Integrating Smart concepts into LEADER Strategies in Germany

The Smart Village approach promotes sustainable development, intelligent networking, and innovative rural solutions. By leveraging digital technologies, participatory processes, and new cooperation models, it aims to enhance rural attractiveness and sustainability. These principles align closely with LEADER’s mission to foster community-led local development and empower rural areas.

Dr. Ulrich Gehrlein from the Institute for Rural Development Research and Mercedes Bindhardt from the regional management introduced the project to the participants. The meeting also featured an assessment round moderated by Hanna Kramer from the Institute for Rural Development Research.

The workshop provided a platform for the decision-making committee to exchange ideas on how Smart Village elements can be incorporated into the LEADER strategy. After an assessment, the discussions centered on several thematic areas:

• Civic Participation: Ensuring all regional inhabitants have access to digital opportunities and are not left behind in an increasingly fast-paced, technology-driven world.
• Fostering Communities: Addressing the evolving nature of local communities that traditionally thrive in analog interactions but are increasingly impacted by digitalization. Where should digitalization play a role, and how can it support rather than disrupt?
• Quality of Life and Culture: Enhancing cultural and social infrastructure to create vibrant and inclusive rural communities.
• Tourism Development: Utilizing digital tools to promote local tourism, improve visitor experiences, and support sustainable tourism models.
• New Work Models: Exploring the potential of remote work and coworking spaces to retain talent, attract professionals, and counteract youth outmigration. Ensuring a bottom-up approach to digitalization that fosters positive engagement and acceptance.

A major focus was on how digitalization and smart solutions can contribute to these areas. The LEADER decision-making committee acknowledged that while digitalization is already a cross-cutting objective, there is a need for a more structured and strategic approach to integrating Smart Village elements. A main understanding was that digitalization through LEADER must be approached with care—success depends on a bottom-up strategy that highlights its benefits and ensures positive community reception.