INSPIRE: One Year of Progress Toward Inclusive and Sustainable Rural Development

The INSPIRE project is marking its first year with significant achievements that move Europe’s rural regions closer to greater social inclusion of people in vulnerable situations. By focusing on vulnerable groups and broadening how social inclusion is understood in rural contexts, the project is helping rural communities access better-quality social services and enhance their wellbeing.

Alongside this progress, INSPIRE has released its new promotional video capturing the spirit, goals, and vision of the project.

 A Year of Achievement: What INSPIRE Has Delivered So Far

Over its first 12 months, INSPIRE has successfully completed its foundational research and laid the groundwork for the next, more hands-on phase of the project.

1. In-Depth Research and Insights

• • All research and mapping activities have been successfully concluded, offering valuable and rich data on social exclusion for the vulnerable groups in rural areas.
  • A mixed-method approach including observational fieldwork, digital ethnography, surveys, a foresight exercise, and interviews, generated important insights into the realities of social exclusion in rural Europe at macro-, meso-, and micro-level.

2. A New Regional Typology for Rural Europe

• • The project has developed a Regional Typology of European Rural Areas, classifying regions based on how they perform in countering social exclusion beyond economic parameters. The INSPIRE Typology can unlock cross-regional exchange of good practices for addressing common challenges.

3. A Rich Repository of Social Services

• • More than 400 social services currently operating in rural Europe have been catalogued. The services will be soon presented in a visual repository – the so-called INSPIRE Atlas – in early 2026.
  • These services can be adapted and replicated in other areas where vulnerable groups face social exclusion.

4. A Growing Network of Interest

• • The project has built a multi-actor, transnational Network of Interest, strengthening outreach, collaboration, and long-term impact.

What Comes Next

The INSPIRE project is now entering an exciting phase centered on co-creation, local engagement, and capacity-building across 7 real-life rural contexts.

• The Rise of Smart Village Labs: Seven pilot partners across Europe are hosting warm-up events to prepare their local ecosystems for the launch of seven Smart Village Labs, spaces for co-designing solutions for social services.
• Capacity-Building Materials Under Development: The consortium is preparing the first materials to support upskilling, empowerment, and social innovation in the pilot areas.
• Upcoming Online Atlas: INSPIRE will soon release its Services & Social Economy Atlas on Rural Empowerment, an online repository showcasing services, initiatives, and social economy models from across rural Europe

WR’s Role in INSPIRE

As the Project Coordinator, WR plays a pivotal role in guiding INSPIRE and ensuring that all activities are closely aligned with the project’s goals. WR leads the consortium, overseeing the implementation of all work packages, and ensuring that the project progresses efficiently and effectively across all partner organisations. At the same time, WR provides hands-on support to the seven rural pilot areas, helping them establish and run their Smart Village Labs, which act as local hubs for co-creation and social innovation. In addition, WR is responsible for monitoring and evaluating pilot interventions, ensuring that the outcomes are measurable, sustainable, and delivering lasting value to the communities involved.

Watch the INSPIRE video here: https://youtu.be/WNbba8tAnes?si=UFKBtPHq2SehhNs7