What’s happening in my country
Denmark
This page contains specific information about the planning and implementation of smart villages in Denmark. 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.
Explore how smart villages are being implemented in Denmark.
You can also visit the page of the Smart Rural 21 selected village:
Torup
Key CAP contact(s) :
Support for Smart Villages under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
- The CAP Strategic Plan (CAP SP) is under preparation.
- By taking into account the smaller budget for CAP in 2021-2027, it may be difficult to maintain the present budget for LEADER that could potentially be a key source of funding for Smart Villages. A decision on state co-financing for the LEADER scheme and funding for LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs) in 2022-2027 is expected to be taken in 2020.
- The Danish Agriculture & Food Council together with the Council for Rural Districts launched the ‘Reboot Denmark’ vision, with 29 concrete proposals on how to create more growth and more jobs in rural areas, in particular to respond to the negative impacts of the Covid-19 crisis.
Key NRN contact(s) :
Support provided through other national/ regional policies & initiatives
In Danish villages there are many activities similar to those associated with the Smart Villages concept.
A Danish municipality typically covers 10-20 villages, and many municipalities have its own Rural Development Department. They encourage and assist their villages in defining a strategy (Local Development Plan) for their community, and this focus is expected to increase in the future due to a recent change in the law on physical planning requiring to develop strategies for villages.
“The Village of the Year” has been selected since 1995 by the National Association of Villages in Denmark. Every year a new theme is identified, such as involvement, sustainability, democracy, and digitisation. In 2020 the topic was “How do the villages get through a crisis?”
Key organisations & contacts
The Alexandra Institute is a non-profit company with a mission to create value, growth and welfare in society. Their team of specialist experts design novel, innovative IT-based products and services, and apply their skills in software, user involvement and innovation methods to create technological solutions of commercial relevance.
Key activities :- Helps public and private organisations developing innovative, IT-based products and services based on cutting-edge IT research.
- Initiated the Svebølle Smart Village study in 2016
Local Government Denmark (KL) is the voluntary association and interest organisation of 98 Danish municipalities.
Key activities :- Safeguard common interests of the member municipalities,
- Assist individual municipalities through consultancy services,
- Ensure that the local authorities are provided with up-to-date and relevant information, supporting all members in delivering local services and developing local communities.
Rural municipality at the Western part of the Island of Zealand in Denmark.
Key activities :Svebølle Smart Village project (2016) ran in cooperation with Alexandra Institute: the village as a living lab, testing out different sensors and technologies.
See more here:
The Council of Rural Districts is a non-profit organisation that handles common tasks and interests for rural inhabitants. The members include a number of national organisations, 56 municipalities, the (F)LAGs and a large number of villages and rural councils. In addition to the function of interest organisation, the Council of Rural Districts acts as a national partner in the rural development area for the Parliament and the central administration.
Key activities :- To share and communicate knowledge and experience for the benefit of rural areas.
- Partner in the legislative and regulatory work on framework conditions for rural areas, and represented in relevant commissions and committees.
Further key resources
Lighthouse factsheet of Samsø
Samsø Energy Academy ( 2023 )
The factsheet outlines the the smart journey of Samsø, lighthouse community in ‘Renewable energy’ within the Smart Rural 27 project. After years of successful citizen engagement through different projects, including renewable energy and environmentally related projects their goal is to continue doing so. Next steps include sustainable ferry transport to and from the island, and renewing district heating system.
Language : English
Samsø Energy Academy ( 2023 )
The factsheet outlines the the smart journey of Samsø, lighthouse community in ‘Renewable energy’ within the Smart Rural 27 project. After years of successful citizen engagement through different projects, including renewable energy and environmentally related projects their goal is to continue doing so. Next steps include sustainable ferry transport to and from the island, and renewing district heating system.
Language : English
Tools & Talents
Heino Smed Sørensen - MINLANDSBY ( 2021 )
A digital platform and smartphone app supporting exchange among newcomers and existing inhabitants of Torup (Denmark), through the sharing of tools and skills. It enables villagers to find, book and borrow resources, both physical tools and local residents’ skills.
Language : Danish
Heino Smed Sørensen - MINLANDSBY ( 2021 )
A digital platform and smartphone app supporting exchange among newcomers and existing inhabitants of Torup (Denmark), through the sharing of tools and skills. It enables villagers to find, book and borrow resources, both physical tools and local residents’ skills.
