Additional Dynamos

Sardinia is a predominantly rural Italian island in the Mediterranean, facing long-term socio-economic and demographic challenges. As of early 2023, its population was 1,575,028, down by 12,385 from the previous year. Depopulation, ongoing since 2012, is most severe in inland rural areas, which, despite their cultural and environmental value, suffer from limited access to essential services such as healthcare, education, mobility, as well as land abandonment and growing housing issues. These challenges are compounded by climate-related threats such as droughts, fires, and insect infestations. Many inner municipalities are at high risk of abandonment with a higher than average rate of unemployment. The population is aging, with people under 15 making up just 10%. In 2023, deregistrations still exceeded new municipal registrations.

Sardinia’s economy shows signs of transition, but structural fragilities persist. In 2023, the island had 144,000 active businesses, the mayority of which had fewer than 10 employees. The productive fabric remains dominated by micro and family-run firms. The primary sector (especially dairy-based agriculture) and trade each represent 24% of the economy, while the tertiary sector is growing (21%), especially in social, healthcare, and hospitality services.

These challenges among others show the need for integrated solutions for social, economic and technological innovation to reinforce Sardinian’s social capital, improve resilience, and ensure inclusive, place-based development.

Selonia is a cultural-historical region of the south-eastern part of Latvia, bordering Lithuania in the south and Belarus in the east. The whole of Selonia is characterised by a sparse population, there are no large cities in the region. The small (very small) towns are more villages than cities in the understanding of European residents.

The main challenges of the region are:
Challenge 1: Lack of Local Statistical Data
Official databases do not provide the necessary local-level statistics, which hinders the development of well-founded arguments for representing our interests at the national level.
Solution: Develop and adopt a Citizen Science approach, an approach scarcely applied in Latvia compared to other countries.

Challenge 2: Negative Rural Image in Media and Public Discourse
Rural areas, especially in a border region like Selonia with a diverse, multinational population, are often depicted as hopeless, declining, and without prospects. This negative narrative undermines public trust, decreases security, and accelerates depopulation.
Solution: Monitor media channels to document negative rhetoric and study the deeper reasons for devaluing rural significance. Train rural residents to counter imposed “hopelessness” by creating a positive, realistic presence on social networks and in public actions. Planned support includes submitting a funding proposal for an AIF (Active Citizen Fund) project in the second half of the year to address this issue directly.

Challenge 3: Limited Opportunities to Acquire New Knowledge and Practices
There are too few chances to learn and exchange innovative methods with like-minded regional partners abroad. This gap restricts the evolution and adaptation of best practices across rural communities facing similar social, economic, and ecological challenges.
Solution: Forge long-term collaborations with similar regions across Europe to learn from and adapt their successful approaches. We plan to offer our proven tools—the "Rebranding Selonia" methodology and the "Community Tourism" model, alongside the principles of our vibrant horizontal cooperation network. The ongoing “United and Lively Selonia” project supports these initiatives, and three collaboration projects with Polish and Lithuanian partners have already been submitted for funding.

The municipality of Vale de Cambra, located in the northern region of Portugal, has a total population of 21,279 inhabitants and a geographical area of 147 km². This council is divided into 7 parishes. 3 parishes are predominantly urban and have a total of 17,273 inhabitants. The remaining 4 rural parishes have just over a thousand inhabitants each.

The Vale Mágico HUB will be developed in mountain villages where more than 80% of the population is made up of elderly people. There are few shops and services and public transport is scarce. Agriculture was once the main source of income for these communities. The connection with the land remains strong, and the knowledge accumulated over generations is extremely valuable. However, this wisdom is not being passed on to the next generations. In terms of social support, each parish has a social centre that offers day care, home support and some housing that is largely insufficient for the needs. The isolation of these communities is profound and multifaceted:

• Geographical – winding access roads and few opportunities for movement;
• Technological – unstable connections and lack of digital skills;
• Social – lack of living spaces weakens community life.

