Regional development

In our view, sustainable regional development is characterised by a balance between the economic, social and ecological dimensions, and by an integration of the diverse needs and demands of people and the environment in rural areas.
Our work focuses on the elaboration and implementation of strategies to promote sustainable regional development and regional value chains. We are active in the key fields of tourism and economic development, circular and bio-based economies, demographic change, services of general interest and the promotion of rural communities, as well as the establishment of regional processing and marketing structures.
One focus of our work is on transdisciplinary research questions regarding intelligent and innovative solutions as well as governance arrangements and stakeholder networks in the above-mentioned fields of action. Another focus is on the transfer of scientific findings into consultancy and educational projects as well as into concept and strategy development processes, so that our clients can benefit from the latest research results in a timely manner.
At the regional level, we support the sustainable development of municipalities and regions, particularly by design regional development strategies. We also devise concepts and strategies for specific issues and work with our clients on innovative model projects and initiatives. We provide consultancy services and support to regional management and other network actors in terms of organisational development and the design, implementation, management and success monitoring of participatory processes.

Contact person at IfLS: Dr. Ulrich Gehrlein (gehrlein[at]ifls.de)

Projects in the field

Consulting

Cluster Report Agriculture 2023 of the Stuttgart Region

The Stuttgart Region, as an association of the state capital with five economically strong districts in the immediate vicinity, has good agricultural production conditions in a state-wide comparison. The proportion of intensively used agricultural…

Final evaluation of the LEADER process in the LEADER region Oben an der Volme

In the LEADER region Oben an der Volme, the final evaluation of the 2014-2022 funding period is due, as required by the state.

In this context, IfLS Consulting and Projects is supporting the sponsoring association of the regional development of Oben…

Examination and evaluation of the Local Development Strategies (LES) for the selection of LEADER/CLLD regions in the state of Saxony-Anhalt in the funding period 2021-2027

In order to be recognised as a LEADER region, the territorial settings in Saxony-Anhalt go through a selection process. IfLS Beratung und Projekte GmbH has been commissioned to support the selection process. In detail, the assignment includes the…

Final evaluation of the LEADER process in the LEADER region Ortenau

The LEADER region Ortenau is facing the end of the 2014-2017 funding period. The current funding period will be extended with the two-year transition phase in 2021 and 2022. Nevertheless, effects and successes of the current LEADER funding are to be…

Concept and strategy development

Erarbeitung eines Regionalen Entwicklungskonzepts (REK) für die Limesregion Hohenlohe-Heilbronn

The action group "Limes Region Hohenlohe Heilbronn" applies for recognition as a LEADER region for the funding period 2023-2027. In addition to the establishment of cooperation structures in the form of a regional partnership, a region-specific…

Conception of the Local Development Strategy for the LEADER Region Lahn-Dill-Wetzlar

With a new local development strategy, the LEADER region Lahn-Dill-Wetzlar wants to build on the successes of the previous funding period and the work done in the past years.

The IfLS accompanies and advises the region in the conception, the…

Creation of a regional development concept as part of the LEADER application of the Hohenlohe-Tauber region

At the beginning of the new EU funding period 2023-2027, the LEADER region Hohenlohe-Tauber is preparing a new regional development concept (German acronym: REK) in order to apply again as a LEADER region. The client is the Hohenlohekreis as the…

Elaboration of the Local Integrated Rural Development Strategy for the Region 'From Rhine to Wine'

The Local Action Group (LAG) in formation 'From Rhine to Wine' applies for the first time for recognition as a LEADER region for the funding period 2021-2027. In addition to the establishment of cooperation structures in the form of a regional…

Information, knowledge transfer and education

INSPIRE - Innovative and Smarter Policy Instruments for Rural Europe

The integrated and "smart" development of rural areas is crucial for the future of Europe, Germany, and Hesse. By leveraging digitalization and information and communication technologies, rural communities can be supported to become "smarter" and…

Building a bright future for rural communities through smart village education and development (RURALED)

