RURALITIES valorises the outcomes of projects funded under various EU-focused programmes (FP7, H2020, Interreg, COST, LIFE, PRIMA, etc.) and beyond (especially from the African union panorama). These projects, initiatives or preparatory actions also include other arenas (LEADER, EIP-AGRI Smart rural project, etc.) and other non-EU relevant actions which, strictly, “produced practical tools to develop and/or implement strategies and roadmaps in (the) various domains” tackled by RURALITIES, particularly, living labs, activities related to eco- and smart-villages. Also, innovation activities and innovative solutions, especially social innovation, a key driver of the project (Citizen Science, etc.). RURALITIES aims at generating momentum at specific stages via synergies with other RURNex-related initiatives and projects.
The main aim of the project synergies is to build upon evidence (uptake) and share (transfer) knowledge, thus generate two-ways knowledge exchange and augmentation, structure meaningful interactions, combining joint-efforts to enhance and optimise the use of resources, ensure alignment with all applicable frameworks, strengthen cooperative mechanisms between all actors of targeted spheres considering all four levers of change (transformation) e.g., science and innovation, economy and finance, individual and collective action and governance.
RURALITIES especially seeks synergies with the European Research Area (ERA) local and regional structures, and the project’ identified targeted audiences as well, also EU regional agencies, notably with the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), to name but these few. Synergies with the said organisations, among other key objectives, aim to foster place-based funding instruments to further enhance and deploy the project’s solutions, thus ensuring a higher impact on science journalism.
RURALITIES synergetic mechanisms develop in two distinct levels: (a) joint-efforts from miscellaneous projects (EU-funded and beyond), including those delivering on science journalism, to implement co-creation of miscellaneous components of the project’s outcomes, especially with other EU funded project under comparable topics, and; (b) joint-efforts with projects delivering on citizen science (CS) to implement awareness-raising and dissemination events.
Synergies development start in 2024, stay informed via subscribing to the project’s regular insights > LINK WILL BE UPDATED SOON
The LEAP-RE project is recognising that sustainable and clean sources of energy are needed to reduce climate change. The European Green Deal reinforces Europe’s commitment to developing and improving renewable energies at home and abroad. Within this context, the EU is actively fostering the adoption of renewable energy solutions in Africa. Supported by EU funding, the LEAP-RE project within a five year period (2020 – 2025), will establish a long-term partnership of African and European stakeholders in government, research and academia, the private sector and civil society. In its mission to develop renewable energy as a sustainable source of energy for all in Africa, the project will work to reduce fragmentation by aligning existing bilateral and multilateral frameworks. It brings together a large-scale consortium of 96 partners from 34 countries and two international organisations.
The FOOD 2030 Online Platform is a common platform for all projects, partnerships, networks, living labs, communities of practice and other initiatives dedicated to transforming the food system for the benefit of the people and the planet.
This platform is being developed as a part of the CLEVERFOOD project funded by Horizon Europe. CLEVERFOOD coordinates and supports cross-project collaboration and knowledge sharing by establishing these networks. Ruralities has joined this collaboration network. We will bring all the existing initiatives together for maximum leverage in transforming the food system.
Pilgrimage routes are a significant cultural, economic and political asset for Europe. While some routes already benefit from strong support from regional, national and European institutions, the EU-funded rurAllure project will help ensure that nearby provinces and regions of a predominantly rural nature (which are facing significant economic and demographic challenges) also benefit from the flows of pilgrims.
The project will establish a network of cultural institutions, such as museums and natural heritage sites, that could benefit from increased visibility among those who travel along the pilgrimage routes. The portal also provides local economic actors with a space to share their services to the world-wide pilgrim community.
oPEN Lab is a project funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme. The project is aiming to revitalise urban areas across Europe to lead the transition to Positive Energy Neighbourhoods. The project was officially launched on 20th October 2021 and over the duration of 4.5 years, oPEN Lab will focus on identifying and demonstrating replicable, commercially viable solution packages enabling to achieve positive energy buildings and neighbourhoods.
