Seeking smart solutions for rural challenges in Latvia RSM
The meeting brought together experts and representatives from rural communities to discuss how digitalization can promote rural development. The event took place at the Zemgale Business Center's Co-creation Space in Jelgava.
The first part of the meeting focused on a review of the INSPIRE project's achievements, as well as insights gained from a recent visit to Wetzlar, Germany. Participants also heard from Gianluca Lentini, a researcher at the Polytechnic University of Milan, about the development of the smart village concept in Europe and its implementation in Italy.
The second part of the meeting featured a panel discussion focusing on examples and challenges of digitalization in local communities. The panel included Dace Vilmane, Head of the ZPR Development Department; Zanda Dimanta-Svilpe, representative of the Rural Network Secretariat; and Santa Šmite, representative of the "Selijas salas" community cooperation network. The experts concluded that creating smart solutions in rural areas requires: knowledge, a positive microclimate within the community, a desire to come together, a shared vision/benefit, a leader to guide the process, and a supportive local government. Experts also stressed the importance of accompanying new digital solutions that make life easier for residents of remote areas with sustainable maintenance of these solutions and training residents in their use.
In the final session, participants took part in a workshop to brainstorm digital solutions for 22 rural challenges in Zemgale, including low digital literacy among residents, a shortage of teachers, flood risk in the region, the workload of family doctors' practices, the lack of social entrepreneurship, and others. Divided into groups, participants chose three challenges to propose digital solutions for: one standard solution, one creative solution, and one unconventional solution. During the presentations, participants provided feedback to enhance the effectiveness and relevance of the proposed solution and tailored them to rural needs. The workshop finally identified potential new ideas for developing Zemgale smart villages.