YOUR
COMMUNITY,
OUR FUTURE

Rural areas are often seen as trailing behind with limited services, structural hurdles, and an ageing population. But now they are poised for a transformative shift in the ongoing digital and green revolution. With the surge in digital and social innovation, as in remote work opportunities, there’s a unique chance to make rural areas more attractive and redirect migration flows back to them.

THE PROJECT

SMART ERA, an innovative EU-funded project, is set to breathe new life into rural landscapes through smart innovation packages (SIPs). The project aims to combat depopulation and to uplift rural communities grappling with socio-economic and environmental challenges. Over the next four years, SMART ERA will chart a community-centric course for change, encompassing technology, governance, business, societal aspects, and policy-making within SIPs.

The SMART ERA consortium, comprising 24 entities from 10 countries, recognises the need for strategic interventions. Beyond addressing community challenges, the goal is to collaboratively discover innovative solutions. 

SIX PILOT SITES

Trentino (Italy), Tramuntana/Sóller (Spain), Northern Ostrobothnia (Finland), East Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Šmarje-Padna (Slovenia, Italy, Croatia), and Devetaki Plateau (Bulgaria) – are set to become smart villages. These sites aim not only to enhance their communities’ ability to address challenges but also to foster cooperation in line with EU macro-regional strategies for rural development.

SMART ERA will launch two open calls – one for third-party projects complementing the set of solutions proposed by the project partners and another one replicating the SIPs in follower rural regions. This strategic approach aims to broaden the project’s expertise and foster extensive collaboration.

Contact us at: info@smartera-project.eu

Photo archive of Tourist organisation, Republic of Srpska