Empowering Rural Economies through Entrepreneurship
To address economic decline and youth outmigration in the Pinares area (Spain), ESIRA launched a working group to promote rural entrepreneurship based on social economy principles and local resources. One of the solutions tested is Pinares Lab ESIRA, a co-creation process in which mainly young participants work in teams to design and test entrepreneurship solutions to local challenges (https://pinareslab.es/). Three main youth entrepreneurship pathways were identified: social and territorial cohesion services; heritage activation initiatives linked to cultural and tourism activities; and entrepreneurship opportunities associated with Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (UNESCO). The experience shows that rural entrepreneurship needs more than training, including collective ownership, supportive ecosystems, and values-driven innovation.
Enhancing Social Innovation in Rural Areas
Ongoing | 2024-2027
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Norway, Republic of Serbia