Research and innovation play a key role in tackling challenges and reap opportunities for wellbeing and growth in rural territories.
The European Startup Village Forum facilitates the exchange of knowledge and expertise on how to promote startup-driven innovation in rural areas.
This initiative is part of the European Commission’s long-term vision for the EU’s Rural Areas, which includes a specific flagship action on research and innovation for rural communities.
The Startup Village Forum was launched in November 2021. Since then, it has promoted the exchange of knowledge and cooperation amongst institutions, entrepreneurs, academia and practitioners.
It has also encouraged public and private organisations to support Startup Villages financially but also through the provision of infrastructure, expertise and training.
Past events
28 Feb 2023: The European Startup Village Forum
This 2023 edition of the Forum will discuss the main elements and enabling conditions of the Startup Village concept through a genuine science-for-policy interaction, supporting the identification and analysis of triggering factors for innovation and startup creation in rural areas.
21-23 Oct 2022: Startup Village Hackathon
How rural areas can become a centre of attraction for startups? During this hackathon, participants will have to create a vision for selected rural or intermediate regions and choose one of the challenges of the AgriFood sector presented by industry companies from all over Europe. The event is organized under the patronage of Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.
28-29 Sep 2022: European Research and Innovation Days 2022
European Research and Innovation Days is the European Commission’s annual flagship Research and Innovation event, bringing together policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs and the public to debate and shape the future of research and innovation in Europe and beyond.
15 June 2022: The Rural Pact Conference
The Rural Pact conference will bring together EU, national, and regional politicians along with local authorities, social and economic stakeholders in a participatory event that reflects the rural vision’s ambition and bottom-up character
12 April 2022: Meet-Up of Commissioner Mariya Gabriel and Startup Villages
This one-hour virtual meeting followed the launch event of the Startup Village Forum in November 2021 and the first results of the call for pledges.
16 Nov 2021: Launch Event
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.
Contact us
- Name
- The Startup Village Forum team
- Organisation
- Joint Research Centre (JRC)
- Website
- https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu