How can local innovation shape Europe's future rural policies? This question will be at the heart of a joint workshop co-hosted by RURACTIVE, SMART ERA and FUTURAL during the European Week of Regions and Cities 2026.
Taking place on 13 October 2026 (16:30–18:00 CET) at the Jacques Delors Building in Brussels, the interactive workshop "From grassroots innovation to EU policy: governance pathways linking local action and European strategies" will explore how locally driven innovation can inform the next generation of European rural and cohesion policies.
Across Europe, rural communities are developing innovative solutions to address challenges ranging from digitalisation and demographic change to climate resilience and public service provision. Through their Living Labs, pilot actions and multi-actor approaches, the Horizon Europe projects RURACTIVE, SMART ERA and FUTURAL are generating practical knowledge on how place-based innovation can strengthen rural territories.
The workshop will bring together experts from European institutions, academia and rural development organisations to discuss how these local experiences can contribute to the design of the EU's post-2027 policy framework. Particular attention will be given to governance models that enable municipalities, civil society organisations, businesses and citizens to play an active role in shaping policy, while supporting the European Commission's ambition to strengthen the "right to stay" in rural regions.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Vania Freitas, Secretary-General, Assembly of European Regions
- Matteo Gerosa, Head of Unit, Fondazione Bruno Kessler
- Prof. Claudia de Luca, University of Bologna
- Vanessa Halhead, Head of Unit, European Rural Community Alliance
The discussion will be moderated by Serafin Pazos-Vidal, Head of Unit at the European Association for Innovation in Local Development (AEIDL).
By connecting grassroots experimentation with European policymaking, the session aims to identify concrete pathways for scaling successful local initiatives while reinforcing territorial resilience and ensuring that rural voices are reflected in future EU strategies.
Registration is open through the official European Week of Regions and Cities programme.
