Living Labs in Action: creating sustainable rural futures through new data and tools

The UK RUSTIK Regional Dissemination Event, held on 20 November 2025 at the historic Blackfriars Priory in Gloucester, brought together around 40 participants representing research, local government, community organisations, and policy. Titled “Creating Sustainable Rural Futures through New Data and Tools,” the half-day workshop explored how innovative data approaches and participatory mapping can inform more resilient and inclusive rural strategies.

 

Opening and Context

The event opened with welcoming remarks from Professor Matthew Reed, Director of the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) and Head of Research at the University of Gloucestershire. His introduction set the tone for an afternoon focused on rural sustainability, grounded in both regional experience and wider European collaborations.

Participants then received updates from the UK Living Labs across the RUSTIK and GRANULAR projects. Speakers included Daniel Keech and Katarina Kubinakova (Gloucestershire Living Lab), Aimee Morse (Monmouthshire Living Lab), Demelza Jones (Monmouthshire County Council), and Jonathan Hopkins (James Hutton Institute, GRANULAR Scotland Living Lab).

 

Insights from the Living Labs

 

1. Monmouthshire Living Lab – Understanding demographic change

Aimee Morse and Demelza Jones presented a data experiment on demographic change implemented as part of the Living Lab, exploring ways to achieve better demographic balance by retaining and attracting younger working-aged people to live and work in the county. Their three-step approach included:

  1. Developing a prototype dashboard, using Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation data and satellite imagery.
  2. Gathering new data with Maptionnaire, targeting residents aged 16–44 to address gaps in existing datasets. Several interviews and focus groups were conducted to complement the survey.
  3. Analysing results to support local planning and decision-making.

Key issues affecting liveability for younger residents included high housing and living costs, limited educational and employment opportunities, public transport constraints, and a lack of social, leisure, or retail options. Positive comments highlighted green spaces, access to the countryside, and a peaceful, safe environment.

The findings provide Monmouthshire County Council with a baseline dataset on a group they previously had little information about, offering granular insights that can support decisions where “official statistics flatten local rural variations.”

Next steps include linking findings with the UKRI-funded Rural Wales Local Policy and Innovation Partnership, contributing to the Well-being of Future Generations Act regional wellbeing assessment, and undertaking deeper research on the public transport needs of younger working-age residents.

 

2. GRANULAR Scotland – New rural data for policy

From the James Hutton Institute, Jonathan Hopkins presented work from the GRANULAR project’s Scottish Living Lab. With 24 partners, 7 Living Labs, and 9 replication labs, GRANULAR focuses on generating spatially detailed rural knowledge.

Hopkins discussed research on:

  • Drivers of rural wellbeing advantages in Great Britain.
  • Daily mobility patterns and accessibility.
  • Rural proofing in collaboration with Ecorys.

The team confirmed the “rural wellbeing advantage”, a paradox where rural areas report higher subjective wellbeing despite reduced access to services—using a broad suite of geographic, socioeconomic, and environmental variables.

 

3. Gloucestershire Living Lab – Digital inclusion and data innovation

The Gloucestershire Living Lab team, represented by Daniel Keech and Katarina Kubinakova, presented work on digital transition challenges in the county’s four rural districts (additionally, there are two mainly urban districts in the county). Partnering with community-sector providers, a smart dashboard was developed by the University of Gloucestershire team enabling users (predominantly voluntary sector organisations) to import datasets, clean data, and perform analyses based on geographical levels. The dashboard also supports cross-reference analysis across different datasets and includes heat-map visualisation for both numerical and categorical data.

The Gloucestershire LL team also briefly presented some preliminary findings from their recent online survey linked to decentralised rural proofing of the DIIIS.  The survey shows that most digital support is directed towards vulnerable people, and that organisations targeting rural areas consistently report greater difficulty due to resource constraints and a rapidly changing public-service environment.

A key takeaway: fine-grain data doesn’t always inform policy, but the dashboard marks a significant improvement in rural data analysis, though its success also depends on social innovation and clearer strategic direction for rural digital transformation.

 

Panel: Mapping Tools for Policy and Engagement

A panel discussion chaired by Demelza Jones brought together:

The panel explored how mapping tools, participatory surveys, creative place-based methods, and continuous community dialogue can strengthen evidence-based policy. Scott Orford showcased work using poetry, videos, storytelling, and open-street mappers to mobilise community insights. Asta Hiippala highlighted the importance of ongoing dialogue rather than one-off extraction of data, noting how some cities, such as Helsinki, publish anonymised results openly to encourage transparency.

After the break, lightning talks provided additional examples of how local data can support rural policy development and informed the day’s final activity: group discussions.

 

Rural Wales Local Policy and Innovation Partnership – Strengthening evidence for policy

The Rural Wales LPIP‘s work on building a wellbeing economy for rural Wales, with a focus on inclusive and sustainable growth was presented by Matthew Reed, on behalf of Professor Michael Woods (Aberystwyth University) and Scott Orford.

