Research and innovation for rural areas
Approximately 30% of the European population live in rural areas. They cover more than 80% of the EU. These are territories that host natural and cultural heritage and provide food, energy as well as ecosystem services for all. They play an essential role in the green and digital transitions.
They are diverse, rural communities that can vary widely in terms of economic, social, and cultural characteristics. Some rural areas are thriving with a prosperous economy, while others face challenges such as ageing, depopulation, poverty, lack of job opportunities, and limited access to services (for example education, healthcare, transport, internet connectivity), infrastructures, and amenities.
Research and innovation support rural areas and communities to develop or regenerate in a sustainable, balanced, fair and inclusive manner thanks to a better understanding of rural dynamics. Multi-actor research projects are supporting community-led innovations that empower rural communities to become stronger, better connected, resilient and prosperous in line with the Long-term Vision for the EU’s rural areas and its research and innovation flagship initiative.
Research in action
Across Europe, several initiatives have helped newcomers bring new life, ideas, and resilience to rural areas.
New entrants and rural regeneration
- The NEWBIE project supported people entering farming for the first time, helping them overcome challenges in building sustainable agricultural businesses. It promoted hands-on learning, shared inspiring success stories, and offered an online hub of practical information for aspiring farmers to set up new businesses in agriculture.
- The RURALISATION project explored how to make rural life more attractive and accessible. By studying young people’s aspirations and newcomers’ experiences, it generated new knowledge to support policies for rural renewal and generational change - planting the seeds for Europe’s rural regeneration.
The importance of diversity in rural areas
Europe’s rural regions are rich in diversity — in their landscapes, communities, and ways of life. Understanding and embracing this diversity is essential for shaping effective policies that help rural areas thrive amid ongoing ecological, digital, and social transitions.
- RUSTIK focuses on strengthening existing policy tools and designing improved strategies to support sustainable transitions in rural areas. The project is enhancing understanding of how rural areas function and evolve.
- GRANULAR is generating new insights into rural diversity through a multi-actor, interdisciplinary approach. By creating novel datasets using methods such as remote sensing and mobile phone data, the project is developing a Rural Compass to help rural actors and policymakers design more tailored and effective rural policies.
Women and innovation in agriculture and rural areas
Understanding societal perceptions and the benefits of rural life and jobs is essential for shaping resilient and inclusive rural futures.
- FLIARA uses a transdisciplinary approach to raise awareness of women’s roles and practices in farming and rural development. The project seeks to enhance gender consciousness and recognition in rural economies.
- GRASS Ceiling aims to empower rural women and increase the number of socio-ecological, women-led innovations. Through living labs and shared policy insights, it helps transform gender norms and stereotypes.
- SWIFT provides new insights and co-creates approaches to advance gender equality in farming and rural areas. It offers practical and theoretical tools, including gender-responsive budgeting and feminist farm viability indicators, to promote more just, effective, and diversified agricultural practices.
Rethinking rural futures
Understanding societal perceptions and the benefits of rural life and jobs is essential for shaping resilient and inclusive rural futures.
- RURALITIC will explore the concept of ‘rural’ and examine social-geographical relationships. By generating new data, indicators and typologies, RURALITIC will offer insights for informed, tailored public policies. With pilot projects and scenario building, it aims to guide sustainable, resilient policies for diverse rural areas across Europe.
Funding opportunities
Actions under other programmes
Smart villages
Smart villages are communities in rural areas that use innovative solutions to improve their resilience, building on local strengths and opportunities. They rely on a participatory approach to develop and implement their strategy to improve economic, social and/or environmental conditions, by mobilising solutions offered by digital technologies. Preparatory Action Smart Rural 27 organised networking between smart villages and developed further guidance to create an enabling policy environment.
Find out more about Smart Rural 21 and the ongoing Smart Rural 27.
Startup Village Forum
The European Startup Village Forum facilitates cooperation activities and works as an open space where institutions and stakeholders can meet, discuss and shape action for startup-driven innovation in rural areas. It is supported by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre through scientific analyses on rural innovation and entrepreneurship, in connection with the activities of the Rural Observatory.
