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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Blanca Alfonso de la Riva
, Montse Castán
-
Council of Ansó
(
05/11/2021
)
A presentation given at the 2nd Regional Workshop of the Smart Rural 21 project on the smart strategy of Ansó, one of the project’s 21 selected villages. Ansó’s aim is to create the ideal living conditions for stabilising the population and attracting new residents.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation given at the 2nd Regional Workshop of the Smart Rural 21 project on the smart strategy of Ansó, one of the project’s 21 selected villages. Ansó’s aim is to create the ideal living conditions for stabilising the population and attracting new residents.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
Rainer Rosegger
, Alexander Baldele
, Rainer Rosegger
-
SCAN
, Caliber Consult GmbH
(
05/11/2021
)
A presentation given at the 2nd Regional Workshop of the Smart Rural 21 project on how the energy community and its support system work in Stanz, including the importance of social innovation and early community engagement.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation given at the 2nd Regional Workshop of the Smart Rural 21 project on how the energy community and its support system work in Stanz, including the importance of social innovation and early community engagement.
Language : English
Type of resource : Presentation
Mieke Vergeer
(
2019
–
Ongoing
)
Farmers cooperate to construct innovative water infiltration systems in the peat soil over their collective land in order to prevent soil subsidence and reduce peat oxidation and CO2 emissions. Farmers thus take joint responsibility for their contribution to climate goals.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
Farmers cooperate to construct innovative water infiltration systems in the peat soil over their collective land in order to prevent soil subsidence and reduce peat oxidation and CO2 emissions. Farmers thus take joint responsibility for their contribution to climate goals.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
Nelie Slob
(
04/2019
–
12/2019
)
The solution involves the creation of an unmanned food shop on or near a village farm so that participating farmers can sell their produce directly to consumers without having to pass through supermarkets or take on the cost of employing a full-time shopkeeper or make difficult decisions about when to open the shop. The shop can be open 24 hours a day to customers who have signed an agreement and paid a deposit in order to receive an electronic key. The concept is based on modern technology to operate the unmanned shop, but also trust between farmers and consumers. Local farmers keep the shop stocked with their full range of local, organic and seasonal produce. Farmers can take turns to man the shop at specific times when they can come into contact with their consumers and explain and present their produce – for example on Saturdays. Other activities can also be organised to encourage greater connection between consumers, the countryside and their food – such as open days, walking tours and festivals.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
The solution involves the creation of an unmanned food shop on or near a village farm so that participating farmers can sell their produce directly to consumers without having to pass through supermarkets or take on the cost of employing a full-time shopkeeper or make difficult decisions about when to open the shop. The shop can be open 24 hours a day to customers who have signed an agreement and paid a deposit in order to receive an electronic key. The concept is based on modern technology to operate the unmanned shop, but also trust between farmers and consumers. Local farmers keep the shop stocked with their full range of local, organic and seasonal produce. Farmers can take turns to man the shop at specific times when they can come into contact with their consumers and explain and present their produce – for example on Saturdays. Other activities can also be organised to encourage greater connection between consumers, the countryside and their food – such as open days, walking tours and festivals.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
Daniel Wurster-Ellinger
(
06/2018
–
Ongoing
)
The solution offers an online as well as telephone booking platform for public transport connections in rural areas. It combines scheduled public transport lines and on-demand taxis so that tourists and locals can reach various destinations, even including remote locations, such as mountain huts and cabins. The service is offered throughout the year and the system guarantees a connection within 60 minutes from the time of booking. Passengers pay for their ride directly in the vehicle.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
The solution offers an online as well as telephone booking platform for public transport connections in rural areas. It combines scheduled public transport lines and on-demand taxis so that tourists and locals can reach various destinations, even including remote locations, such as mountain huts and cabins. The service is offered throughout the year and the system guarantees a connection within 60 minutes from the time of booking. Passengers pay for their ride directly in the vehicle.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
Maria Zografou
(
06/2020
–
11/2020
)
The creation of a school for young people through a public-private partnership can overcome a key barrier preventing young families from living and working in rural areas. Particularly when implemented in areas with a growing or potentially growing local economic sector (e.g. agri-tourism) the creation of a nursery school can contribute to positive local development cycles bringing in new families and entrepreneurs. The solution requires a building to house the school and then funding to equip and staff the school appropriately. The provision of a local bus (or similar) service is crucial to enable children to come to attend the school from different villages in the region. A typical feature of the solution is an effective public-private cooperation to overcome the initial investment barriers to creating a school for relatively isolated rural communities. In this model, the private investment is crucial to set up the school, including initial investment in the building and infrastructure. After that, the education authorities /national government can take responsibility for a majority of the running costs of the school. This model thus helps to overcome the initial investment barriers that limit the ability of the public sector to set up a school meeting the needs of multiple municipalities across relatively isolated and sparse communities, whilst at the same time allowing public authorities to retain their overall competence for education services.”
