Resources
The Resources Database contains relevant Smart Villages resources (including analytical reports, case studies, strategies, webpages, presentations, etc.) identified and collected in the framework of the Smart Rural 21 project (2020-2022) and later in the framework of Smart Rural 27 project (2021-2023). Many of the resources were directly developed in the framework of the Smart Rural projects (for instance smart village strategies or presentations made at events), whereas others are external resources identified to be relevant for Smart Villages. The database is continuously being enhanced until the end of the Smart Rural 27 project, and users can search by country, type of policy, type of organisation, type of resource or free keyword search.
The document prepared within the framework of the Bulgarian taskforce activities that outlines the possibilities of defining “smart villages”.
Language : Bulgarian
Type of resource : Document
Possible policy instruments to support Smart Villages were presented during the 2nd Taskforce meeting in Bulgaria, which aimed to launch an advocacy campaign for introducing Smart Villages in the country.
Language : Bulgarian
Type of resource : Guidelines
Compendium of presentations/papers from the conference ‘Smart Cities and Regions Forum 2023’ held on 19- 20/04/2023 in Slovakia. The event brought together stakeholders from across Slovakia, including panelists from both domestic and international spheres, facilitating productive discussions on the advancement of smart cities and regions, featuring presentations of innovative solutions, and emphasizing the significance of the Action Plan for Smart Cities and Regions 2023-2026 in shaping the trajectory of smart self-government development.
Language : Slovak
Type of resource : Presentation
Proceedings from the conference ‘Smart Cities and Regions Forum 2023’ held on 19- 20/04/2023 in Slovakia. The event brought together stakeholders from across Slovakia, including panelists from both domestic and international spheres, facilitating productive discussions on the advancement of smart cities and regions, featuring presentations of innovative solutions, and emphasizing the significance of the Action Plan for Smart Cities and Regions 2023-2026 in shaping the trajectory of smart self-government development.
Language : Slovak
Type of resource : Presentation
The discussion paper titled “Is Digital for Us?” delves into the effectiveness and impact of digital solutions in rural communities. Developed as a discussion and background paper for the Final Conference, based on outcomes from the Smart Rural 27 project. The paper raises a critical question about the implementation of digital solutions: despite the introduction of various digital services, why do many rural communities fail to see significant improvements in addressing key challenges such as lack of healthcare services, mobility issues, lack of community engagement, and depopulation? Through insights gained from the Smart Rural 21 & 27 projects, the paper aims to explore the reasons behind this disparity and to foster discussion on how to ensure that digital solutions effectively benefit rural communities in the long term.
Language : English
Type of resource : Tool
The paper titled “What can be done to ensure climate and social resilience of rural communities? ” explores strategies to enhance the climate and social resilience of rural communities. Developed as a discussion and background paper for the Smart Rural 27 Final Conference, based on outcomes from the Smart Rural 27 project
Language : English
Type of resource : Tool
The discussion paper titled “National CAP Networks’ Support for Smart Villages” provides background information, practical resources, and recommendations for national CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) Networks on how to better support Smart Villages during the 2023-2027 programming period and beyond. It emphasizes the crucial role of CAP Networks in supporting experimentation and making new policy instruments, such as Smart Villages, more effective under the CAP. The paper is developed as a discussion and background document for the Final Conference.
Language : English
Type of resource : Tool
The discussion paper titled “What LEADER LAGs Need to Support Smart Villages” examines the role of Local Action Groups (LAGs) under the LEADER/Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) approach in supporting the development of Smart Villages. It is developed as a discussion and background paper for the Final Conference, based on the outcomes of the Smart Rural 27 project.
Language : English
Type of resource : Tool
The discussion paper titled “How Smart Villages are Supported under Novel Dedicated CAP Interventions beyond LEADER” provides an exploration of the ways in which Smart Villages can be supported under new and innovative Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) interventions, distinct from the LEADER approach. This paper serves as a discussion and background document for the Final Conference, drawing on the outcomes of the Smart Rural 27 project.
