Adapting to and mitigating demographic trends in rural areas through evidence-based planning and innovative solutions

R&I under destination “Resilient, inclusive, healthy and green rural, coastal and urban communities” will contribute to the implementation of the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027. In particular, it will deliver under the Key Strategic Orientation (KSO) 3: a more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe and to a lesser extent to KSO 1: the green transition, and KSO 2: the digital transition.

Places and people, as well as their culture, matter to the achievement of a more sustainable Europe. The European Green Deal's ecological and digital transitions, along with the resulting spatial, socio-economic, behavioural, and cultural implications present unique challenges and opportunities for different regions and populations. Rural (including mountains) and coastal areas play a key role in managing and protecting the environment, as well as natural and cultural heritage. The provision of both private and public goods from these territories depends on the resilience and attractiveness of rural and coastal areas and the capacity of people who live and work there to attain an adequate level of well-being.

This destination will make a key contribution to the action plan flagship initiative “R&I for rural communities” and to the four areas of work of the long-term vision for EU’s rural areas (LTVRA): stronger, connected, resilient, and prosperous.

This destination will as well contribute to sustaining our quality of life, achieve a circular and resilient economy, support people to access affordable housing, the EU territorial agenda for 2030 promoting a future for all places, the ambitions of the food 2030 R&I initiative as well as the EU bioeconomy strategy.

On social related research and innovation, this destination contributes to the implementation of the pillar of social rights and its action plan and to develop a Union of equality.

On an international level, the relevant topics under this destination will support the objectives of the joint communication on the EU Arctic policy, and the all- Atlantic Ocean research and innovation alliance (AAORIA) which has recently prioritised the need to bring science and innovation solutions to coastal communities facing climate threats and to enhance the coastal resilience of cities, regions and islands. The destination will contribute to the aim of the Commission to step up work on climate resilience and preparedness, including work on the priorities of the European Ocean Pact.

Proposals for topics under this destination should set out a credible pathway to contributing to sustainably developing rural, urban and coastal areas, and more specifically one or several of the following expected impacts:

• rural, coastal and urban communities are empowered to act for a transformative change to become sustainable and resilient, through better access to knowledge and services, and are better prepared to adapt to climate change and to achieve climate neutrality and environmental objectives.
• rural communities are prepared to manage demographic trends and to mitigate their social, economic and environmental impacts through enhanced territorial governance and innovative inclusive solutions.
• urban and peri-urban communities can access affordable, healthier, nutritious and environmental-friendly food, and benefit from synergies and a systemic approach across the urban-rural interface as well as from enhanced local and regional governance and public services.
• people and the environment will benefit from climate change adaptation. Coastal communities will have better knowledge and become more resilient and better equipped to tackle extreme weather events thanks to deployment of latest scientific research results and innovative solutions, including nature-based solutions.
• communities have access to ocean knowledge, data, tools, training and can develop skills that support them to take evidence-based decisions to respond to climate change with socially acceptable measures in their territories.

Under destination “Resilient, inclusive, healthy and green rural, coastal and urban communities”, the Work Programme 2025 will fill the knowledge gaps in domains that were not tackled in Horizon 2020 or Horizon Work Programmes 2021-2022 and 2023-2024, as indicated in the Strategic Plan 2025-2027. The destination places emphasis on actions that will exploit knowledge created under previous Work Programmes and research, and will deliver impact as well as increase sustainability, resilience, inclusiveness, and competitiveness. The focus is on tackling the impacts of demographic changes and environmental extreme events which cause uncertainty, by engaging communities in decision-making processes, improving policy instruments for policy responses that are evidence based and considering local needs. This Work Programme also contributes to improving access to services, job opportunities, good environmental conditions, and energy-efficient housing in rural areas.

The multi-actor approach may be used in a significant number of topics. Relevant topics under this destination should include social sciences and humanities (SSH), including gender studies, to apply a human-centered approach, as well as make use of social innovation to meet local needs by co-creating place-based solutions.

Coordination will be ensured with the use of the EC knowledge centre for bioeconomy, the EU rural observatory, the EU soil observatory, and the EU Missions “A Soil Deal for Europe”, “Restore our Oceans and Waters” and “Adaptation to Climate Change”, as well as with the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Facility.

To maximise the impacts of R&I under this destination, international cooperation is encouraged when appropriate.

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