The RURBANIVE project participated in BEYOND 2025, the preeminent international exhibition of digital technology and innovation, with a presence that was both dynamic and substantive. For the first time, BEYOND was held in Athens, from 4 to 6 April 2025. Represented by RURBANIVE’s partner, reframe.food, RURBANIVE contributed to a landmark event which gathered more than 15,000 visitors in a span of two days and managed to establish itself as a significant platform for advancing the digital and innovation agenda.
BEYOND 2025, hosted at the Metropolitan Expo, centred around the theme “AI Reality Bites,” highlighting the real-world implications, opportunities, and challenges of artificial intelligence. As the event broadened its reach beyond Thessaloniki, where it had been successfully held four times, its debut in the Greek capital set a new benchmark in scale, diversity, and international participation.
Reframe.food, RURBANIVE’s dissemination and communication Leader, introduced BEYOND participants to RURBANIVE; funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme RURBANIVE tries to reimagine the connections between rural and urban regions through social and technological innovations called Rural-Urban Enablers (RUEs). The project is built on the ambition to bridge socio-economic, environmental, and spatial divides by fostering the growth of new rural-urban linkages across Europe by bringing into light new, inclusive innovations. At its core, RURBANIVE focuses on cross-sectoral cooperation, circular bioeconomy solutions, digital inclusion, and empowered local communities. By engaging with fellow exhibitors, tech leaders, researchers, and policy stakeholders, the project spotlighted its efforts to develop and demonstrate the RUEs—digital solutions that empower communities through participatory governance, resilient ecosystems, and data-driven policy approaches.
A growing platform for transformation
With more than 300 exhibitors from Greece and 10 other countries, BEYOND 2025 created a vibrant environment for dialogue and exchange. RURBANIVE’s presence contributed to ongoing conversations about sustainable innovation, digital equity, and community empowerment. BEYOND’s role as a key hub for networking, knowledge-sharing, and technological exploration aligns closely with RURBANIVE’s mission. The project’s commitment to co-creating inclusive, forward-thinking solutions resonated with the broader themes of the exhibition, especially as discussions turned to the dual nature of artificial intelligence—its promise to revolutionise societies and its responsibility to address emerging ethical and societal concerns.
The Athens edition of BEYOND proved not only a venue for showcasing advanced technologies but also a meaningful stage for collaborative projects like RURBANIVE that are driving transformation at the intersection of policy, innovation, and community resilience. As BEYOND continues to alternate between Thessaloniki and Athens in coming years, its capacity to attract diverse demographics and scale impact will only grow. RURBANIVE’s involvement in this year’s edition demonstrates the critical role that EU-funded initiatives play in forging connections between technological progress and territorial cohesion, paving the way for sustainable futures in both urban centres and rural heartlands.
