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Rural areas, people and innovative development

Objective

A large percentage of Europe?s territory consists of rural areas which contain more than half of its population. The Lisbon Strategy, which aims to make Europe the most competitive, knowledge-based society in the world, is focusing on jobs and economic growth, not at least in rural areas. Innovation is seen as precondition to reach these goals. Many problems of European societies, such as an ageing population, high unemployment rates, social disparities and the lack of adaptive potential to the global market, are more pronounced in rural areas than elsewhere. To overcome these problems, it is essential to link public, private and inter-sectoral initiatives to foster innovation. It is essential to link European programmes and resources available and make best use of the instruments and resources to reach the goals of the Lisbon agenda. To have access to the relevant knowledge about existing options is crucial in this process. Therefore RAPIDO has been established to analyse current best practices concerning the development of innovation in agriculture, forestry, the food sector and the wider rural areas as well as to analyse methods to transfer knowledge to different target groups. Based on the analysis of success criteria and promising options for the future, policy recommendations will be given regarding which areas to focus on and concentrate efforts in the future. Specific objectives are: 1. To identify key areas on which to focus on in agriculture, the food industry and forestry 2. To identify key factors for success, and also existing barriers and constraints to the creation of innovation in rural areas. 3. To identify sectors where innovation would help to create employment in rural areas 4. To analyse the role of different actors and to review the most promising methods to facilitate innovation and knowledge transfer. 5. To evaluate the role of the Environmental Technology Action Plan and to give policy recommendations on how to facilitate innovation.

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Call for proposal

FP6-2005-SSP-5-A
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

SSA - Specific Support Action

Coordinator

ECOLOGIC - INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
EU contribution
No data
Address
Pfalzburger Strasse 43/44
BERLIN
Germany

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Last update: 26 March 2013

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/44264

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