PoliRuralPlus is thrilled to announce the winners of the Outreach Call, a crucial initiative aimed at strengthening rural-urban linkages, promoting sustainability, and fostering innovative solutions across Europe. This call attracted diverse and impactful proposals, with six projects selected to receive support. Each winning project aligns with the overarching goals of PoliRuralPlus to enhance rural attractiveness and integrate rural and urban development strategies.

Here are the highlights:

Green Resources Economic & Environment Networking: GREEN

  • Region: County Monaghan, Ireland
  • Lead Partner: McAdam Consulting Services Ltd
  • Overview: This initiative focuses on identifying key areas for green business development in County Monaghan. Through stakeholder consultations and scoping exercises, the project will identify high-potential opportunities for green businesses over the next five years, addressing gaps in idea generation, viability assessment, and collaborative implementation.

Economic Development Quality Monitoring System for Vidzeme Region: EDQMS_VR

  • Region: Vidzeme, Latvia
  • Lead Partner: InnoMatrix Ltd
  • Overview: This project aims to create a comprehensive quality monitoring system for economic development in Vidzeme. By employing innovative tools, best practices, and robust stakeholder engagement, the initiative will promote sustainable governance, enhance monitoring capabilities, and support high-value product and service development.

Diffusion of Short Food Supply Chain: From Rural to Urban Systems: DEMO

  • Region: Apulia, Italy
  • Lead Partner: Cluster Srl
  • Overview: Aiming to build local multi-actor networks, this project focuses on short food supply chain (SFSC) models to bridge rural and urban food systems. The initiative will convene focus groups to explore themes and opportunities in SFSC, forming the foundation for further pilot activities in Italy.

Digital Stakeholders: DigiStake

  • Region: Slovakia
  • Lead Partner: CEDA - Culture and Education Association
  • Overview: Addressing the digital transformation challenges in rural areas, DigiStake seeks to create an online collaboration platform to enhance stakeholder cooperation. The project promotes agricultural modernization, digital literacy, and EU policy alignment, fostering social inclusion and economic growth.

Recapturing Connections within Czech-Bavarian Borderlands: FarmTourist

  • Region: Pošumaví-Bavarian Forest
  • Lead Partner: Úhlava, o.p.s
  • Overview: By synergizing local products and tourism services, FarmTourist strengthens cross-border ties and regional development. The initiative features a comprehensive database of local assets, success stories, and educational workshops to encourage collaboration and innovation in tourism and agriculture.

AgriFusion

  • Region: Malta
  • Lead Partner: The Veg Box Ltd
  • Overview: Focused on sustainable agricultural practices, AgriFusion works to enhance food security in Malta by engaging stakeholders and fostering rural-urban connections. The project highlights the integration of research and outreach to support local farming communities and promote sustainable consumption.

What’s Next?

Each project will now begin implementation with the support of the PoliRuralPlus team, applying innovative strategies and tailored approaches to achieve sustainable development goals in their regions. These initiatives will serve as models for fostering rural-urban synergies and promoting resilience in the face of contemporary challenges.

Stay tuned for updates on the progress of these inspiring projects. Together, let’s shape a balanced and sustainable future for Europe’s rural and urban communities!