Rural branding for sustainable living, working & entrepreneurship

Rural regions offer a sustainable alternative for living, working and entrepreneurship (LWE) in Europe, but suffer from an image problem, leaving them handicapped for the development of LWE. The health crisis increased the use of digital tools (home-based work). The countryside is no longer remote and assets for LWE are enhanced.

Challenges:

• Braindrain
• Ageing population
• Depopulation
• Labour market crunch.

Goals:

• Examine how rural regions can provide an alternative for LWE
• Achieve innovation in regional profiling through knowledge exchanges 
• Identify and promote the benefits of employment and living in rural regions
• Attract higher-skilled and technical profiles
• Help entrepreneurs fill their vacancies and motivating them to invest in the region
• A better composition of the population.

Through collaboration with regions facing similar challenges we will develop a policy framework and matching tools for local/regional governments for successful regional branding.