On 8 December 2025, a workshop on promoting the Smart Village strategy within the LEADER approach took place as part of the Ruraled project. The 23 participants came mainly from German LEADER regions, as well as from municipal administrations and the fields of science and research. The aim of the event was to introduce the Smart Village concept and the Ruraled project, including its toolbox, and to facilitate an exchange on various thematic areas.
During the workshop phase, participants worked in small groups on four key topics: framework conditions for Smart Villages, strengthening civic engagement, Smart Villages within the LEADER context, and practical examples. Guided by several leading questions, the groups discussed regional experiences and shared practical insights from their local contexts. The discussions highlighted the need for greater visibility of good practice examples and stronger networking between municipalities.
Participants also emphasised the potential of digital applications to make civic engagement easier and to improve connections among local actors. In addition, the importance of information and exchange formats was underlined, and several ideas for strengthening voluntary engagement were collected.
Contact person at IfLS: Christoph Mathias (mathias[at]ifls.de)
