- What: A workshop on smart villages and rural innovation under Interreg Europe’s Digital Rural project.
- Where: Estonia, April 2-3.
- Who: Teams from Crete led by MAICh, regional Crete representatives, and other rural development stakeholders.
- Focus Areas: Digital transformation, sustainable rural practices, cultural preservation, and forward-looking policies.
- Why It Matters: Bridges ideas from Europe to Crete, emphasizing practical application for rural growth.
Exploring Rural Potential with Smart Villages
On April 2 and 3, Estonia became the center stage for a lively workshop under the Interreg Europe project, Digital Rural. With a heavy focus on smart villages, the event aimed to confront the many challenges faced by rural communities while brainstorming practical solutions. Central themes included reshaping policies to embrace digital transformation in the countryside, all while cementing the smart village concept as more than just a buzzword.
The Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh) stepped into the spotlight as the lead partner, bringing a seasoned team from its Sustainable Agriculture Department. The group included Dr. Ioannis Livieratos, department coordinator; Dr. Carolyn Owen, researcher; and biologist Adamantia Kokkinaki.
Representing Crete, the region’s electronic governance division dispatched officials Stelios Bonatos and Katerina Manolaraki. They were joined by other local experts, including Maria Petrandoni-Kalogeri, an economist and director of the Regional Development Company of Crete, and Evelina Bakinta, who heads the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Crete.
Ideas and Insights from Good Practices
On the first day, attendees were introduced to digital tools that push the boundaries of rural potential. These included resources supporting “sustainable fashion” in rural film production and creative industry frameworks for crafts and cultural heritage. Estonia’s innovative projects were generously showcased as examples to inspire replication or adaptation elsewhere.
Over the two-day event, a curated list of standout ideas emerged, all underscored by an effort to not merely observe but also implement these concepts in broader strategies. These will lay the groundwork for progress reports on Digital Rural’s development and the next phases of the program.
How It All Ties Back to Crete
The knowledge extracted from the workshop will be reevaluated to form Crete’s broader vision for 2021-2027 under the country’s NSRF (part of the EU’s Structural Funds). This involves integrating lessons learned to enrich the Smart Villages concept, elevate rural life, and drive digital adaptability across communities forward.
The Digital Rural project is under the sharp-eyed coordination of Crete’s Regional Unit along with George Alexakis, their Regional Councilor for European and International Affairs. Implementation falls to the independent department for European and international development projects—a collaboration that paints Crete as not just a tourist paradise but also a key player in rural innovation.