This isolation leads to the worsening of physical and mental health problems. The AAP promotes social wellbeing, mental health and intergenerational inclusion by creating therapeutic gardens and multigenerational meetings involving the elderly, young people, people with disabilities, families, schools and visitors.

The AAP project will play a role in prevention and physical and mental health therapy, especially aimed at the rural population.

It will value the life stories of elderly residents, promoting collective memory and intergenerational cohesion. To this end, personal storytelling sessions and intensive intergenerational weekends will be held.

The "Intergenerational Agriculture - therapeutic horticulture", will reinforce the connection between generations through agricultural practice, promoting sustainability and the development of practical skills. An accessible greenhouse will be built, designed to facilitate cultivation in different conditions and adapted to all ages and physical abilities. Participants will be residents, users of social centers and students of the school center, people with disabilities and the local community. Therapeutic horticulture sessions are also being held.

The technological component will accompany the entire project: using AI to optimise horticulture and technology to communicate with the various villages, connecting people and communicating the project, allowing its impact to be expanded.

The partners include local governments, schools, tourism agents, companies, associations and health entities. Additional funding is expected through national programs, regional and European funds.

The Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace is one of the 13 Regions in Greece, bordering with Bulgaria and Turkey. As the largest part of the region consists of rural areas, agriculture remains the most important priority of the Region. With one third of the population living in rural areas, many of them are involved with agriculture. The growing challenges that our region has to address regarding agriculture are connectivity, communication, use of digital tools and climate threats against agricultural production. Many of our farmers are located in distant areas, that are connected with urban centers through a poor road system that is both dangerous and time consuming to cross, because of the local territorial conditions. In addition, farmers’ poor digital skills, further distances them from vital information that needs to be delivered in a timely manner and that can be achieved through the use of digital tools. Since our region faces high risks of floods and wildfires, as well as zoonoses outbreaks (due to its proximity to other countries), there is a crucial need to address those challenges. We have already started attempts on the field of zoonoses in collaboration with regional authorities in Bulgaria, to achieve timely information for stock-farmers in order to prevent transmission from one country to another through our Resilient Borders programme.

Sardinia, Italy, specifically the territory of Stintino, a small coastal town located at the north-western tip of the island, overlooking the Gulf of Asinara. With roots dating back to the late 19th century, Stintino has a rich cultural heritage. It began as a fishing village, developed alongside a penal colony and quarantine station established by the Italian government, both now closed. The town’s economy historically revolved around tonnara (tuna fishing), hosting tuna processing stations that operated for over a century. However, by the late 20th century, decades of intensive fishing and the collapse of the traditional tuna industry brought this era to an end.

Stintino town becomes overcrowded in the summer, while the winter brings near-total inactivity. Local businesses close, cultural life disappears, and younger residents face isolation, boredom, and a lack of opportunities. Many move away; some face deeper social consequences, including depression. This pattern is not unique to Stintino, it reflects a broader crisis facing many rural and remote communities dependent on seasonal tourism in Europe. The baseline situation is that during the summer months, nearly all shops, cafés, and restaurants are open, and the town thrives. Yet by November, over 95% of these businesses shut down. Only a handful of spaces remain active year-round, leaving residents without places to gather, socialise, or participate in community life. This economic and social vacuum severely limits local prospects and fuels demographic decline.

Against this backdrop, Pescatori Digitali was launched as a low-season pilot project to reactivate Stintino’s public spaces and social fabric. Organized by Absentia in November 2024 with the support of Fondazione Sardegna and in collaboration with the SENDE (a coliving in Galicia, Spain) the initiative welcomed a dozens of location-independent workers to live and work in repurposed spaces across the town, including the Museum of the Tonnara, the tourism office, and the local library. These spaces, normally closed in winter, became hubs of activity with hosting talks, concerts, workshops, and informal gatherings with local residents. The project brought life to otherwise dormant buildings and reconnected the town’s cultural infrastructure with the community. During the stay, activities were held, most co-designed with or open to locals. Participants were not passive consumers but co-creators of public life. Locals responded enthusiastically, often asking whether the initiative would return the following year. The funding available for the pilot came from regional cultural foundations, but current resources are limited and ad hoc. What is missing is structural support to make this kind of initiative long-term and replicable. The results from Pescatori Digitali demonstrate that even a small number of engaged individuals can generate a measurable social and economic impact during the low season. What is needed now is scaled investment to embed such models within local and regional development strategies.