The projects approach includes:

  • Strengthening the evidence base for rural policymaking.
  • Community-led action research, enabling communities to identify local issues, design research, and use evidence.
  • A new LPIP data hub, designed to support stakeholders across rural Wales.

This work complements that of the RUSTIK Living Labs by expanding data access and improving regional policymaking capacity.

 

Closing remarks

The afternoon concluded with group discussions and a plenary session led by the RUSTIK UK team, summarising key takeaways on how local data, community-driven engagement, and fine-grained analysis can contribute to more resilient rural futures.

Building on earlier RUSTIK workshops in Galicia and Finland, the UK event reinforced the importance of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and adaptive, data-informed strategies in navigating demographic, digital, and environmental transitions.

RUSTIK Regional Dissemination Event in the UK: Creating Sustainable Rural Futures Through Data and Tools

The RUSTIK Regional Dissemination Event in the UK will take place on Thursday, 20 November 2025, from 13:00 to 16:30 GMT at the historic Blackfriars Priory in Gloucester.

This half-day event, titled “Creating Sustainable Rural Futures through New Data and Tools,” will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and community leaders to explore how innovative data approaches and participatory mapping can inform more resilient and inclusive rural strategies.

 

Event Highlights

The afternoon will open with a welcome and introduction by Professor Matthew Reed, Director of the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) and Head of Research at the University of Gloucestershire. His remarks will set the tone for a dynamic discussion on rural sustainability, grounded in regional and European perspectives.

Participants will then hear an overview of work from the UK Living Labs, presented by the RUSTIK and GRANULAR project teams. Confirmed speakers include:

A panel discussion will follow, exploring the role of spatial data and mapping tools in strengthening community engagement and shaping effective local policy.
Panellists include:

After a short coffee break, a series of lightning talks will highlight innovative approaches to using local data in rural policy development. Presenters include Michael Woods (Aberystwyth University) and Scott Orford (Cardiff University).

The afternoon will continue with facilitated group discussions, inviting participants to share their insights and ideas on the future use of local data for sustainable rural policies. The event will close with a plenary session, gathering key takeaways and reflections, led by the RUSTIK UK team.

 

Why Attend

This event offers a valuable platform to:

  • Discover how data-driven tools and participatory methods are reshaping rural development.
  • Exchange knowledge and experiences across research, policy, and practice.
  • Contribute to ongoing discussions on evidence-based, locally grounded strategies for rural sustainability.

Attendees can expect lively debate, hands-on insights, and new connections to support rural innovation in the UK and across Europe.

 

Building on Previous Regional Workshops

This UK dissemination event builds on the success of previous RUSTIK regional workshops, including recent sessions in Galicia, which focused on multi-actor approaches to rural sustainability, and earlier discussions on innovative responses to rural demographic shifts, in Finland.

Together, these events highlight the growing importance of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and adaptive, data-informed strategies in shaping the future of rural regions.

 

Check the AGENDA!

 

RUSTIK Workshop on Exploring Multi-Actor Approaches to Rural Sustainability in Galicia

RUSTIK, in collaboration with the Granular and Down to Earth projects, held it second regional workshop on October 9, 2025 in Sober, Galicia (Spain). This event brought together a

wide range of participants—from researchers and practitioners to local and regional policymakers—to explore collaborative approaches to rural sustainability and development.

The workshop responds to pressing, interconnected challenges faced in Galicia and many rural areas across Europe, including depopulation, land abandonment, and increased wildfire risks. These issues require systemic responses and a stronger integration between science, community actors, and governance structures.

Focus of the Workshop:

The session explored the Living Labs and multi-actor approach as tools to support multilevel governance and evidence-based policymaking. Through structured, participatory exercises, the goal was to identify what is working, what gaps remain, and how these methodologies can meaningfully contribute to regional development strategies.

 

Field Visit: Aldea Modelo Francos de Proendos (Sober)

As part of the workshop, participants took part in a field visit to Francos de Proendos, a small village in the municipality of Sober (Lugo) designated as a “Model Village” (Aldea Modelo) by the regional government of Galicia in January 2022.

What is a “Model Village”?

The Aldea Modelo initiative, led by AGADER and the Xunta de Galicia, is designed to revive abandoned rural land, promote sustainable land use (agriculture, extensive grazing, agroforestry), and create natural firebreaks to reduce wildfire risk.

Key facts about Francos de Proendos:

  • Covers 16.81 hectares, of which 12.87 hectares are usable.
  • Includes 119 land plots belonging to 70 different owners.
  • Land is integrated into the Galician Land Bank, allowing local producers to lease it for sustainable use while owners retain ownership and receive an annual payment.
  • Target uses include extensive livestock farming, short-cycle vegetable production, and woody crops like fruit trees.

Cultural and Environmental Context

In addition to its innovative land use model, Francos de Proendos also holds rich cultural heritage, such as the Romanesque Church of Santa María de Proendos (12th century), which features reused Roman materials and 16th-century wall paintings.

Why Visit Francos de Proendos?