The main objective of oPEN Lab is to upgrade the existing buildings and district facilities in specific neighbourhoods in the cities of Tartu (Estonia), Pamplona (Spain) and Genk (Belgium) to fully operational Positive Energy Neighbourhoods and operate them as Positive Energy Neighbourhood Living Labs. A Positive Energy Neighbourhood is an energy-efficient and energy-flexible urban area or group of connected buildings, which produces net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and actively manages an annual local or regional surplus of renewable energy.
RENOVERTY addresses energy poverty in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), South-eastern Europe (SEE), and Southern European countries (SE) by developing a methodological and practical framework for energy-efficient building upgrades in vulnerable rural districts. Over three years, the project will implement renovation roadmaps in seven pilot locations across Europe, aiming to foster both financial viability and social justice.
The key objectives include promoting the renovation of 17 vulnerable rural areas, providing individual household Renovation Energy Efficiency Roadmaps (REERs), collaborating with local actors and empowering public and private sectors in rural areas to become involved in the renovation process. RENOVERTY’s scalable model and guidelines will ensure replicability and guide public actors in renovating rural vulnerable districts, reducing logistical, financial, and administrative burdens.
Furthermore, the project emphasizes the social dimension by incorporating security, comfort, and improved accessibility into the roadmaps to enhance the quality of life for vulnerable populations. Through collaboration with Local Action Groups (LAGs) and various actors, RENOVERTY seeks to create a comprehensive approach to energy-efficient building upgrades that positively impact both individuals and communities.
The EU-funded CITIES2030 project aims to revolutionize urban food systems and ecosystems (UFSE) by fostering sustainability and ensuring food security. By uniting researchers, entrepreneurs, civil society leaders, and cities, the project focuses on transforming the production, transportation, supply, recycling, and reuse of food. Through a blockchain-based UFSE management platform, a digital twin of the entire system will be created, promoting a future-proof and citizen-centric approach. CITIES2030 seeks to connect short food supply chains, engage citizens as active participants, and drive policy developments and innovation actions across Europe. By enhancing resilience and sustainability, the project aims to enable local investments and transnational deployments, ultimately creating a more efficient and trustworthy food system for all.
FILL Living & Policy in Iasi Romania
The Food for Iasi Living Lab (FILL) is an innovative hub within the Cities2030 project, aimed at fostering collaboration among key stakeholders in Romania’s North-East Region for the sustainable development of urban and rural food systems. FILL operates as a participatory knowledge-oriented hub, focusing on building sustainable urban systems through community engagement. Its dimensions include a Living Lab fostering participatory knowledge, a Policy Lab co-creating knowledge-based strategies, and participatory actions based on the quadruple helix model. Integrated within the RDRP Knowledge Ecosystem, FILL emphasizes smart implementation actions and knowledge-based approaches. Collaborators include the Romanian Academy, Municipality of Iași, Rural Development Research Platform, Made in Iași Association, and local producers, reflecting a quadruple helix model of collaboration.
PrAEctiCe focuses on advancing agroecological sustainability for smallholder farmers in East Africa. This innovative initiative introduces a tailored set of agroecology indicators and a decision support tool designed to turn concepts into actionable strategies. Emphasizing circular water-energy-nutrient systems, particularly in integrated aqua-agriculture, PrAEctiCe aims to address sustainability challenges in East Africa’s farming practices. With a core focus on the needs of smallholder farmers, the project quantifies the impacts of agroecological practices, ensuring financial viability and fostering a sustainable transformation. PrAEctiCe’s objectives include mapping existing practices, analyzing barriers and drivers, developing an agroecological indicator framework, creating a user-friendly decision support tool, validating through living labs, and promoting awareness and capacity building while increasing opportunities for women and youth.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement no 101060876. UK participants in Horizon Europe Project RURALITIES are supported by UKRI grant numbers: 10051963 The Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership and 10050988 Earthwatch Europe.
