The European Startup Village Forum 2025 is a high-level event dedicated to exploring the dynamics of innovation and entrepreneurship in rural areas that took place on 29 October in Brussels. Organised by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), the Forum brought together researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and rural stakeholders to share insights, experiences, and strategies for building thriving rural innovation ecosystems.
This third edition featured voices from the Startup Village community, showcasing real-world examples of rural transformation and startup success. Participants engaged in science-for-policy discussions, explored new evidence on rural innovation, and co-developed ideas for strengthening collaboration across Europe. The Forum aimed to shape the future of rural innovation policy and support the creation of more connected, resilient, and opportunity-rich rural communities.
- regional policy | rural development | innovation
- Wednesday 29 October 2025, 08:30 - 18:30 (CET)
- Belgium
- Live streaming available
Programme
- 29 Oct 2025, 08:30 - 09:30 (CET)Registration and welcome coffee
- 09:30 - 10:15 (CET)Welcome and opening statements
Welcome address by Mikel LANDABASO ALVAREZ, Director, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Elisabeth WERNER, Director-General, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Joanna DRAKE, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission
Peter BERKOWITZ, Director, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, European Commissio
- 10:15 - 11:00 (CET)New evidence on rural innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems
Moderator: Paolo CANFORA, Head of Unit, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Simone SASSO, Economist, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Enrique GARCILAZO, Head of Regional and Rural Policy Unit, OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities
Carolina CASTALDI,Professor in Geography of Innovation, Utrecht University
- 11:00 - 11:30 (CET)Coffee break
- 11:30 - 12:30 (CET)Experiences from territories: Listening to Startup Villages’ voices
Moderator: Kirsten DUNLOP, CEO, Climate-KIC
Gregor KOŠIR, Mayor,Kočevje Municipality, Slovenia
Julia MARITON, Quai Alpha Incubator, Vosges Municipality, France
Carlo CONI, Founder, Rural Coworking, Laconi Municipality, Italy
Ilona UKKONEN, Entrepreneurship Specialist, Saarijärvi Municipality, Finland
- 12:30 - 14:00 (CET)Networking buffet lunch
- 14:00 - 15:00 (CET)Harnessing entrepreneurial potential in rural communities
Moderator: Andras INOTAI, Head of Unit and coordinator of the Task Force on Startups and Scaleups, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation RTD, European Commission
Minerva ELIAS, Head Innovation & Social Impact, European Investment Fund
Nerea TOÑA, Vice-President, Vivaces, Spain
Enrico FILÌ, Digital Transition Fund, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Italy
Carl PUCCI, Founder and CEO, EO59, Estonia
- 15:00 - 15:30 (CET)Coffee break
- 15:30 - 16:30 (CET)Policies and tools for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in rural areas
Moderator: Antonia GÁMEZ MORENO , Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Radim SRŠEŇ, Member of the European Committee of the Regions and Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Czech Republic
Florencio CANO, Deputy Director, National Spanish Directorate-General for Policies against Depopulation, Spain
Tamara STEFFEN, Regional Government Lower Austria, Austria
Helena KURKI, Director, Innovation Center for Landsbygden, Sweden
- 16:30 - 16:50 (CET)Securing the freedom to stay for European rural communities
Keynote address by Luc SOETE, Emeritus Professor, Maastricht University and United Nations University
- 16:50 - 17:00 (CET)Closing remarks
Mikel LANDABASO ALVAREZ, Director, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
- 17:00 - 18:30 (CET)Networking cocktail reception
Practical information
- When
- Wednesday 29 October 2025, 08:30 - 18:30 (CET)
- Where
- Berlaymont Piazza, BrusselsBelgium
- Languages
- English
Description
The Startup Village Forum (SVF) is a flagship initiative of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), supporting the Long-Term Vision for the EU’s Rural Areas and the New European Innovation Agenda. It provides an inclusive platform for rural stakeholders to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and co-create solutions that foster innovation and entrepreneurship in rural regions. By promoting a place-based, cross-sectoral approach, the SVF helps bridge the innovation divide and empowers rural areas to become dynamic centres of growth and opportunity.
Contacts
General contact
- JRC-STARTUPVILLAGEFORUM
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu