Sustainable economic growth in rural areas

Based on the innovative power of rural areas, we will work with growth-creating initiatives, new financial solutions, collaboration between city and country, and create new opportunities for collaboration in the local economy.

The Leader project ”Rural Innovation Center” has worked since 2016 to provide innovation support and guide entrepreneurs further into the innovation system, stimulate idea generation and coordinate and create opportunities. The purpose of this project was to complement the Innovation Center's "base model" with more business models, and broaden from a focus on primarily innovation to a focus on growth in a broader sense.

The project developed and tested a number of models, concepts and working methods, including the following activities:

Initiatives to increase knowledge about new financing solutions: "The path to money", a comprehensive concept with webinars, a financing map and ongoing tips about current calls. A concept that was implemented together with Europa Direkt Sydskåne.

Efforts to create collaboration opportunities in the local economy: A shadow board program that was implemented together with the New Entrepreneur Center, where companies with growth ambitions were given the opportunity to collaborate with knowledgeable board members from the local community.

Efforts for collaboration with research actors as part of efforts to connect urban and rural areas: "Growing meeting", a meeting concept that was implemented together with SLU Alnarp and LRF Skåne.

Efforts to find ways for local entrepreneurs to collaborate with students at Lund University of Technology.

Efforts to support the establishment of test beds for applied research: in contact with academia and driven innovators to identify potential test beds.

The project has led to a supplemented Innovation Center model with new, tested and verified models and working methods. But also to development efforts for local companies in the form of knowledge, creation of new abilities and motivation for change and development. Last but not least, the Innovation Center for Rural Areas has been strengthened as a sub-regional node.

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The benefit accrues to entrepreneurs in the countryside and contributes to a vibrant countryside. The project meets a significant number of indicators and creates conditions for the development of the area's existing and possibly new companies with new markets.