European Startup Village Forum 2021

This launch event of the European Startup Village Forum is specifically aimed at gathering insights on challenges and potentials for rural innovation and rural innovators in a genuine science-for-policy and evidence-for-policy setting. Bringing together both science-based and community-based knowledge and experiences, the event seeks to provide inspiration for the identification and development of “building elements” of a common understanding of what a Startup Village could and should be as well as of further guidance to local policy makers.

The event is key to the implementation of this long-term vision and it aims at:

(i) supporting the development of rural innovation ecosystems;

(ii) identifying and analysing triggering factors for innovation in rural areas; and

(iii) connecting rural innovation stakeholders across the EU. It is intended to work as an open space where institutions and stakeholders can meet, discuss and shape action for innovation in rural areas.

Background

The European Commission set out a long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas over the next two decades. It identifies a number of areas of action towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas and communities by 2040. EU’s rural areas are home to around 140 million people, representing almost 30% of its population and over 80% of its territory, considering all communes and municipalities of Europe with low population size or density. Yet social and economic changes of the last decades, including globalisation and urbanisation, and most recently the COVID-19 pandemic are changing the role and nature of rural areas, which are also affected by population decline and ageing.

Venue

Online , EU

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