Villages and rural communities are not untouched by the digital revolution taking place worldwide. Innovative solutions, from Big Data to the Internet of Things (IoT), have reached rural areas to develop and improve their social, economic, and environmental conditions.
A smart village is a rural community that leverages technology and innovation to revitalise its economy, enhance the quality of life for its residents, and increase resilience by responding to local needs and building on local strengths. It focuses on combating depopulation and ageing, creating more sustainable and participatory development, and applying digital solutions innovatively in areas such as agriculture, energy, and public services. The concept of smart villages aims to equip small rural populations with the means to become engines of change and productive centres.
Some Spanish regions, such as Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, and Extremadura, have embraced this model, expanding it from municipalities to intelligent and sustainable rural ecosystems and districts. Across Europe, notable examples include Valle d’Aosta in Italy, with energy communities and fossil fuel independence plans, and the Kaišiadorys district in Lithuania, which has developed mobile hubs for radio and podcast production, citizen consultations, local e-commerce, and connected spaces to improve rural services.
If you want to get involved in transforming rural areas, we invite you to explore the collaborative projects space at VILLAHUB. This environment is designed to foster the joint creation of initiatives that contribute to the sustainable, social, and digital development of villages. Here, young people, educators, entrepreneurs, and local organisations can co-create, manage, and share projects with tangible impact in their communities, experiment with new methodologies and innovative solutions, and participate in a European network of collaborative learning. Join, connect with other users, and be part of building a more dynamic and connected rural future.