Language : English
Type of resource : Tool
Strategic document outlining the actions, tasks, and initiatives to be undertaken by the taskforce in Bulgaria. The Smart Villages LAB (Taskforce) In Bulgaria was dedicated to improve the understanding among key stakeholders for supporting, introducing and implementing the Smart Villages concept, in particular through the LEADER/CLLD approach, and through improving the design and implementation of the Bulgarian CAP Strategic Plan and other EU policies. The main purpose of the taskforce was to underline the importance of the SV concept and to stress and advocate for the use of the CAP and other recources to support Smart Villages.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
Summary report on the 6th taskoforce meeting in Bulgaria on the 29th of May in 2023.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
Summary report on the 5th taskoforce meeting in Bulgaria on the 16th of January 2023.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
Summary report on the 4th taskoforce meeting in Bulgaria on the 26th of October in 2022.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
Summary report on the 3rd taskoforce meeting in Bulgaria on the 5th of July in 2022.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
Summary report on the 2nd taskoforce meeting in Bulgaria on the 8th of June in 2022.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
Summary report on the 1st taskoforce meeting in Bulgaria on the 11th of April in 2022.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
Summary report on the 3rd taskforce meeting in Belgium-Wallonia held on 1st of April in 2022.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
Summary report on the 2nd taskforce meeting in Belgium-Wallonia held on 1st of April in 2022.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
Summary report on the 1st taskforce meeting in Belgium-Wallonia held on 1st of April in 2022.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
Summary report on the 4th taskforce meeting in Latvia held on 25th April 2024.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
Summary report on the 3rd taskforce meeting in Latvia held on 10th of November 2023.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
Summary report on the 2nd taskforce meeting in Latvia held on 22nd May 2023.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
Summary report on the 1st taskforce meeting in Latvia held on 13th of April 2023.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
In this brief we explore the potential role of LEADER/CLLD in supporting the implementation of the Smart Villages concept, we assess the current LEADER/CLLD implementation barriers identified by LAGs and present recommendations on how these barriers can be overcome to fully exploit the potential of Smart Villages at the local level.
Language : Greek
Type of resource : Article
The report outlines the findings of the second LEADER stakeholders meeting of the Smart Rural 27 project,, which took place on 29 February 2024. The primary objective was to deliver an update on the progress of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan analysis concerning Smart Villages under LEADER intervention. It encapsulates the key takeaways from presentations and discussions conducted during the meeting.
Language : English
Type of resource : Report
The SMARTA 1 project, an EU-funded initiative that ran from 2018 to 2020, aimed to address the challenges faced by rural public transport services in Europe. Rural areas are under stress due to factors such as austerity measures, demographic changes, and poor connectivity in transportation and telecommunications infrastructure. This heavy dependence on automobiles has left those without cars reliant on others for transportation, limiting their participation in society. he “SMARTA 2 – Demonstrators” project, which commenced in 2019 and ran for 18 months, aimed to design, pilot, and assess smart, shared mobility solutions interconnected with public transport in four rural areas of Europe: East Tyrol (Austria), Trikala (Greece), Águeda (Portugal), and Brașov (Romania).
Language : English
Type of resource : Website
AURORA is an EU ‘Horizon 2020’ project that aims to empower 7,000 citizens across five countries to become ‘Near-zero emission’ contributors. Through local photovoltaic projects and a mobile app for energy monitoring, participants drive sustainable change. With a focus on social innovation, AURORA aligns with EU climate goals, aiming to revolutionize the energy sector and empower citizens as proactive agents of change.
Language : English
Type of resource : Website
RURACTIVE (Empowering Rural Communities to act for change) is an Horizon Europe project focused on empowering rural communities to act for a just and sustainable transition of rural areas in Europe. The project aims to foster a just and sustainable transition of rural areas by developing smart, community-led, tailor-made, place based and inclusive solutions within local Multi-Actor Rural Innovation Ecosystems (RIEs) in 12 pilot area (Dynamos – Ds) in 7 EU, 2 Associated Countries and Switzerland.
Language : English
Type of resource : Website
The SMART ERA Horizon Europe – Innovation Action (IA) project aims to secure the competitiveness of rural and remote areas and areas affected by demographic change by using digitalisation. This will be done by testing and developing digital infrastructures, connectivity and services (through functional remote platforms) for businesses and citizens to manage their skills. Better targeted place-based measures will be piloted as well.
Language : English
Type of resource : Website