Type of resource : Smart Solution
The creation of a school for young people through a public-private partnership can overcome a key barrier preventing young families from living and working in rural areas. Particularly when implemented in areas with a growing or potentially growing local economic sector (e.g. agri-tourism) the creation of a nursery school can contribute to positive local development cycles bringing in new families and entrepreneurs. The solution requires a building to house the school and then funding to equip and staff the school appropriately. The provision of a local bus (or similar) service is crucial to enable children to come to attend the school from different villages in the region. A typical feature of the solution is an effective public-private cooperation to overcome the initial investment barriers to creating a school for relatively isolated rural communities. In this model, the private investment is crucial to set up the school, including initial investment in the building and infrastructure. After that, the education authorities /national government can take responsibility for a majority of the running costs of the school. This model thus helps to overcome the initial investment barriers that limit the ability of the public sector to set up a school meeting the needs of multiple municipalities across relatively isolated and sparse communities, whilst at the same time allowing public authorities to retain their overall competence for education services.”
Type of resource : Smart Solution
Erika Gulácsi
(
10/2019
–
Ongoing
)
Local families are helped by professional mentors to create local produce to then sell through in local settings – such as markets – through a non-profit company. The solution involves the provision of mentoring support to disadvantaged individuals and families in a community to enable them to produce and sell a typical local product at a small scale. As well as mentoring support, participating families are provided with raw materials and tools to get them started in their chosen initiative. The produce is then sold locally through a cooperative, social enterprise or similar format. Example produce can include locally grown fruits and vegetables or artisan-made products such as baskets. The choice of produce should be inspired by the local area, its existing specialities and the produce that can generate the greatest return on investment. The use of pilots can be useful in training local people and creating the community spirit around the initiative. The solution allows families living in deep poverty to earn an additional income, which can represent a substantial increase – especially for families whose only income is otherwise from social benefits. The community spirit generated can be mobilised to develop further income-generating activities.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
Local families are helped by professional mentors to create local produce to then sell through in local settings – such as markets – through a non-profit company. The solution involves the provision of mentoring support to disadvantaged individuals and families in a community to enable them to produce and sell a typical local product at a small scale. As well as mentoring support, participating families are provided with raw materials and tools to get them started in their chosen initiative. The produce is then sold locally through a cooperative, social enterprise or similar format. Example produce can include locally grown fruits and vegetables or artisan-made products such as baskets. The choice of produce should be inspired by the local area, its existing specialities and the produce that can generate the greatest return on investment. The use of pilots can be useful in training local people and creating the community spirit around the initiative. The solution allows families living in deep poverty to earn an additional income, which can represent a substantial increase – especially for families whose only income is otherwise from social benefits. The community spirit generated can be mobilised to develop further income-generating activities.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
Laura Cantarella
(
2013
–
Ongoing
)
A hub organising high-quality cultural events and services, hosting training activities and cultural productions, but also activities aimed at involving the local community (public library, area for young families and children, co-working space, etc.). It is a model activity at different levels, fulfilling the needs of the families, but also providing a reference point for visitors, students and researchers.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
A hub organising high-quality cultural events and services, hosting training activities and cultural productions, but also activities aimed at involving the local community (public library, area for young families and children, co-working space, etc.). It is a model activity at different levels, fulfilling the needs of the families, but also providing a reference point for visitors, students and researchers.
