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CASPER Seminar in Białystok Unites Rural Innovators

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CASPER Open Seminar Brings Europe-Wide Rural Solutions to Białystok

Białystok, Poland – On May 13, 2025, the Podlaskie Voivodeship will host an open seminar as part of the CASPER Project (Citizen Activation in Shrinking rural areas for Place-based policies to Enhance Resilience), funded by the Interreg Europe 2021–2027 Program. The event, set to take place at the Podlaskie Library in Białystok, will bring together European experts, project partners, and local stakeholders to explore forward-thinking strategies to address rural depopulation, ageing, and civic disengagement.

Sharing Knowledge Across Borders

The seminar will feature a full-day program of expert presentations and regional insights:

Seminar Agenda Highlights:

  • 10:00 – 10:20: Welcome by Łukasz Prokorym (Marshal of Podlaskie Voivodeship) and Jacek Piorunek (Board Member)

  • 10:20 – 10:40: Introduction to the Podlaskie Region and seminar objectives – Michał Szczepura

  • 10:40 – 11:00: Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas – Silvia Nanni (DG AGRI, European Commission)

  • 11:00 – 11:20: Participatory methods in shrinking areas – Lukács Hayes (Cooperative City, Hungary)

  • 11:20 – 11:40: Silver Economy potential in ageing communities – Dr. Andrzej Klimczuk (SGH Warsaw School of Economics)

  • 11:40 – 12:00: Presentation of the CASPER Project – Dr. Ágnes Németh (University of Eastern Finland)

  • 12:00 – 12:15: Q&A session

  • 12:15 – 13:15: Lunch break

Afternoon Session – Local Initiatives:

  • 13:15 – 13:30: Instruments for rural development – Wioletta Szczytko

  • 13:30 – 13:45: Podlaskie Local Product Centre – Magdalena Tymińska

  • 13:45 – 14:00: Youth competition “Why are there fewer of us? Stop depopulation!” – Izabela Łokić

  • 14:00 – 14:30: Summary, conclusions, and informal networking over lunch

Platform for Collaboration and Ideas

The seminar aims to offer a vital space to exchange knowledge and highlight the role of citizen participation in reversing the effects of rural decline. Presentations will deliver both European-level insights and local success stories, helping build momentum for future collaboration.

Stay tuned for more CASPER updates as the project continues to activate communities across Europe.