This section of the policy brief focuses on five interesting Interreg Europe project examples:

• RUMORE
• P-IRIS
• RATIO
• ERUDITE
• Islands of Innovation

These five projects all focus on different components of challenges and opportunities linked to innovation in rural and sparsely populated regions. 

Island communities share the challenges of mainland rural regions, including loss of population and skilled talents, but their geographic characteristics adds a further dimension of isolation as well. However, the partners of the Islands of Innovation project focus on the advantages of their islands brought on by isolation – e.g. self-reliance, strong community involvement, and innovative mindset – in order to exploit opportunities to diversify the local economy. By transforming islands into innovation-promoting, experimental test-bed environments, the partners aim to keep and attract young, innovative and entrepreneurial people and activities on the islands. 

Read more: https://bit.ly/2Tw387o