Type of resource : Smart Solution
Flanders DC
Manual, trend analysis, project sheet and template report to get started with the idea wheel
Language : Dutch, English
Manual, trend analysis, project sheet and template report to get started with the idea wheel
Language : Dutch, English
Tussenheid Hilvarenbeek
(
2021
)
This document presents how the ‘sustainizability’ model is applied in real life in two specific cases: Spoorpark Tilburg (Railroad Park) and Digihelden Hilvarenbeek (Digital Heroes Hilvarenbeek)
Language : English
This document presents how the ‘sustainizability’ model is applied in real life in two specific cases: Spoorpark Tilburg (Railroad Park) and Digihelden Hilvarenbeek (Digital Heroes Hilvarenbeek)
Language : English
Tussenheid Hilvarenbeek
(
20/10/2016
)
Mr Palmen, mayor of the community of Hilvarenbeek at the event of the contact night of the Hilver B & O platforms (Hilver Management & Development) talks about the complementary role of the local government and local society, and how each should take its own responsibility.
Language : Dutch, English
Mr Palmen, mayor of the community of Hilvarenbeek at the event of the contact night of the Hilver B & O platforms (Hilver Management & Development) talks about the complementary role of the local government and local society, and how each should take its own responsibility.
Language : Dutch, English
Tussenheid Hilvarenbeek
(
25/04/2018
)
Tussenheid is an upside down umbrella organization. It is a movement of local initiatives, whereby local ownership is guaranteed. Tussenheid Hilvarenbeek helps to make local projects / initiatives sustainable in the economic, societal and environmental sense.
Language : English
Tussenheid is an upside down umbrella organization. It is a movement of local initiatives, whereby local ownership is guaranteed. Tussenheid Hilvarenbeek helps to make local projects / initiatives sustainable in the economic, societal and environmental sense.
Language : English
Sustainizability model, network analysis and applications Part I: The model
Tussenheid Hilvarenbeek
This guide sets out the basics of the sustainzability model, that has emerged in the North Brabant region of the Netherlands in the ‘50s. Until the fifties the Kempen region (the southern part of the province of North Brabant and the northern part of the Flemish provinces of Antwerp and Limburg) was a relatively poor region with a history and regional identity of mainly hardworking small farmers. They had to be self-reliant, but the awareness of the great importance of support from and to the people in the area certainly had a major impact on social relations and the way in which ideas were created and developed. This cultural orientation certainly contributed to the emergence of all kinds of cooperatives. A key example of this was the arise of the cooperative Boerenleenbanken (Raiffeisenbank), and more recently the impressive industrial development (Brainport) in which cooperation proved to be the success factor.
Josef Maiwald
‘For you as a manager, it is not just about making good decisions. Equally important is to implement them together with your employees in a sustainable way. The cooperative leading, or “leading at eye-level” of self-responsible and self-confident employees is becoming increasingly important. Through “Systemic Consensing” (SC) you create a good basis for this.’
Language : English
‘For you as a manager, it is not just about making good decisions. Equally important is to implement them together with your employees in a sustainable way. The cooperative leading, or “leading at eye-level” of self-responsible and self-confident employees is becoming increasingly important. Through “Systemic Consensing” (SC) you create a good basis for this.’
