Rural Innovation Center

From the feeling of being the small entrepreneur, on the small farm, outside the small village – to the feeling of being an important entrepreneur who is also part of a larger context. We have seen that change.

This project was based on a 2015 feasibility study in Sjöbo Municipality, financed by the Regional Development Fund via the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development and the Savings Bank Foundation Färs and Frosta. The feasibility study described the need for an actor who understands and can create better conditions for entrepreneurs in rural areas. The aim was to build a hub that complements the municipalities' business activities, for increased innovation and growth among rural businesses.

The project developed a working model and established an operation. All activities were carried out primarily in the four municipalities of southeast Skåne, but with contact creation locally, regionally and sometimes nationally. The working method involved a proactive, outreach activity with company visits and advice close to the entrepreneurs. The working model is based on six ”S”:

• Strengthen, Support and Connect – advice for entrepreneurs, creating contacts and connecting to various support systems.
• Stimulate idea generation – six ”Innovation Camps” were implemented, targeting companies within a specific industry who participated together in innovation workshops.
• Coordinate and Create Opportunities – matching and creating contacts between actors who benefit from collaborating but who would otherwise not come into contact with each other.

Other activities were dialogue meetings, where innovators were brought together with rural businesses to test new products. In collaboration with LRF and SLU Alnarp, a meeting concept called ”Growing Meetings” was created. In collaboration with the academy, students could also be offered a degree project.

A total of 162 unique actors received advice and 137 were offered guidance. 66 innovation seminars and creative workshops were arranged. 19 project applications were submitted, of which twelve were granted support. The project contributed to increased collaboration on innovation, between entrepreneurs but also between different support actors. Support actors were helped to reach out to rural entrepreneurs, which made the innovation support system and its offerings visible and increased the use of it. The project made the potential and conditions of rural areas visible and challenged the urban norm.

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The project is fully in line with our local development strategy with initiatives that contribute to increased innovation and growth among rural businesses as well as the creation of new businesses, jobs and new products and services. The project is aimed at a broad public to create conditions for entrepreneurship and business creation. The project also contributes to increasing the attractiveness and competitiveness of rural areas.