AREA OF INTERVENTION 4
Innovative and sustainable rural areas
This focus area primarily relates to target area 4:
Support and promote sustainable transition and circularity
Sustainable civil society and idea-driven sector
Climate change is one of the biggest threats ahead. In our rural areas there are many idea bearers who can contribute to a sustainable transition, which this focus area welcomes. Projects within this focus area should therefore contribute to one of the following:
- That organizations implement initiatives to reduce climate impact
- Smart transformation of rural economies
- Environmental/climate-related achievements through investments in rural areas
- New solutions to environmental and climate problems
Sustainable solutions
These can be companies, associations or organizations that want to become more socially, ecologically and economically sustainable through new modes of transport, energy solutions, manufacturing methods, etc. It can also involve behavioral change projects, circular solutions or sharing services to save resources.
The focus area will promote projects that contribute to connected rural areas that utilize the opportunities of digital technology in multiple ways. This could include coworking solutions, social innovations in collaboration with universities and other knowledge-intensive bodies, breaking digital isolation or other projects that contribute to sustainable lifestyles.
Smart rural areas
This also includes strategies for Smart Rural Areas, where villages work together to develop sustainable and creative solutions to local challenges, often using innovation and digital technology. Smart rural areas are based on a clear bottom-up perspective where local residents take control of the future of their village. Universities have an important role to play in this.
If you want to read about our focus areas and goals in their entirety, you can find it in our strategy.
