Running from January 13 to March 31, 2025, the RURBANIVE Open Call far surpassed expectations, drawing 110 applications from across 25 countries. This remarkable response highlights the widespread interest in driving rural transformation through Rural-Urban Enablers (RUEs).
Broad international reach
The Open Call attracted entries from 16 European Union countries, 6 additional European nations, and 3 non-European countries—Israel, Pakistan, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic). This diverse geographic distribution underscores the global relevance of rural-urban synergies and the shared urgency to tackle rural development challenges.
Applicants formed small consortia of 2 to 4 partners, in line with the call’s eligibility criteria. Notably, over 60% of consortia included 3 to 4 partners, demonstrating robust collaboration among technology and service providers (such as SMEs, startups, and research organisations) and end-users.
Leading thematic focus: User engagement and territorial awareness
Among the six thematic domains of RUEs, the dominant area was “User engagement, empowerment, society, and territorial awareness,” accounting for 30% of submissions (33 applications). This indicates a strong interest in fostering inclusive participation and regional identity within rural-urban initiatives.
Balanced interest across other domains
The remaining applications reflect a well-balanced interest across RURBANIVE’s thematic domains. Both “Improving logistics and shortening value chains” and “Culture, landscape, and heritage access and promotion” received 17.3% of submissions, showing equal emphasis on efficiency and cultural vitality. “Regional circular bioeconomy development” and “Enhanced mobility” followed with 12.7% each, highlighting the role of sustainability and connectivity in rural-urban transformation. Lastly, “Ecosystem and biodiversity restoration” accounted for 10% of applications, underscoring a continued commitment to environmental resilience. This thematic diversity illustrates the multidimensional nature of rural challenges and reflects the integrated, systems-based approach promoted by RURBANIVE.
A strong foundation for Rural-Urban Innovation
The success of the RURBANIVE Open Call signals more than high participation—it reveals a vibrant ecosystem of innovators ready to shape the future of rural and urban cooperation. With broad geographic representation, strong consortia collaboration, and thematic diversity, the RURBANIVE Open Call has laid a solid foundation for impactful initiatives. As the selected projects move forward, they will not only address pressing rural needs but also inspire systemic change at the regional, national, and European levels.