Looking ahead, we plan to expand Pescatori Digitali into a permanent seasonal programme that brings creative, socially engaged individuals to Stintino every winter. With the support of European cooperation, we aim to improve the format, develop a shared methodology, and explore its transferability to other rural or seasonal towns facing similar challenges. The municipality of Stintino, local institutions such as the Museum of the Tonnara, and regional bodies like Fondazione di Sardegna are and will be key partners.

Candamo is one of the 78 municipalities that make up the region of the Principality of Asturias, located in northern Spain. Within the region, it occupies a central position, nestled between two mountain ranges and structured around the Nalón River.

The main challenge facing Candamo is depopulation. To address this, the Social-Rural Tech Territorial Innovation center will promote projects aimed at economic revitalization, social cohesion, and the transition to a green model. Among RURACTIVE’s rural drivers, we focuse mainly on natural and cultural tourism, a booming sector in the region due to its rich heritage and context.

Beyond tourism, the center tackles culture and cultural innovation, energy transition, and sustainable mobility. To advance these, it is establishing an energy community to supply its facilities and nearby homes, aiming for strengthening energy self-sufficiency as collective efford in the parish of El Valle. The approach integrates climate change adaptation, mitigation, and social justice, prioritizing initiatives led by rural youth, women, and vulnerable groups. Programs like Erasmus+ support talent attraction and social entrepreneurship.

Since the early 21st century, Candamo has gained recognition as an alternative tourist destination, valued for its strategic location and unique offerings. Its remarkable historical heritage includes La Peña Cave, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for prehistoric paintings, alongside the Ventosa burial mounds, Prahúa hillfort, and the Nalón Front Historical Area featuring 18 km of trails with Spanish Civil War remnants.

Key tourism events include the Historical Reenactment Days "Candamo 36–37" and active tourism events like the BTT Marathon “Assault on the Trenches.” The permanent Cyclocross circuit in La Degollada, known for its vegetation and recreation, attracts sports tourism. Local gastronomy is highlighted by proximity products and festivals such as the Strawberry and Chestnut Festivals and the folk music event “Candamu al Son.”

Contemporary art thrives through initiatives like Néxodos, promoting dialogue between memory, rural identity, and contemporary creation, alongside Woodic as a rural creative space specializing in contemporary ceramics. We are promoting new projects like “Sports-Park Candamo,” led by Nanoma, focus on sustainable active tourism, public infrastructure enhancement, forest management, renewable energy, and public-private partnerships and RuralCoLab for sustainable development and social cohesion in rural areas of Asturias and Galicia by strengthening innovative and collaborative economy–supported by the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy.

Our new spaces in construction got the support of our own funds, LEADER funds and Fiare Banca Ética. Grants for national Demographic Challenge and EU programs such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and Interreg.

Key partners include Candamo Town Council, GDR Camín Real de la Mesa, Fundación Vital, local associations, and we can relay on national alliances within Fademur, Genalguacil International Innovation Lab, the CIT Network, Pedal Spain, and European entities and companies like Eurocrowd, Grow Remote, Smart Europe, Febea, Cooperative Europe and Impakt EU.

Sykkylven Municipality, located on the western coast of Norway, exemplifies many of the persistent structural challenges faced by rural communities across Europe. With approximately 7,500 inhabitants, Sykkylven is characterised by a dispersed settlement pattern, an ageing population, and a strong furniture industry cluster—including one major cornerstone enterprise and a number of successful exporters.