Language : English
Sarah Peter
, Simone Sterly
, Gerlinde Behrendt
, Anna Maria Häring
-
Institut für Ländliche Strukturforschung
, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development
(
2019
)
Part of the results of the BioFinanz research project on community financing in the organic food sector, this publication succinctly summarises key findings about the usage, benefits and critical points of different financing models. The paper was presented at the 7th CIRIEC International Research Conference on Social Economy “Social and Solidarity Economy: Moving Towards a New Economic System”, Bucharest (Romania), 6-9 June 2019.
Language : German
Type of resource : Publication
Part of the results of the BioFinanz research project on community financing in the organic food sector, this publication succinctly summarises key findings about the usage, benefits and critical points of different financing models. The paper was presented at the 7th CIRIEC International Research Conference on Social Economy “Social and Solidarity Economy: Moving Towards a New Economic System”, Bucharest (Romania), 6-9 June 2019.
Language : German
Type of resource : Publication
Institut für Ländliche Strukturforschung
, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development
(
2020
)
Web portal about alternative financing in the organic food sector, based on a research project (2017-2020).
Language : German
Type of resource : Website
Web portal about alternative financing in the organic food sector, based on a research project (2017-2020).
Language : German
Type of resource : Website
Estonian National Rural Network
(
06/05/2021
)
An online thematic seminar on smart villages `Finnish experience and vision, providing an overview of the development of smart villages in Finland, as well as an Estonian LEADER smart villages cooperation project. The web page features presentations and links to additional information.
Language : English
An online thematic seminar on smart villages `Finnish experience and vision, providing an overview of the development of smart villages in Finland, as well as an Estonian LEADER smart villages cooperation project. The web page features presentations and links to additional information.
Language : English
Croatian Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds
(
02/2021
–
2030
)
The document sets out a strategic vision and direction for Croatia by 2030. It includes four development directions and their related 13 strategic goals. The broader development directions are: sustainable economy and society; strengthening crisis resilience; green and digital transition; and balanced regional development.
Type of resource : Document
The document sets out a strategic vision and direction for Croatia by 2030. It includes four development directions and their related 13 strategic goals. The broader development directions are: sustainable economy and society; strengthening crisis resilience; green and digital transition; and balanced regional development.
Type of resource : Document
Croatian Rural Parliament
(
23/05/2019
)
The Declaration emerging from the third edition of the bi-annual Croatian Rural Parliament intends to communicate the most important rural development topics in the country to the general public and decision-makers at local, national and European levels. The theme of the 2019 Parliament was ‘smart villages’ with discussions revolving around local rural challenges, as well as in the wider European context, drawing on the conclusions of the previous European Rural Parliaments, the Cork 2.0 Declaration and the Tartu Declaration on Renewing LEADER/CLLD for 2020+.
Language : Croatian
The Declaration emerging from the third edition of the bi-annual Croatian Rural Parliament intends to communicate the most important rural development topics in the country to the general public and decision-makers at local, national and European levels. The theme of the 2019 Parliament was ‘smart villages’ with discussions revolving around local rural challenges, as well as in the wider European context, drawing on the conclusions of the previous European Rural Parliaments, the Cork 2.0 Declaration and the Tartu Declaration on Renewing LEADER/CLLD for 2020+.
Language : Croatian
József Káposzta
, Patrícia Honvári
(
2019
)
A study published in the ’Space and Society’ scientific journal.
Language : Hungarian
Type of resource : Publication
A study published in the ’Space and Society’ scientific journal.
Language : Hungarian
Type of resource : Publication
COCONAT
(
2019
–
Ongoing
)
Bad Belzig and Wiesenburg are the real laboratory for testing digital tools in rural areas for Brandenburg Region.
Language : German
Bad Belzig and Wiesenburg are the real laboratory for testing digital tools in rural areas for Brandenburg Region.
Language : German
Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (Fraunhofer IESE)
, Economic Development Agency Brandenburg (WFBB)
, Bitkom
(
2019
–
Ongoing
)
A project targeting the state of Brandenburg as a lively economic and innovation area with its districts, towns and villages. The project follows the strategic goals of the “Future Strategy Digital Brandenburg” with which the state government wants to support “digital showcases and practical laboratories” so that “new developments become ‘tangible’ and transferable”.
