Periodic Reporting for period 1 - InnovationGUIDE (INTERCONNECTED EUROPEAN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT)
Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31
Rural regions across Europe often struggle with limited financial resources, insufficient infrastructure, and lack of representation in policy advocacy, impeding their ability to fully engage in innovation-driven growth. Although these areas hold significant potential to contribute to European goals, they remain underserved in innovation strategies. The InnovationGUIDE project was launched fill the gap, empowering rural stakeholders in Türkiye, Malta, Spain, and the Netherlands to become participants in European innovation.
Being a collaborative and inclusive platform, the project set out to address the barriers faced by rural regions—ranging from limited connectivity to underrepresentation in policymaking. Grounded in the EU’s New European Innovation Agenda and Horizon Europe priorities, InnovationGUIDE’s overarching objective was not only to include but also to prioritize rural regions in Europe’s broader innovation strategy.
The project’s impact spans multiple dimensions. Immediate interventions include developing insights into the unique barriers to rural innovation, fostering a connectivity platform of stakeholders, and nurturing capacity for future growth through events such as hackathons and matchmaking activities by an Interregional Innovation Assembly. Over the long term, these regions are poised to benefit from enhanced policy advocacy, increased access to funding, and stronger representation in decision-making processes. By catalyzing sustainable development, and driving social and economic opportunities, InnovationGUIDE aspires to enhance Europe’s diverse innovation landscape.
Being a collaborative and inclusive platform, the project set out to address the barriers faced by rural regions—ranging from limited connectivity to underrepresentation in policymaking. Grounded in the EU’s New European Innovation Agenda and Horizon Europe priorities, InnovationGUIDE’s overarching objective was not only to include but also to prioritize rural regions in Europe’s broader innovation strategy.
The project’s impact spans multiple dimensions. Immediate interventions include developing insights into the unique barriers to rural innovation, fostering a connectivity platform of stakeholders, and nurturing capacity for future growth through events such as hackathons and matchmaking activities by an Interregional Innovation Assembly. Over the long term, these regions are poised to benefit from enhanced policy advocacy, increased access to funding, and stronger representation in decision-making processes. By catalyzing sustainable development, and driving social and economic opportunities, InnovationGUIDE aspires to enhance Europe’s diverse innovation landscape.
InnovationGUIDE undertook a set of technical and scientific activities, carefully tailored for the of rural ecosystems in Türkiye, Malta, Spain, and the Netherlands:
Stakeholder Mapping and Needs Assessment
A framework for stakeholder mapping was devised to identify and categorize relevant actors. This methodology was captured in a scientific document (available publicly) and applied to produce four maps involving key stakeholders for each partner country. The project website (https://innoguide.eu/stakeholder−engagement(opens in new window)) facilitates stakeholder outreach, offering a platform where parties can also reach to InnovationGUIDE partners if they require assistance or wish to collaborate on future initiatives.
Common Needs Analysis, Interviews, and Roadmaps
Regional workshops, interviews, and in-depth discussions with Q-Helix stakeholders were undertaken to compile a thorough needs assessment. These findings informed region-specific innovation frameworks and roadmaps, later integrated into the Interregional Innovation Assembly. By aligning local efforts with EU goals, these tailored documents and guidelines establish objectives and actions designed to drive progress in rural innovation.
Gender-Equal Strategies
Emphasizing equity, the project introduced measurable objectives to promote gender equality. A guidance document—open for public use—was developed to ensure each intervention addressed gender disparities from planning through implementation and evaluation. These tools empower organizations to benchmark and measure progress, ultimately fostering inclusive innovation ecosystems in rural regions.
Case Studies
Insights from global innovation leaders—South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Iceland, Australia, Italy, and Germany—were analyzed to understand examples within diverse ecosystems. Lessons learned from these global examples guided local policy recommendations and strategies designed to foster collaboration and address gaps in infrastructure.
Design of the Interregional Rural Hackathon
An Implementation Guide for Interregional Rural Hackathon was developed to spur innovation and co-creation tailored to rural contexts. This resource provides frameworks for designing and implementing hackathons, targeting entrepreneurs, innovators, and youth. Emphasizing collaboration and local context, it equips organizers to maximize event outcomes and participant engagement, offering a replicable model for future innovation initiatives.
