RARE - Remote Areas Revitalization through digital Engagement

RARE (Remote Areas Revitalization through digital Engagement) is a European project born to address one of the most pressing challenges for Europe’s future: revitalizing rural areas. With 83% of the European population expected to live in cities by 2050, small rural towns face depopulation, economic decline, and cultural erosion. At the same time, the rise of remote work opens up new possibilities: today, living far from major urban centers is not only viable, but also sustainable and appealing. RARE leverages this shift to transform marginal territories into attractive hubs for digital nomads, freelancers, and creative workers through training, co-design processes, digital innovation, and residency programs. Active in four rural communities across Germany, Spain, Croatia, and Italy, the project: • Trains local leaders to become change-makers • Directly involves communities in the co-design of new services • Launches a digital platform to connect territories and nomads • Hosts professionals in temporary rural residencies to foster exchange and local innovation Co-funded by the European Commission, RARE is implemented by a network of six partners with complementary expertise in local development, communication, social innovation, education, and participatory governance: Gespa e.V., KORAK, Miceli Rural Coop, europAledro, Lab Futura and TREE Agency. RARE is more than a project: it’s a European laboratory for reimagining a future where rural communities lead the change.