CA24170 - Building resilient rural communities through synergy of traditional knowledge and technological innovation (SMART-RURAL)

Rural communities across Europe face unprecedented challenges in the 21st century, including depopulation, economic stagnation, climate change impacts, and digital divides. These challenges undermine the resilience and sustainability of rural areas, which are essential for Europe’s cultural heritage, food security, and ecological health. The SMART-RURAL Action addresses these critical issues by proposing an innovative, integrated approach that combines traditional knowledge systems with modern technological solutions to enhance rural resilience and promote sustainable development.

This Action seeks to establish a pan-European network of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and rural community representatives to co-develop and implement strategies that build rural resilience through the synergy of traditional wisdom and digital innovation. SMART-RURAL will work across four key areas: traditional knowledge systems and rural resilience, technological innovation for rural development, integrated resilience assessment and monitoring, and knowledge dissemination and capacity building. It places special emphasis on inclusiveness, youth engagement, and context-sensitive adaptation.

The Action will identify best practices, assess existing gaps, and develop a holistic framework for evaluating and strengthening resilience in rural communities. Through participatory research and real-world pilot projects, SMART-RURAL will co-create and test solutions tailored to specific rural contexts. It will also foster cross-border learning and interdisciplinary collaboration to translate findings into policy, practice, and education.

By empowering rural communities and bridging historical practices with emerging innovations, SMART-RURAL contributes to the European Green Deal, Smart Villages, and broader COST priorities – enhancing Europe’s capacity to respond to scientific, technological, and societal challenges in a cohesive and inclusive manner.