Stakeholder Mapping and Needs Assessment
A framework for stakeholder mapping was devised to identify and categorize relevant actors. This methodology was captured in a scientific document (available publicly) and applied to produce four maps involving key stakeholders for each partner country. The project website (https://innoguide.eu/stakeholder−engagement(opens in new window)) facilitates stakeholder outreach, offering a platform where parties can also reach to InnovationGUIDE partners if they require assistance or wish to collaborate on future initiatives.
Common Needs Analysis, Interviews, and Roadmaps
Regional workshops, interviews, and in-depth discussions with Q-Helix stakeholders were undertaken to compile a thorough needs assessment. These findings informed region-specific innovation frameworks and roadmaps, later integrated into the Interregional Innovation Assembly. By aligning local efforts with EU goals, these tailored documents and guidelines establish objectives and actions designed to drive progress in rural innovation.
Gender-Equal Strategies
Emphasizing equity, the project introduced measurable objectives to promote gender equality. A guidance document—open for public use—was developed to ensure each intervention addressed gender disparities from planning through implementation and evaluation. These tools empower organizations to benchmark and measure progress, ultimately fostering inclusive innovation ecosystems in rural regions.
Case Studies
Insights from global innovation leaders—South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Iceland, Australia, Italy, and Germany—were analyzed to understand examples within diverse ecosystems. Lessons learned from these global examples guided local policy recommendations and strategies designed to foster collaboration and address gaps in infrastructure.
Design of the Interregional Rural Hackathon
An Implementation Guide for Interregional Rural Hackathon was developed to spur innovation and co-creation tailored to rural contexts. This resource provides frameworks for designing and implementing hackathons, targeting entrepreneurs, innovators, and youth. Emphasizing collaboration and local context, it equips organizers to maximize event outcomes and participant engagement, offering a replicable model for future innovation initiatives.
InnovationGUIDE’s accomplishments transcend conventional approaches by generating actionable insights into how rural regions can be empowered to become engines of innovation:
Holistic Barriers Analysis
The project systematically identified financial, infrastructural, and policy-related obstacles preventing rural regions from thriving. This in-depth analysis, enriched by direct stakeholder engagement, surpasses typical desk research by offering grounded, context-specific findings.
Inclusive and Scalable Frameworks
The creation of stakeholder maps and a gender-equal strategy document delivers tools that can be scaled, adapted, and replicated across similar contexts. This approach ensures that even after project completion, other projects can follow structured methodologies to boost their activities.
Road to Sustainability and Further Uptake
Through the Interregional Innovation Assembly, relevant actors will continue to collaborate on joint initiatives and potential funding opportunities. Further capacity-building efforts remain pivotal to ensuring that the project’s outcomes are mainstreamed into rural innovation strategies continent-wide.
Key Outcomes
Beyond the immediate technical achievements—such as stakeholder mappings and hackathon design—InnovationGUIDE has established roadmaps and models for continuous engagement, thereby providing a foundation for scaling up in new territories. The lessons learned from global case studies unmatched added value to any future innovation activities.
Holistic Barriers Analysis
The project systematically identified financial, infrastructural, and policy-related obstacles preventing rural regions from thriving. This in-depth analysis, enriched by direct stakeholder engagement, surpasses typical desk research by offering grounded, context-specific findings.
Inclusive and Scalable Frameworks
The creation of stakeholder maps and a gender-equal strategy document delivers tools that can be scaled, adapted, and replicated across similar contexts. This approach ensures that even after project completion, other projects can follow structured methodologies to boost their activities.
Road to Sustainability and Further Uptake
Through the Interregional Innovation Assembly, relevant actors will continue to collaborate on joint initiatives and potential funding opportunities. Further capacity-building efforts remain pivotal to ensuring that the project’s outcomes are mainstreamed into rural innovation strategies continent-wide.
Key Outcomes
Beyond the immediate technical achievements—such as stakeholder mappings and hackathon design—InnovationGUIDE has established roadmaps and models for continuous engagement, thereby providing a foundation for scaling up in new territories. The lessons learned from global case studies unmatched added value to any future innovation activities.