Language : Danish
White Paper – Developing a digital solution
Heino Smed Sørensen , Kirsten Birke Lund - MINLANDSBY ( 09/2022 – 11/2022 )
A document overviewing the process of developing Torup’s (Denmark) ‘Tools & Talents’ digital platform that supports exchange among newcomers to the village and existing inhabitants through the sharing of tools and skills.
Language : English
Heino Smed Sørensen , Kirsten Birke Lund - MINLANDSBY ( 09/2022 – 11/2022 )
A document overviewing the process of developing Torup’s (Denmark) ‘Tools & Talents’ digital platform that supports exchange among newcomers to the village and existing inhabitants through the sharing of tools and skills.
Language : English
Fourth Regional Workshop of the Smart Rural 21 project
Torup Ting , E40 ( 18/03/2022 )
Recording of day 2 of the fourth Regional Workshop of the Smart Rural 21 project, held in Torup, Denmark. The event presented the outcomes of the Smart Rural 21 project, both in terms of local rural community support and Smart Village policy lessons to date. The event focused on ’The strength of civil society in developing resilient rural communities’.
Language : English
Torup Ting , E40 ( 18/03/2022 )
Recording of day 2 of the fourth Regional Workshop of the Smart Rural 21 project, held in Torup, Denmark. The event presented the outcomes of the Smart Rural 21 project, both in terms of local rural community support and Smart Village policy lessons to date. The event focused on ’The strength of civil society in developing resilient rural communities’.
Language : English
Torup’s Smart Village journey
Peter Plant - Torup Ting ( 17/10/2022 )
A presentation on Torup’s smart journey, including how the village got engaged with the ‘Smart Village’ concept, and the ‘smart’ actions carried out and plans for the future. The presentation was given at the Smart Rural 21 project’s Final Conference of 17-18 October 2022 in Sopot, Poland.
Language : English
Peter Plant - Torup Ting ( 17/10/2022 )
A presentation on Torup’s smart journey, including how the village got engaged with the ‘Smart Village’ concept, and the ‘smart’ actions carried out and plans for the future. The presentation was given at the Smart Rural 21 project’s Final Conference of 17-18 October 2022 in Sopot, Poland.
Language : English
Smart Villages: Revitalising Rural Services
( 09/07/2018 )
A video with Danish subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : Danish, English
( 09/07/2018 )
A video with Danish subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : Danish, English
4th Smart Rural 21 Regional Workshop recording
( 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
( 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
Facilitating Village Cooperation
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
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
Local Action Group & communities
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
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
Torup – facilitating success
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
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
Tools and talents’ app
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
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
Sustainable communities
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
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
The Smart Rural 21 Project & the SR21 villages
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
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
‘Green communities as development strategy’
Susanne Abildgaard Rud - BARK Rådgivning ( 2020 – 2021 )
A publication bringing together experiences and knowledge from a range of examples where developing green village communities succeeded. The aim is to inspire municipalities to work more purposefully and strategically with green communities as a development strategy. The project was supported by the Rural Fund under the Ministry of Business and Growth.
Language : Danish
Susanne Abildgaard Rud - BARK Rådgivning ( 2020 – 2021 )
A publication bringing together experiences and knowledge from a range of examples where developing green village communities succeeded. The aim is to inspire municipalities to work more purposefully and strategically with green communities as a development strategy. The project was supported by the Rural Fund under the Ministry of Business and Growth.
Language : Danish
‘Look up’
Annette Aagaard Thuesen - University of Southern Denmark ( 2020 – 2021 )
A study from the University of Southern Denmark on experiences with strategic village planning. The study was presented at the Rural Development Research Day – 16 September 2021.
Language : Danish
Annette Aagaard Thuesen - University of Southern Denmark ( 2020 – 2021 )
A study from the University of Southern Denmark on experiences with strategic village planning. The study was presented at the Rural Development Research Day – 16 September 2021.
Language : Danish
Lejre ‘Village Council’
Lejre municipality ( 05/2019 – Ongoing )
The terms of reference of the ‘Village Council’ of the Lejre municipality. The council was set up in 2019 by the municipality and includes 10 village representatives and seven from the municipality council. The aim of the body is to ensure progress of smart villages, with a focus on ways in which new digital technologies, innovation and platform solutions can strengthen local development for the benefit of citizens, businesses and sustainable growth and development.