The field visit offered a unique opportunity to:

  • Understand how multi-actor governance and community-based land management work on the ground.
  • Explore how Living Labs can serve as real-life platforms for aligning scientific, community, and policy interests.
  • Witness practical efforts to revitalize rural areas through integrated environmental, social, and economic strategies.

Innovative responses to rural demographic shifts: key takeaway from RUSTIK first regional workshop!

Gathered around the theme of demographic change and innovative responses to it, three living labs from the RUSTIK project: Rhein-Hunsrück (Germany), North Karelia (Finland), and Monmouthshire (UK) came together on June 5th to present and exchange ideas on shared challenges in the heart of Koli National Park, Finland.

This event aimed to disseminate the results developed within these real-life laboratory of the project and trigger peer-to-peer discussions.

Simo Rautiainen, a doctoral researcher at the University of Eastern Finland and the Karelian Institute, set the scene by introducing the host region North Karelia and outlining its demographic challenges over the period 1980 to 2024.

These three Living Labs, regional innovation hubs that experiment with real-world solutions to rural issues, then presented their unique, locally adapted approaches to addressing demographic specificities. Despite the geographical distance, many common patterns emerged.

Svea Thietje and Achim Kistner, both working within the Rhein-Hunsrück Living Lab, presented ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening the region’s demographic resilience. They highlighted two key challenges: out-migration among young people aged 18 to 25, and the gap between supply and demand in the training and apprenticeship market.

Their Living Lab’s approach to addressing these challenges involved analysing mismatches in the apprenticeship landscape and improving alignment through a series of actions: organizing focus groups, co-designing surveys, and conducting interviews with both young people and employers (including agencies, job centres, and local administrations).
They shared the following key achievements:

  1. Created a well-founded database on the needs and obstacles faced by both young people and employers in relation to apprenticeships and vocational training.
  2. Ensured that young people’s voices were heard and considered in discussions around training.
  3. Created new networks and revived old ones, fostering dialogue among stakeholders.
  4. Attracted political attention — both at the district and regional levels — and initiated discussions with policymakers based on the findings.

In North Karelia, Aura Liski, project Manager at the Regional Council of North Karelia, presented a survey aimed at collecting data on the integration of immigrants in the region. The data is intended to help municipalities improve their integration services and better support the successful settlement of immigrants, given that the latest reform of the 2025 Integration Act, which made municipalities responsible for promoting the integration of immigrants, lacked the tools and data to evaluate and develop their integration services.

The survey was developed and launched in spring 2024 and has since been expanded to other municipalities in the region. An improved version of the survey is currently being prepared through a multidisciplinary collaboration with regional stakeholders.

Finally, Demelza Jones, Research Fellow at the University of Gloucestershire and representative of the Monmouthshire Living Lab, highlighted how a survey incorporating emotion-based questions on belonging and aspirations, combined with geo-referenced data and secondary datasets, enabled deeper insights and allowed for meaningful local-level comparisons.

In the context of Monmouthshire, which is marked by an ageing population as well as challenges related to housing, employment, and transport, this experimental approach provided valuable understanding of the needs and expectations of younger residents in the region.

Beyond the sharing of achievements, successes, and challenges, the panel discussions also revealed a strong desire to continue these initiatives beyond the timeframe of the project, as some of the results have proven to be valuable tools in themselves for other stakeholders.

Exploring Innovative Responses to Rural Demographic Challenges

Join the First RUSTIK Regional Workshop

Date: 5th June 2025

Time: 14:00 – 16:00 EET
Location: Vaarasali Auditorium, Koli Nature Centre Ukko, Finland  & Online

Check the full agenda

Register here

 

Across Europe, rural regions are facing complex and rapidly evolving demographic challenges — from youth outmigration to changing labour market needs and shifting patterns of immigration. Addressing these issues calls for tailored, place-based solutions rooted in both research and practice.

On 5th June 2025, the first RUSTIK Regional Dissemination Workshop, titled “RUSTIK Living Labs in Action: Responding to Rural Demographic Challenges”, will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to exchange insights and inspire change.

Why This Workshop Matters

Rural areas are not uniform — each faces unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to demographic shifts. Yet, through shared dialogue and the exchange of good practices, regions can learn from each other and co-create more resilient futures. The RUSTIK project supports this goal by developing Living Labs — regional innovation hubs that experiment with real-world solutions to rural issues.

This workshop focuses specifically on labour market dynamics, immigration, and youth engagement, spotlighting work from three RUSTIK Living Labs:

What to Expect

This two-hour hybrid event is designed to be both informative and interactive. The program features expert presentations, Living Lab case studies, and a moderated panel discussion. Participants can contribute questions and insights in real time through online tools like Slido, ensuring dynamic engagement from both on-site and remote attendees.

Join Us — Onsite or Online

Whether you’re a regional policymaker, researcher, civil servant, or rural development practitioner, this workshop is an opportunity to connect with a growing European network committed to rethinking rural futures.

Mark your calendar and get ready to share, learn, and co-create.