The FUTURAL project has published key findings from its review of approximately 100 policy and governance frameworks shaping community-led innovation in rural areas. Conducted by the European Association for Innovation in Local Development (AEIDL), the analysis highlights existing policies, identifies gaps, and offers recommendations for future policy development.
The importance of community-led rural innovation in the EU
Faced with demographic, green, and digital transitions, rural communities across Europe are creating innovative technological, social, economic, and organisational solutions. These community-led initiatives address gaps where public action is limited and market solutions are not viable. They are considered a European public good, delivering value through enhanced societal well-being, institutional trust, and competitiveness. Such innovations play a vital role in reducing territorial disparities and tackling the geography of discontent.
Key findings
Within the FUTURAL project, AEIDL mapped EU policy and governance frameworks supporting rural and territorial development through financial, legislative, and technical instruments. An in-depth analysis was also conducted across six EU countries (France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Spain) covering the project’s pilot regions. The analysis combined desk research, expert interviews, and feedback from FUTURAL pilot regions, the University of Pisa, and rural networks (ERCA and PREPARE).
One of the main conclusions is that innovation policies rarely directly or explicitly target rural areas or communities. The analysis stresses the need for stronger support, including dedicated budget lines in the CAP and Cohesion Policy, and reinforcement of tools like Smart Villages and CLLD/LEADER, alongside integration into broader innovation strategies.
Recommendations
Presented during the EU-wide Rural Innovation Forum (EU-RIF) in Basque Country and online in May 2025, the FUTURAL recommendations—endorsed by over 250 stakeholders—guide advocacy efforts towards the EU mid-term review and post-2027 budget:
- Formal Recognition of the transformative role of community-led innovation
- Mainstream Political & Financial Support with 8% Mandatory Earmarking and Territorially Proof all EU Policies
- Apply the ‘Do not harm to EU Cohesion’ principle across all territorially relevant EU policies
- Align Rural Development with Sectoral Policies reinforcing existing Governance mechanisms
- Shift the Focus to Rural Innovation Ecosystems rather than individual Solutions
- Allow Regulatory Flexibility to allow innovation to happen now
- Enhance Digital Skills & infrastructures, with caution on marginalised communities
- Systematise Inclusion of Local Voices beyond Token Approaches
Learn more
Read the full report: https://shorturl.at/hZRY2
Read the highlights of the report: https://shorturl.at/BAvg7
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