CloseThis event has ended. 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.Watch the event regional policy | rural development | innovation Wednesday 29 October 2025, 08:30 - 18:30 (CET)BelgiumLive streaming available Programme 29 Oct 2025, 08:30 - 09:30 (CET)Registration and welcome coffee 09:30 - 10:15 (CET)Welcome and opening statementsWelcome 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 Commissio10:15 - 11:00 (CET)New evidence on rural innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystemsModerator: 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 break11:30 - 12:30 (CET)Experiences from territories: Listening to Startup Villages’ voicesModerator: 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 lunch14:00 - 15:00 (CET)Harnessing entrepreneurial potential in rural communitiesModerator: 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 break15:30 - 16:30 (CET)Policies and tools for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in rural areasModerator: 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 University16:50 - 17:00 (CET)Closing remarksMikel LANDABASO ALVAREZ, Director, Joint Research Centre, European Commission Show 6 more items17:00 - 18:30 (CET)Networking cocktail reception Practical information WhenWednesday 29 October 2025, 08:30 - 18:30 (CET)WhereBerlaymont Piazza, Brussels Belgium LanguagesEnglish 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 EmailJRC-STARTUPVILLAGEFORUMec [dot] europa [dot] eu
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.
