all the municipalities of a rural region or focus in on one particular area, but it provides a more attractive offer to users if it covers a wider range – making it more likely to be used. The overall aim of the app is to facilitate municipal services, improve the digital visibility of local entrepreneurs, and raise the profile of tourism, providing a digital communication channel for residents and visitors. The app can be based on an existing online platform (website) that regroups the available services and businesses in a set area. The app can also be used to collect data to inform market understanding and even to inform policy decisions.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
Adrián Serna del Pozo
(
31/05/2019
–
31/05/2020
)
The provision of free public Wi-Fi involves the installation of a powerful wireless repeater/booster to transmit a high-speed internet connection across the municipality, where it can be received by antennae which capture the connection and make it available to nearby users. Installing the system relies on the availability of a broadband internet access somewhere in the municipality, which can then be retransmitted and made available across a wider area. The solution involves putting in place a powerful transmitter, which connects to and broadcasts out the main internet connection. This transmitter should ideally be located in a high-up location to enable direct ‘line-of-sight’ connectivity with the receiving antennae. It can be powered with solar panels to avoid the requirement to connect it to the mains power grid. As many receiving antennae as are needed can then be installed in different areas of the municipality to provide local access points. These should be located according to need, thinking about both public buildings (municipal buildings, libraries, schools etc.) and outdoor spaces (such as public squares and parks). The municipality can pay for the internet connection of all users, offering it free of charge for private and business users in the municipality, thus providing free access to the internet in areas previously suffering the consequences of the digital divide – including in locations which still have no mobile phone 3G or 4G connectivity. The solution is therefore much cheaper to operate than alternatives based on multiple separate internet connections, which all need to be paid for separately on the private market. Providing this solution overcomes the rural digital divide locally, providing an enabling environment for the activities of residents, visitors and businesses. It can also then enable other solutions, such as the implementation of new digital public services for local inhabitants.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
The provision of free public Wi-Fi involves the installation of a powerful wireless repeater/booster to transmit a high-speed internet connection across the municipality, where it can be received by antennae which capture the connection and make it available to nearby users. Installing the system relies on the availability of a broadband internet access somewhere in the municipality, which can then be retransmitted and made available across a wider area. The solution involves putting in place a powerful transmitter, which connects to and broadcasts out the main internet connection. This transmitter should ideally be located in a high-up location to enable direct ‘line-of-sight’ connectivity with the receiving antennae. It can be powered with solar panels to avoid the requirement to connect it to the mains power grid. As many receiving antennae as are needed can then be installed in different areas of the municipality to provide local access points. These should be located according to need, thinking about both public buildings (municipal buildings, libraries, schools etc.) and outdoor spaces (such as public squares and parks). The municipality can pay for the internet connection of all users, offering it free of charge for private and business users in the municipality, thus providing free access to the internet in areas previously suffering the consequences of the digital divide – including in locations which still have no mobile phone 3G or 4G connectivity. The solution is therefore much cheaper to operate than alternatives based on multiple separate internet connections, which all need to be paid for separately on the private market. Providing this solution overcomes the rural digital divide locally, providing an enabling environment for the activities of residents, visitors and businesses. It can also then enable other solutions, such as the implementation of new digital public services for local inhabitants.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
Eneko Maioz Ganboa
(
01/12/2018
–
31/08/2021
)
A Local Energy Community is formed by neighbours, private companies and public institutions with the task of producing and distributing renewable public energy – and related benefits – according to the needs of the local community. It can also carry out and promote further actions for the energy sustainability of the community. The aims are on the one hand to reduce both the cost and the environmental impact of local energy consumption, including potentially to achieve full energy sovereignty for the local community, and on the other hand to ensure a just and fair distribution of the generated energy in order to support local business opportunities and families in need. The community can plan and manage the installation of renewable energy infrastructure in the local area, such as installing photovoltaic panels on roofs belonging both to municipal and private buildings. It also establishes a distribution system for sharing the new energy generated among the different local users, including public institutions, private companies and inhabitants. Public institutions can be a key stakeholder to make or support the first investments in installing the required infrastructure, which would otherwise be beyond the resources of local businesses and inhabitants on their own. The community can decide to distribute the benefits of the system as it chooses, for example to offer incentives for companies to boost the economic activity of the village, and/or to offer significant energy cost savings to the most vulnerable families of the village.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
A Local Energy Community is formed by neighbours, private companies and public institutions with the task of producing and distributing renewable public energy – and related benefits – according to the needs of the local community. It can also carry out and promote further actions for the energy sustainability of the community. The aims are on the one hand to reduce both the cost and the environmental impact of local energy consumption, including potentially to achieve full energy sovereignty for the local community, and on the other hand to ensure a just and fair distribution of the generated energy in order to support local business opportunities and families in need. The community can plan and manage the installation of renewable energy infrastructure in the local area, such as installing photovoltaic panels on roofs belonging both to municipal and private buildings. It also establishes a distribution system for sharing the new energy generated among the different local users, including public institutions, private companies and inhabitants. Public institutions can be a key stakeholder to make or support the first investments in installing the required infrastructure, which would otherwise be beyond the resources of local businesses and inhabitants on their own. The community can decide to distribute the benefits of the system as it chooses, for example to offer incentives for companies to boost the economic activity of the village, and/or to offer significant energy cost savings to the most vulnerable families of the village.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
Ministry of Investments, Regional Development, and Informati-sation of the Slovak Republic
The aim is to improve the overall quality of life and ensure the sustainable provision of public services for regions, cities and municipalities. Priorities of the programme in the area of safe and ecological transport in regions, access to efficient and better public services, creative industries, etc. (Structural Funds)
Language : Slovak
The aim is to improve the overall quality of life and ensure the sustainable provision of public services for regions, cities and municipalities. Priorities of the programme in the area of safe and ecological transport in regions, access to efficient and better public services, creative industries, etc. (Structural Funds)
Language : Slovak
Andrea Lorenzini
, Giorgio Ambrosino
, Brendan Finn
-
MemEx Srl
(
27/01/2022
)
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on the outcomes of the SMARTA project. Its objective was to enhance the policies and practices on mobility in rural areas, leading to sustainable and accessible rural areas in EU countries.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on the outcomes of the SMARTA project. Its objective was to enhance the policies and practices on mobility in rural areas, leading to sustainable and accessible rural areas in EU countries.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
Ruud Groenendijk
-
Tussenheid Hilvarenbeek
(
27/01/2022
)
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on ways in which flexible bus transport is provided to the community of Hilvarenbeek, one of the project’s Come Along! villages.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on ways in which flexible bus transport is provided to the community of Hilvarenbeek, one of the project’s Come Along! villages.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
Marco Volontá
-
S.I.Ri.O. SRL
(
27/01/2022
)
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on ways in which e-mobility was supported in Ostana (Italy), explaining the intervention actions and strategic elements of the support.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on ways in which e-mobility was supported in Ostana (Italy), explaining the intervention actions and strategic elements of the support.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
Silvia Rovere
-
Municipality of Ostana
(
27/01/2022
)
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on the significance of smart villages for rural communities, delivered by the Mayor of Ostana (Italy).
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on the significance of smart villages for rural communities, delivered by the Mayor of Ostana (Italy).
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Presentation
Mara Lai
-
CREA Ricerche (CREA Research) – Consiglio per la Ricerca in agricoltura e l’economia agraria (National Council for Research in Agriculture and Agriculture Economy)
(
27/01/2022
)
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on the support framework for smart villages in Italy.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on the support framework for smart villages in Italy.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
Antonio de Rossi
-
Politecnico di Torino
(
27/01/2022
)
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on architecture and social innovation in the village.
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on architecture and social innovation in the village.
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Presentation
Laura Cantarella
, Enrica Alberti
-
VISO A VISO
(
27/01/2022
)
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on the smart approach of Ostana (Italy), its vision and holistic approach.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation given at the 3rd Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop on the smart approach of Ostana (Italy), its vision and holistic approach.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
