Helena Kurki from the "Innovation Center for Rural Areas" participated in the "European Startup Village Forum 2025" conference in Brussels at the end of October.
During the program item on how to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in rural areas, Helena shared the stage with big names in European rural policy: a representative from the EU's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG Agri), a member of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) who is also Deputy Minister for Regional Development in the Czech Republic, Spain's Director-General for Anti-Depopulation Policy, and a regional representative from Lower Austria, Austria.
Hi Helena! Tell me, how was it?
– The theme for the day was ”how can we get more innovation in rural areas?” and it was a super exciting and well-produced day with various speakers from both European, regional and local levels.
What were you talking about?
– The conference focused a lot on start-ups, new ideas and new companies. One of my inputs was that innovation in rural areas is driven both by new companies and by existing companies that further develop, innovate and explore, and that they are just as valuable in an innovation context.
– I also received questions about what have been the Innovation Center's success factors. What makes us unique is that we have an understanding of all sectors of society, the municipal, civil and business logic, and that we can navigate the space between these.
Did Leader come up?
– Absolutely, several of us raised the importance of funding from, for example, Leader, in order to be able to develop methods for innovation.
Anything else you reflected on?
– At the end of the conference, a professor talked about ”brain drain”, that is, when highly educated and qualified people move to seek better economic opportunities or working conditions, and about the concept of ”freedom to stay”, that is, that there must be certain structures in place for these people and companies to remain in rural areas. I would also like to add ”freedom to prosper”, that is, that there must also be opportunities to flourish, to develop and to participate.
So what happens now, after the conference?
– I received a lot of positive feedback afterwards and have made many good contacts. There are many people who are interested in the role and model of the Innovation Center. I have already had a draw for three leader areas in Germany and after the conference, a leader area in Finland has also contacted me for a meeting. It feels super fun!
INNOVATION CENTER FOR RURAL AFFAIRS
”"Innovation Center for Rural Areas" supports people, companies and organizations in rural areas in southeastern Skåne with advice, networks and tools to develop ideas, innovations and new business opportunities. The operation started as a leader project in 2016 and is today a permanent operation with funding from, among others, Region Skåne.
Read more here >> www.innovationscenter.se