About the project
Mountains rural areas cover nearly 30 % of EU territory. In total 17 % of Europe’s population (118 million people), and 13 % of the EU population (63 million) live in mountain areas.
The challenge for the authorities is to find a formula capable of addressing the problem of population loss in these areas, a phenomenon that brings with it the loss of services or obstacles to repopulation such as major concerns about the loss of employment opportunities, lower incomes, access to transport or good connectivity. In this sense, the use of innovation can give a new opportunity to these mountain rural areas through the Startup Villages concept (network of small places that embrace innovation and the ambition to provide favourable conditions for entrepreneurs and also innovative ecosystems to thrive).
The project aims strive to provide the favourable conditions for place-based entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystems to flourish, as well as shaping actions for startup-driven innovation.
Project idea owner
Partners we are looking for
Regional public authorities delivering regional development policies in rural and mountainous areas. Partners in charge of Investment for jobs and growth goal programme is preferable