PREPARE Partnership for Rural Europe invites you to join an online Innovation Café dedicated to rural innovation, community-led solutions and new approaches to developing villages, places and territories across Europe.
The event will take place online on 20 May 2026, from 10:00 to 11:15 CET.
The Innovation Café will bring together projects, networks and practical initiatives working with innovation in different rural contexts. The aim is to create an open space for exchange, learning and discussion about how rural areas can respond to current social, economic, environmental and digital challenges.
Innovation in rural areas is not only about technology. It is also about know-how, capacities, cooperation, creativity, policies, funding, community spirit and the will to make change happen. While innovation often tends to concentrate in places with stronger financial, technical and human resources, many rural and remote areas are still facing barriers in accessing and applying innovative solutions. This Café will therefore focus on how innovation can become more accessible, community-led and rooted in local realities.
Programme
During the event, participants will hear from several projects and initiatives connected to rural innovation:
University of Athens / FUTURAL project
The FUTURAL project prototypes, tests and demonstrates community-led, social, technological and business innovations in different geographical and socio-cultural rural contexts. It develops tailored smart solutions to address societal, environmental and financial challenges and to empower rural communities to engage in change.
Nexus Community Creative Center – good practice from North Macedonia
The Nexus Community Creative Center is a community initiative combining entrepreneurial and start-up development, community education and a podcasting studio. It offers an example of how local spaces can support creativity, skills, communication and community-based innovation.
REVES Network / PARI project
PARI – Paths for Rural Innovation is a two-year European project exploring how rural territories can build their own Clusters for Social and Ecological Innovation. These clusters are place-rooted networks of public actors, social economy entities, cooperatives, enterprises and other stakeholders working together to improve quality of life, strengthen local economies and protect natural environments.
Oulu University / SMART ERA project
SMART ERA supports rural areas by developing smart innovation packages to address depopulation and socio-economic and environmental challenges. The project promotes a community-centred transformation involving technology, governance, business, society and policymaking.
A space for exchange
The Innovation Café is designed as a space for connecting and learning from each other. Participants will be invited to reflect on one central question:
What would be your solution to develop innovative villages, places or territories?
The event is open to PREPARE members, rural stakeholders, local development actors, community organisations, researchers, policymakers and everyone interested in rural innovation.
Registration
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required.
Register here:
https://forms.gle/9XYvty1AyUzhFixB8
The meeting link will be sent to registered participants before the event.