Smart and start-up villages

16 Juli 2025

Unlocking rural innovation: webinar highlights report available online

Rural innovation needs to be recognised in all its forms: from social and ecological solutions; to digital tools; and small-scale experimentation. Innovation measurement frameworks and funding instruments must reflect rural realities and support local capacities, skills, and community engagement – read the highlights report of our dedicated webinar of 22 May 2025.

23 Mai 2025

Rural innovation: explore the presentations and videos from our latest webinar

“We need to make rural innovation visible, viable, and valued,” said the OECD’s Eduardo Montemayor at our dedicated webinar of 22 May 2025. Discover a range of national, regional and local initiatives promoting technological, ecological and social innovation in rural areas – browse through the presentations and video recordings.

20 März 2025

New report sets out recommendations for improved Smart Villages programming and implementation support

Although the Smart Villages approach – as a policy concept and instrument – has become rooted in the CAP rural development pillar, further consolidation and clarifications are needed around its implementation through the CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs) 2023-2027.