Language : Danish
Lejre municipality ( 05/2019 – Ongoing )
The terms of reference of the ‘Village Council’ of the Lejre municipality. The council was set up in 2019 by the municipality and includes 10 village representatives and seven from the municipality council. The aim of the body is to ensure progress of smart villages, with a focus on ways in which new digital technologies, innovation and platform solutions can strengthen local development for the benefit of citizens, businesses and sustainable growth and development.
Language : Danish
1st Smart Communities Café, Torup (Denmark)
Peter Plant - Torup Ting ( 19/11/2020 )
During the 1st Café, hosted by Torup (Denmark), Peter Plant was telling about their local democracy, voluntary work, community fund, how they engage community members through ‘Torup Ting’ and about their smart plans for the future
Language : English
Peter Plant - Torup Ting ( 19/11/2020 )
During the 1st Café, hosted by Torup (Denmark), Peter Plant was telling about their local democracy, voluntary work, community fund, how they engage community members through ‘Torup Ting’ and about their smart plans for the future
Language : English
MINLANDSBY (MY VILLAGE) – Torup tools & talents
Peter Plant , Heino Smed Sørensen - Torup Ting ( 23/02/2021 )
A presentation on Torup’s (selected Smart Rural 21 village) tools and talents online platform planning in collaboration with MINLANDSBY (My Village) application, provided at the 2nd Smart Village Academy of the Smart Rural 21 project during the “Website and community platforms for community engagement” working group.
Language : English
Peter Plant , Heino Smed Sørensen - Torup Ting ( 23/02/2021 )
A presentation on Torup’s (selected Smart Rural 21 village) tools and talents online platform planning in collaboration with MINLANDSBY (My Village) application, provided at the 2nd Smart Village Academy of the Smart Rural 21 project during the “Website and community platforms for community engagement” working group.
Language : English
Sustainable Village Planning: Sustainability in 4-D
Peter Plant ( 27/10/2020 )
A presentation provided at the 1st Smart Village Academy of the Smart Rural 21 project about the sustainable village planning process in Torup by Peter Plant, chairman of Torup Ting (Denmark).
Language : English
Peter Plant ( 27/10/2020 )
A presentation provided at the 1st Smart Village Academy of the Smart Rural 21 project about the sustainable village planning process in Torup by Peter Plant, chairman of Torup Ting (Denmark).
Language : English
Summary Highlights of the Smart Village Strategy of Torup (Denmark)
Peter Plant Torup Ting ( 12/2020 )
The Summary Highlights of the Smart Village Strategy of Torup 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
Peter Plant Torup Ting ( 12/2020 )
The Summary Highlights of the Smart Village Strategy of Torup 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
Smart Village Strategy of Torup (Denmark)
Peter Plant - Torup Ting ( 12/2020 )
The Smart Village Strategy of Torup 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
Peter Plant - Torup Ting ( 12/2020 )
The Smart Village Strategy of Torup 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
Svebølle Smart Village study
Municipality of Kalundborg , Alexandra Institute ( 2016 )
The village was used as a living lab, testing out different sensors and technologies.
Language : Danish
Municipality of Kalundborg , Alexandra Institute ( 2016 )
The village was used as a living lab, testing out different sensors and technologies.
Language : Danish
‘Længe leve landsbyerne’ (‘Long Live the Villages’) – Strategic Planning for Villages
Realdania ( 2018 – Ongoing )
The Law on Planning created in 2018 has been extended with a section: “Strategic Planning for Villages”, making it obligatory for the municipalities to include strategic planning for villages in the municipality planning. The start-up of this obligation has been supported by Realdania who has supported projects in two rural and an outlying municipality developing a method of strategic planning for villages. The method is presented in the ‘Long Live the Villages’ document: Focus has mainly been on developing a solid foundation for strategic planning, based on mapping and analysis of geography, demographics and civil society.
Language : Danish
Realdania ( 2018 – Ongoing )
The Law on Planning created in 2018 has been extended with a section: “Strategic Planning for Villages”, making it obligatory for the municipalities to include strategic planning for villages in the municipality planning. The start-up of this obligation has been supported by Realdania who has supported projects in two rural and an outlying municipality developing a method of strategic planning for villages. The method is presented in the ‘Long Live the Villages’ document: Focus has mainly been on developing a solid foundation for strategic planning, based on mapping and analysis of geography, demographics and civil society.
