The RURACTIVE Forum launches soon: First meeting in February 2025 for smart, community-led rural innovation in Europe

We are delighted to invite you to the first meeting of the RURACTIVE Forum, an online space dedicated to fostering knowledge exchange, collaboration, and meaningful discussions on the future of rural development in Europe. The first meeting is taking place on 10th of February 2025 at 10:00 – 12:30 CET online.

The Horizon Europe RURACTIVE project, launched in September 2023, aims to foster a just and sustainable transition of rural areas by developing smart, community-led, tailor-made, place based and inclusive solutions, to be implemented in 12 pilot areas (Dynamos) all over Europe. Its goal is to unlock the innovation potential of rural communities by addressing six integrated Rural Development Drivers: sustainable multimodal mobility; energy transition and climate neutrality; sustainable agri-food systems and ecosystem management; culture and cultural innovation; local services, health and wellbeing as well as nature-based and cultural tourism. These transversally integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation, social justice and inclusion, and biodiversity.

The Forum will build on RURACTIVE’s insights, facilitating discussions among stakeholders, project partners, and policymakers. With the upcoming EU term and the preparation of the post-2027 EU Budget, this is a timely opportunity to assess and improve how EU policies can promote smart, inclusive, and sustainable rural development.

The main goal is to facilitate meaningful cross-sector and science-policy discussions while addressing some of the questions posed by the European Commission in its recent review of the long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas - LTVRA (2024). The new EU term, with the new EC Political Guidelines and the forthcoming tabling of the post-2027 EU Budget in July 2027 provide an opportunity to reconsider how EU policies promote smart, sustainable and inclusive development in rural areas and how they can be improved.

We invite you to join us for this interactive discussion and be part of shaping innovative solutions for Europe’s rural areas. Connect with experts, share your perspective, and contribute to building stronger networks across the EU.

Event Agenda

Who can attend
The Forum is open to local and EU practitioners, experts and decision-makers keen to advance and co-produce solutions to support policy makers at different levels in the implementation of smart solutions for rural areas, throughout the new EU policy cycle.

Registration
If you are interested and available, please register here.

Please be aware that by registering to this event you agree that this meeting will be recorded. By registering you will also join the RURACTIVE mailing list. However, you can unsubscribe at any time.