Rural SMEs
Policies to develop entrepreneurship and innovative SMEs in rural areas
Smart
S3, Industrial transition & entrepreneurship
2014-2020
Project summary
The key policy instruments linked to Investments and Growth are managed mostly from the main cities (regional or national capitals), often disconnected to rural areas, and have less impact in areas of lower population density, in particular the actions towards innovation of the SMEs.
The promotion of entrepreneurship spirit has to be further developed in rural areas, and in particular the promotion of new niches of business opportunities, such as “Energy, Environment, Eco-industries, ICT or Social Innovation”.
What did this project achieve?
To improve the policies on regional support systems for entrepreneurs through exchange of experiences and identification of good practices, implementing the lessons learnt in regional action plans to increase the creation of innovative SMEs in rural areas.
To achieve this goal the project envisages the identification, transfer and adoption of projects, measures and policies that would contribute to find out solutions to key challenges that face business development in less populated areas, such as:
- access to finance; communication and logistics;
- access to knowledge; innovation services support
- Rural Entrepreneurship (public support, new niches, young entrepreneurs)
- Innovative Rural SMEs (Public support, circular economy, Social Innovation, etc.)
A few numbers
1,022,597 €
01 Jan 2017-30 Jun 2021
7 partners