Sykkylven is under increasing pressure to reform public service delivery, particularly within healthcare and welfare, due to demographic ageing, increased demand, and rising expectations. As a municipality responsible for delivering universal health and care services within a public welfare model, we anticipate more stringent national and EU requirements for capacity, digitalisation, and quality assurance. While we have initiated preliminary work to explore viable responses, no comprehensive strategy is yet in place. The road ahead will be both complex and resource-intensive.

Sykkylven lacks a robust public transport infrastructure. Daily life and access to health care services are heavily reliant on private vehicles, posing challenges for equitable access, climate mitigation, and sustainable urban-rural connectivity.

Like most rural municipalities in Norway, our fiscal capacity is limited, and demand for services is growing. Although national and regional support schemes (such as Klimasats) exist, they are highly competitive and usually short-term. This constrains our ability to invest in innovation and long-term transformation. Participation in RURACTIVE would broaden our access to knowledge, tools, and funding models, and allow us to develop partnerships with European municipalities working on similar transitions.

The Inishowen Peninsula, located at the northernmost point of Ireland, is one of the country’s most rural, isolated, and stunningly beautiful regions. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Lough Swilly, and Lough Foyle, it features rugged coastlines, pristine blue flag beaches, rolling green fields, and landscapes shaped by centuries of farming, fishing, and rural tradition. Its towns and villages, including Carndonagh, Buncrana, Moville, Clonmany, Malin, and Culdaff, are small but resilient, known for strong local identity, cultural pride, rich artistic and sporting traditions, and a deep commitment to community life and volunteerism.

Despite its beauty, the Inishowen region faces interconnected rural challenges threatening its long-term sustainability. Youth outmigration is chronic, with many young people leaving for education or employment, weakening the local workforce and community life. People with disabilities face significant barriers to accessing meaningful training or jobs. Food waste is rising locally, even as many families experience food insecurity. Biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and climate change, including coastal erosion, further endanger local ecosystems. Renewable energy capacity is underdeveloped, with an overreliance on fossil fuels. Public transport is weak, isolating those without cars, and health, disability, and family services are under pressure. The catastrophic MICA defective concrete block crisis has plunged over 4,000 households into severe housing and financial hardship, amplifying stress and community trauma.

CORANE's territory covers the municipalities of Bragança, Miranda do Douro, Vimioso and Vinhais, located in the north-east of Portugal, in the Trás-os-Montes region, where it has a strategic border position with Spain. Part of NUT III Terras de Trás-os-Montes,it is characterised by a mountainous landscape of great natural and cultural value, with extensive forested areas, deep valleys, plateaus and watercourses such as the Douro river and its tributaries. It is a very rural region made of enormous value from an environmental and ecological point of view, as evidenced by the diversity and extension of classified areas, with two Natural Parks (Montesinho and Douro Internacional) and the Natura 2000 Network, Sites of Community Importance (SIC) and Special Protection Zones (ZPE).

The main challenge facing the CORANE territory is to revitalise a depopulated, ageing, and economically fragile rural area while preserving its natural and cultural heritage. Despite its exceptional biodiversity, rich cultural traditions, such as local crafts and gastronomy, and location along the Portuguese-Spanish border, the region struggles to attract sustainable economic activity and retain younger generations.

Currently, tourism in the area is seasonal, fragmented, and lacks integrated planning. Many local assets (natural parks, historical villages, traditions) are under-promoted or disconnected from each other, and community involvement in tourism initiatives remains limited. There is a need to develop inclusive and sustainable tourism models that create value for the local population while conserving environmental and cultural resources.

Through RURACTIVE, we aim to:

• Implement a smart, community-led tourism development strategy based on nature and culture;
• Foster cooperation across sectors (agriculture, crafts, services);
• Train and empower local actors—municipalities, associations, businesses, and youth;
• Co-create pilot actions such as thematic routes, inclusive visitor experiences, cultural events, or eco-tourism initiatives.

With RURACTIVE support, CORANE envisions building a replicable model of rural regeneration that merges ecological awareness, cultural vibrancy, and social inclusion.