The concept of smart villages aims to maintain or increase the competitiveness of rural areas through intelligent networking between companies, civil society and public administration. A central role is played not only by infrastructures or digital…

Preparation of a handbook containing information about funding programmes of the European Union and the German Federal Republic

The funding handbook of the German Networking Agency (DVS) should be revised for the new EU funding period 2014 – 2020. A wide range of actors from the federal and state governments, funding banks such as the KfW-Bank and the Landwirtschaftliche…

Local manual for supporting a sustainable development

[Translate to English:]

he current German state programs of the European Cohesion Politics 2014 – 2020 offer a wide range of support opportunities for protection and improvement of nature and environment. These instruments are directed at actors at the local level. However,…

Evaluation

External evaluation of the implementation of Local Development Strategies on behalf of four LEADER regions in Hesse

IfLS Beratung und Projekte GmbH supported several LEADER regions in Hesse with interim evaluations during the current funding period. The focus is on the extent to which the objectives and areas of action set out in the Local Development Strategies…

Short evaluation of the regional initiative „Faszination Mosel"

IfLS Consulting and Projects evaluates on behalf of the regional initiative "Faszination Mosel" its previous work and elaborates basic development possibilities based on the results.

Faszination Mosel markets the entire wine-growing region of the…

Ex-post evaluation of the LEADER+ programme 2000-2006 in the Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate

In 2002 the European Commission authorised the 2000-2006 period of the LEADER+ programme supported by the Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate. Seven Local Action Groups (LAGs) were given access to support within the framework of a statewide…

Regional Action: Rural areas shaping the future

The ‘Regionen Aktiv’ programme is a policy initiative of the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture (BMVEL) that addresses the key principles of contemporary RD policy. The role of the IfLS is to carry out accompanying research…

Research and development

Developing regional value chain networks for communal catering — RegioWertGeBen

The RegioWertGeBen project aims to develop innovative and practicable approaches to strengthen regional, organic communal catering. The project works in two pilot regions - Ludwigsburg-Stuttgart and North Hesse – and uses the example of the vegetable…

Establishing regional processing structures - How can the trend be reversed?

The German food system has a low level of self-sufficiency in many food sectors. The relevance of imports is correspondingly high in many areas and the resilience of the food system with regard to possible crises is low. However, ecological location…

Actor networks and multifunctional spaces for art, culture and creative work in rural regions - AMuRaKK

The research project investigates how art, culture and creative workers are integrated into actor networks and how they develop, use and design multifunctional spaces together with local civil society actors and municipal administrations in rural…

Potentials of the circular economy for rural development in Germany and Europe

Circular economy means that products and materials are used in cycles, reused or processed into new products. Raw materials are thus no longer lost by being landfilled or incinerated. The circular economy promises resource-efficient solutions.…

Participation processes, Moderation and Event Management

Interim Evaluation of the LEADER Process of the LEADER Region Rheinhessen

At the half-way point of the funding period 2014 - 2020, the IfLS will conduct a workshop for the interim evaluation of the implementation of the Local Integrated Development Strategy (LILE) of the LEADER region Rheinhessen.
The aim of the interim…

Integrated rural development concept with spatial and thematic focus (SILEK) in the municipality of Romrod

An integrated rural development concept with a spatial and thematic focus - SILEK for short - can be used in the preparation to land consolidation and is supported by Hesse. As a result, the SILEK is to represent a coordinated framework for action…

Interim evaluation of the LEADER process in the LEADER Erbeskopf region

At the half-way point of the funding period 2014-2020, the IfLS is carrying out an interim evaluation of the LEADER process of the Rhineland-Palatinate LEADER Action Group (LAG) Erbeskopf. For this purpose, an evaluation of the region-related results…

Interim evaluation of the LEADER process of the LEADER region Ortenau

[Translate to English:]

At the mid-term of the funding period 2014 - 2020, the IfLS carried out an interim evaluation of the LEADER process in the LEADER region of Ortenau. For this purpose, an evaluation of the region-related results of the nationwide survey of all LAG…

back-to-top