From December 10 to 12, the international partner organizations of the INSPIRE project consortium visited the LEADER region of Lahn-Dill-Wetzlar. The Interreg Europe project INSPIRE aims to develop and promote innovative approaches for the development of smart, sustainable rural communities. German stakeholders from the region as well as representatives from the state level also participated in selected agenda items to discuss ideas and strategies together.
Workshops and Knowledge Transfer
The focus was on the Smart Village approach—digital innovations and smart collaboration strategies to strengthen rural regions. At Hüttenberg Town Hall, participants discussed how research and knowledge transfer can strengthen Smart Village approaches. To this end, the Competence Center for Rural Development at the BLE provided input on the BULE program’s findings to date. To illustrate how administrative processes can be made more efficient through digitalization, the approaches implemented at the Digital Town Hall in Hüttenberg were showcased as examples. A workshop moderated by the IfLS provided a space for a lively exchange of experiences.
Practical examples from the region
During field trips, participants experienced innovative projects:
- Weidenhof Coworking Space: A revitalized farm that demonstrates the connection between tradition and innovation through coworking and pop-up workshops.
- Co-working at the fire station: Three municipalities built a joint fire station and created, among other things, a multifunctional workspace—a successful example of citizen-centered co-design.
- Bus driving simulator: At the Werner-von-Siemens School, participants experienced how digital technology, as a recruitment tool, sparks enthusiasm for careers in the transportation sector.
- Autumn Maze Show Cave: The digital visitor tour combines technology with a nature experience and demonstrates how sustainable tourism and site conservation go hand in hand.
The event made it clear: The development of smart, resilient rural regions requires close collaboration between research, administration, and the local population to develop innovative and sustainable solutions on the ground.
Further information
on the INSPIRE project:
https://www.interregeurope.eu/inspire
on the LEADER region Lahn-Dill-Wetzlar:
https://www.lahn-dill-wetzlar.de/
on the BULE program:
https://www.bmel.de/DE/ themen/laendliche-regionen/foerderung-des-laendlichen-raumes/bundesprogramm-laendliche-entwicklung/bundesprogramm-laendliche-entwicklung_node.html
About Land.Digital:
https://www.bmel.de/DE/themen/laendliche-regionen/digitales/land-digital/mud-land-digital.html
Contact persons at IfLS: Dr. Ulrich Gehrlein (gehrlein[at]ifls.de), Hanna Kramer (kramer[at]ifls.de)