Language : English, German
A project targeting the state of Brandenburg as a lively economic and innovation area with its districts, towns and villages. The project follows the strategic goals of the “Future Strategy Digital Brandenburg” with which the state government wants to support “digital showcases and practical laboratories” so that “new developments become ‘tangible’ and transferable”.
Language : English, German
Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (Fraunhofer IESE)
An initiative working to shorten the distances for food supply by using and testing a mobile sales vehicle that stops in the centre of villages that no longer have their own supply. The offer will be supplemented by a digital marketplace linking citizens, regional producers, and village shops, so that in addition to spontaneous purchases from the vehicle, orders can also be placed online.
Language : English, German
An initiative working to shorten the distances for food supply by using and testing a mobile sales vehicle that stops in the centre of villages that no longer have their own supply. The offer will be supplemented by a digital marketplace linking citizens, regional producers, and village shops, so that in addition to spontaneous purchases from the vehicle, orders can also be placed online.
Language : English, German
Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (Fraunhofer IESE)
, Digital Opportunities Foundation
A cooperation project in the southern part of the federal state. In the ‘Real Laboratory Southern Lower Saxony’ (located in Göttingen), the needs of the population in rural areas for more digital participation are determined together with municipalities in southern Lower Saxony. At the interface between citizens and administration, tests are being carried out on how the offers of the Digital Villages Platform can be used and further developed in order to enable a better quality of community life in villages. The focus is on the regional commitment of the local actors and the connection to municipal (administrative) structures.
Language : German
A cooperation project in the southern part of the federal state. In the ‘Real Laboratory Southern Lower Saxony’ (located in Göttingen), the needs of the population in rural areas for more digital participation are determined together with municipalities in southern Lower Saxony. At the interface between citizens and administration, tests are being carried out on how the offers of the Digital Villages Platform can be used and further developed in order to enable a better quality of community life in villages. The focus is on the regional commitment of the local actors and the connection to municipal (administrative) structures.
Language : German
Ministry of Regional Development Saxony
(
06/2020
–
Ongoing
)
A project that develops and tests digital applications for rural areas in the Lommatzscher Pflege LEADER region. The population, municipal representatives and scientists from the Fraunhofer Institutes for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE) and for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (IVI) jointly prepare specific practical proposals on how to implement these digital applications in workshops.
Language : Czech, English, German, Polish
A project that develops and tests digital applications for rural areas in the Lommatzscher Pflege LEADER region. The population, municipal representatives and scientists from the Fraunhofer Institutes for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE) and for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (IVI) jointly prepare specific practical proposals on how to implement these digital applications in workshops.
Language : Czech, English, German, Polish
Ministry of the Interior and Sports of the Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate
(
2015
–
Ongoing
)
A project working to disseminate the findings and experiences of the three model communities of the ‘Digital Villages’ project, Eisenberg and Göllheim, as well as Betzdorf-Gebhardshain to interested communities in Rhineland-Palatinate and in order to support them in their digital projects. The networking project is funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior and Sports.
Language : German
A project working to disseminate the findings and experiences of the three model communities of the ‘Digital Villages’ project, Eisenberg and Göllheim, as well as Betzdorf-Gebhardshain to interested communities in Rhineland-Palatinate and in order to support them in their digital projects. The networking project is funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior and Sports.
Language : German
Salla Pätilä
-
Maaseutuverkosto – Finnish National Rural Network
(
06/05/2021
)
A presentation given at the thematic seminar on smart villages `Finnish experience and vision´ organised by the Estonian Rural Network.
Language : English
A presentation given at the thematic seminar on smart villages `Finnish experience and vision´ organised by the Estonian Rural Network.
Language : English
