RUDI

Across Europe, rural regions are facing two major challenges: population decline and increasing climate pressures. These trends are reshaping local economies, services, and communities, and they risk weakening social cohesion and long-term development. RUDI addresses these challenges by combining research, practical tools, and on-the-ground innovation. The project focuses on three key goals:

• understanding how demographic change and climate pressures interact in rural areas;
• supporting municipalities and local stakeholders with evidence-based tools for informed decision-making;
• developing and testing solutions that improve quality of life and make rural areas more attractive.

At the core of RUDI are eight Rural Innovation Clusters, each supported by a Rural Living Lab. These serve as participatory hubs where municipalities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), civil society, social economy actors, and researchers work together. Within these labs, partners co-create and test solutions such as cooperative care models, circular agri-food systems, and climate-resilient mobility services. To support decision-making, RUDI will develop a Demography–Climate Dashboard and a Policy Support Package, providing accessible data and practical strategies for local and regional actors. The project also promotes scaling and knowledge exchange through cascade funding and a Network for Rural Transformation, enabling regions across Europe to learn from each other and replicate successful approaches.By combining scientific evidence, participatory governance (Quadruple Helix), and real-world experimentation, RUDI strengthens the capacity of rural regions to respond to demographic and climate challenges. In doing so, it contributes to key European policy initiatives, including the EU’s Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, the Rural Pact, and the European Green Deal.

Funding: European Research Executive Agency

Funding amount: €6,497,471.25 (of which RCE Graz-Styria: €465,625.00)

Duration: 06/2026 – 05/2030

Partners: Centre for Social Innovation GmbH (Austria), Instituto Politécnico de Viseu (Portugal), Stichting Wageningen Research (Netherlands), Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography EV (Germany), Uniwersytet Rolniczy im. Hugona Kollataja W Krakowie (Poland), Universita Degli Studi Di Milano (Italy), Sofia University ST Kliment Ohridski (Bulgaria), Latvijas Universitāte (Lithuania), Diesis Network (Belgium), Global Ecovillage Network of Europe EV (Germany), Compania Maximalista S. Coop. (Spain), Obv-Via Campesina Austria – Austrian Mountain and Small Farmers’ Association (Austria), Minha Terra – Federacao Portuguesa de Associacoes de Desenvolvimento Local (Portugal), Stichting Soil Valley (Netherlands), Plattform EV (Austria), Centrum Kultury Gminy Ciezkowice (Poland), Kurzemes Planosanas Regions (Latvia), Ture Nirvane Societa Cooperativa Sociale di Comunita (Italy), Stoynova Koleva Mariyana (Bulgaria)

Contact person(s): Mag. Dr. Andreas Exner (project lead), Nikolaos Gatsinos (research assistant)

Project website.