Rural development is the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), aiming at strengthening the social, environmental, and economic sustainability of rural areas. As agreed at EU level, the CAP will be based on a strategic framework (per member state) and it will define the specific actions to be implemented with the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), as well as other funds. This state-wide plan (for ES) includes several actions for rural sustainable development, especially in agriculture/food sectors, ensuring food sustainability and security, fostering competitiveness and making the rural areas more attractive economically and socially. The plan (to start its implementation in late 2022/early 2023; lasting until 2027) included measures to foster innovation, knowledge transfer, and investment in technology and digitalisation, fostering industrial transition built on these pillars, which is considered especially necessary in the agri-food sector. These measures include a broad range of initiatives, from direct investments in digital projects, to innovation projects for SMEs, support to farmers to introduce innovation-based solutions, etc. The Government of Catalonia is the managing authority in charge of implementing the plan in Catalonia, which, besides making use of EU funds (EAFRD) will complement it with an extra 20% in the budget with own funds. Total funds for investment under innovation/industry measures is approximately € 42 million.

The RSES identifies regional assets, opportunities and pressures, and provides a framework for investment to better manage spatial planning and economic development throughout the Region. It provides appropriate policy responses in the form of Regional Strategic Outcomes (RSOs) and Regional Planning Objectives (RPOs) which are crosscut by the three underlying principles of Economic Opportunity, Healthy Placemaking and Climate Action. RSO 12 is “A Strong Economy Supported by Enterprise and Innovation”; the objective is to build a resilient economic base and promote innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems that support smart specialisation, cluster development and sustained economic growth. RPO 6.5 notes the importance of cross-boundary and interregional partnerships for rural innovation; RPO 6.24 is to enhance the competitiveness of the agriculture sector for the long-term sustainability of the sector. RPO 6.26 is to foster the collaboration of industry and research to identify areas of R&D and innovation; RPO 6.31 includes support to enterprise development agencies and RPO 6.32 is to support enterprise development agencies to map, monitor and evaluate the Region’s enterprise and innovation ecosystem, benchmarking nationally and internationally. The RSES aims to strengthen the fabric of rural Ireland, supporting rural towns and communities, improving connectivity, and supporting job creation, complemented by innovation and entrepreneurship.

The programme for Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) of Jämtland Härjedalen is the set of actions and initiatives to be implemented under the strategy, making use of two main funding schemes: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and regional own funds. S3's specialisation domains, which define the thematic objectives of the instrument, broadly relate to ORIGINN's logic: (i) Experiences (including food experiences), (ii) Land, forests and water (including agriculture and the rural framework); (iii) Sustainable energy (which has implications in rural areas); and (iv) Digital solutions (which are also largely important in those areas). While the original (and still official) time framework is 2021-2027, it is expected that it starts being formally implemented in late 2022 or early 2023. The shaped programme to the date gives relevance to industrial innovation as a relevant component under the aforementioned priority areas. Actions will include direct support activities, and other schemes such as subsidies and other financial support measures, some of which can still be shaped (reshaped), also during the implementation phase of ORIGINN, which gives the opportunity to continuoulsy improve the instrument. Im any case, the rural role (sustainability, digital, and other types of innovation) will be present at a large scale.

Policy instrument addressed: Central Region Programme (CRP), Priority 1 - A competitive region through innovation, digitisation and dynamic businesses, Specific objective 1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies (P 1.1.)

P1.1. corresponds to Policy Objective 1: “A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity” from the Cohesion Policy.

The ERDF-supported measures included under P1.1. envisage research, innovation and investments related to the economic sectors included in the 9 sectors of excellence identified the Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Centru Region 2021-2027(RIS3 Centru). RIS3 Centru is a key instrument for regional development and includes the following sectors of excellence: agrifood, automotive and mechatronics, textile and leather, IT and Creative Industries, Pharmaceutic and medical services, Sustainable built environment, spa&health tourism. The interventions included under P1.1. will support research and innovation activities, the participation of the SMEs and RDI organisations in international partnerships and structures/ collaboration programs and the development of innovative investments.

The instrument's implementation will kick-off in 2022, including the strategy specific objectives and investment priorities and lines, with projects under 4 priorities: (1) Innovative and competitive regional economy; (2) Living conditions of the region's inhabitants; (3) Developed infrastructure and energy in a favourable environment; (4) Strategic territorial management and territorially balanced development. The area of innovation in IUS PSGR is covered in Strategic Objective 1.1. Specific objectives 1.1.2 (Accelerate digitisation of companies and enhance their innovation capacities in cooperation with facilities of research and science) and 1.1.3 (Transform regional economy to circular economy and enhancing food sovereignty), inter alia, do also aim to address the need of cooperation between scientific and education bodies, companies and other entities in the area of innovative technologies and processes. These objectives are directly related to ORIGINN's goals and objectives. Additionally, strategic objective 1.2.2 (Provide for protection and development of natural and cultural heritage) are also associated with supporting agrotourism in the context of domestic products, services at the background of indigenous cultural heritage, which relates to bulding bridges between the agri-food sector and other relevant sectors in the regions. From 2022 to 2030 projects will be implemented, including new/reshaped ones based on the needs linked to the addressed challenge.

The ERDF OP is the planning document that defines the strategy and operations of use of the funds allocated to the Region. Being one of the main investment instruments of the EU, the cohesion policy and the ERDF work on improving the economic growth and regional territory attractiveness.
As part of the priority of fighting territorial imbalances, Emilia-Romagna Region gives great importance to the development of the rural areas, which encounter widespread dynamics of depopulation and lower economic and employment growth, vulnerability environmental and infrastructural and connectivity under-provision, lack of public and private services. The OP therefore provides for a policy system for mountain and rural areas, significantly directing the European resources of the 2021-2027 programming towards the municipalities of the Lower Ferrara area, and other rural areas. The draft of the new OP has a specific target (2.1.4.2 - specific objective: to promote social, economic and environmental development integrated and inclusive at local level, culture, natural heritage, sustainable tourism and safety in areas other than those urban) aimed at rural and mountainous areas and is financed with a budget of M€ 18. The activities that are planned in the OP target all this aspects; besides the aforementioned objective, other under research and innovation address specific topics linked to industrial transition and innovation, and they are to be connected to rural development.

The new operational programme for the EAFRD for Estonia is expected to start its implementation in late 2022. It will continue developing actions that were already a priority in the previous programming period 2014-2020, aiming to develop them further, especially fostering initatives related to industrial development of traditional sectors in rural areas, innovation projects, digitalisations, green economy, etc. The Estonian RDF is to include measures linked to restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems related to agriculture and forestry, and there actions around industry 4.0 become key elements. The new operational programme will also put relevance to social inclusion and local development in rural areas, especially to address the challenge that it was referred aboved linked to lower development rates and risk of further depopulation due to lower social standards. Those will include projects that can benefit the agri-food sector, especilly SMEs, in order to generate opportunities. Such companies are more likely to be able to create new, diverse and well-paid jobs in rural areas (especifically under EE Rural Development Fund 2023-2027 (EAFRD - CAP) - S.O.2 Increase the market orientation and competitiveness of agricultural enterprises both in the short and long term, paying more attention to scientific research, technology and digitisation). The budget is expected to be between 1 and 1.5 BEUR.