Innovative solutions for rural challenges - RURACTIVE Open Call for Innovators launches

The RURACTIVE Open call for Innovators is now open. RURACTIVE invites Startups, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises as well as researchers to apply for the exciting opportunity to co-develop innovative and smart solutions for the evolution of its 12 rural pilot areas, the RURACTIVE Dynamos. The call for applicants is open until 5th February 2025 and offers the opportunity of up to €90,000 funding for the development of each solution.

The European research project RURACTIVE has set out to empower rural communities to act for change. By calling on Innovators, such as Startups, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and researchers*, the project has now reached its implementation phase. The 12 rural pilot areas, the RURACTIVE Dynamos, have identified local challenges that are particularly pressing for the community in successfully transforming its region into thriving local hubs and centres of innovation.

Innovators are invited to answer the just launched Open Call and present solutions that address specific rural challenges within the scope of the RURACTIVE Rural Development Drivers: Sustainable Agri-food systems and ecosystem management, Sustainable multimodal mobility, Nature-based and cultural tourism, Energy transition and climate neutrality, Culture and cultural innovation, and Local services, Health and wellbeing.

“This is a rare opportunity for innovators to not only receive funding but to make a direct impact on the future of rural Europe," said Claudia De Luca, researcher in the RURACTIVE coordination team at the University of Bologna. "We are looking for enthusiastic people committed to bringing ideas and solutions to rural areas."

From all applicants to the Open Call a selection of 36 projects can expect to gain access to the first stage of the RURACTIVE Innovators Programme, and gain the opportunity to be selected later on to its second stage. The first stage of the Open Call will last for two months and programme beneficiaries - the RURACTIVE Innovators - will receive a wide range of value-added services and funding. Stage two of the programme will see up to 24 Innovators proceed to being invited to develop, deploy and assess their solutions over a period of nine months with funding of up to €90,000.

All interested entities are invited to attend a first webinar on the Open Call to find out more about the programme.

The Open Call is open for applications until 5th of February 2025 at 17:00 (CET).
For more details on the RURACTIVE Open Call and how to apply, please visit the official webpage.

*Please note that researchers need to be affiliated with an SME or start-up in order to be eligible to apply.