Language : Danish
“The meeting place” / strengthening rural life (Funding-programme to improve the quality of life for all by developing the built environment)
Realdania , Lokale og AnlægsFonden
Cluster of villages can apply for financial support to develop a meeting place within the cluster. This can be achieved by building, transforming or redefining existing facilities to strengthen the communities and leisure lives of village clusters. Good meeting places can take many forms. New thinking might be needed when more villages join forces as a community. A good meeting place makes it natural to gather in the cluster across villages, age and interests. It does not necessarily require a new building and it can be assembling multiple functions under the same roof or transforming something old into something new.
Language : Danish, English
Realdania , Lokale og AnlægsFonden
Cluster of villages can apply for financial support to develop a meeting place within the cluster. This can be achieved by building, transforming or redefining existing facilities to strengthen the communities and leisure lives of village clusters. Good meeting places can take many forms. New thinking might be needed when more villages join forces as a community. A good meeting place makes it natural to gather in the cluster across villages, age and interests. It does not necessarily require a new building and it can be assembling multiple functions under the same roof or transforming something old into something new.
Language : Danish, English
“Here We live” (Funding-programme)
Nordea foundation ( 2020 )
Contributing to good life in villages include activities with and about health, kids, exercise, nature and culture, and include activities that benefit as well as are accessible to many. The aim is:
Language : Danish, English
Nordea foundation ( 2020 )
Contributing to good life in villages include activities with and about health, kids, exercise, nature and culture, and include activities that benefit as well as are accessible to many. The aim is:
- empowering communities,
- involving volunteers and engaging citizens in the local area,
- basing on or establishing new partnerships locally,
- contributing to the life of small urban communities all year round,
- ensuring social and environmental sustainability, for example, in the area of environmental protection (for materials, energy solutions, transport, etc.),
- ensuring the needs of different interest groups in the area.
Language : Danish, English
The Village of the Year
Landdistrikternes Fællesråd (Council of Rural Districts) , Forenet Kredit , Ministry for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs ( 1995 – Ongoing )
“The Village of the Year” was established in 1995 by the National Association of Villages in Denmark (LAL). The prize is awarded by the Landdistrikternes Fællesråd / Council of Rural Districts (LDF ) and LAL in cooperation with Forenet Kredit. For villages of less than 1,200 inhabitants. Themes for the last 5 years: 2016 Importance of the voluntary fiery souls for community and local development (Trekroner). 2017 The digital Village: Settlement, democratic formation, and digitisation (Vallekilde) 2018 The cooperating village: Collaborative skills, Involvement, and results (Fejø) 2019 The sustainable village: Environment and energy. Social, culture and economy (Torup) 2020 How do the communities/villages get through a crisis?
Language : Danish
Landdistrikternes Fællesråd (Council of Rural Districts) , Forenet Kredit , Ministry for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs ( 1995 – Ongoing )
“The Village of the Year” was established in 1995 by the National Association of Villages in Denmark (LAL). The prize is awarded by the Landdistrikternes Fællesråd / Council of Rural Districts (LDF ) and LAL in cooperation with Forenet Kredit. For villages of less than 1,200 inhabitants. Themes for the last 5 years: 2016 Importance of the voluntary fiery souls for community and local development (Trekroner). 2017 The digital Village: Settlement, democratic formation, and digitisation (Vallekilde) 2018 The cooperating village: Collaborative skills, Involvement, and results (Fejø) 2019 The sustainable village: Environment and energy. Social, culture and economy (Torup) 2020 How do the communities/villages get through a crisis?
Language : Danish
‘Reboot Denmark’ initiative
Danish Agriculture & Food Council
Danish Agriculture & Food Council together with the Council for Rural Districts expect the crisis (due to COVID-19) will affect rural areas hard, due to job losses have more negative effects if investment is not made. That is why they have launched the vision ‘Reboot Denmark’ with 29 concrete proposals on how to create more growth and more jobs in rural areas.
Language : Danish
Danish Agriculture & Food Council
Danish Agriculture & Food Council together with the Council for Rural Districts expect the crisis (due to COVID-19) will affect rural areas hard, due to job losses have more negative effects if investment is not made. That is why they have launched the vision ‘Reboot Denmark’ with 29 concrete proposals on how to create more growth and more jobs in rural areas.
Language : Danish
