Between February and June 2025, the NES three projects that won the NES open call worked to promote digital inclusion, ecological awareness and social resilience in their respective communities (Italy, Portugal and Spain). Now that all three pilots have reached completion, we take a closer look at their achievements and lasting impact.
Agorà (Italy): Civic Innovation from the Ground Up
The Italian pilot, Agorà, emerged from a process of deep listening to the needs and aspirations of rural territories. Focused on tackling youth depopulation, marginalization of older adults, and the digital divide, the project aimed not to impose external solutions but to co-design them with communities.
Using a design-thinking methodology, Agorà worked closely with the village of Pacentro in Abruzzo, creating a collaborative innovation ecosystem based on eight interconnected modules. Through interviews and workshops, the team developed detailed user personas and facilitated a prioritisation process that included SWOT analyses, challenge mapping, and feasibility assessments. The outcome was a selection of modules tailored to the community’s priorities.
Three of these modules were developed and tested during the pilot. The TRACE module enabled citizens to map local needs in a participatory way. SCC supported digital democracy through accessible platforms. PEPPE offered a suite of visual tools—cards, canvases, and templates—that supported inclusive co-design, allowing a broader range of people to participate in civic dialogue.
In addition, the project advanced the development of the EXPLORE module, which integrates community knowledge into AI systems to support sustainable tourism. Two Civic Datathons and two community assemblies were held, involving 38 participants and producing 26 co-designed solutions for the “Visit Pacentro” challenge. The effectiveness of crowdsourced engagement was clearly demonstrated through this process.
Agorà also established a formal partnership with the Pacentro Municipality to ensure the continuity of the pilot as a long-term hub for participatory governance. The model was further tested in Sicily, laying the foundation for a future network of “Center Agorà” sites where civic innovation can flourish.
Seixo – Green, Digital, Inclusive and Cultural Village (Portugal): Revitalizing Rural Life Through Innovation and Heritage
In Portugal, the project embraced a holistic vision of community-based transformation by merging ecological sustainability, digital empowerment, and cultural valorization. Based in Seixo de Mira, the initiative focused on adults over 45 and small rural businesses, aiming to reduce digital exclusion while nurturing local traditions and circular economy practices.
At the heart of the project was the reactivation of Casa Gandaresa—a heritage building transformed into a living hub for environmental education and community resilience. Within this space, older adults participated in digital literacy sessions that boosted their confidence in using everyday technology, helping to narrow the digital gap that disproportionately affects seniors in rural areas.
To promote sustainable behaviours, the project introduced sewing workshops that encouraged textile reuse while celebrating traditional crafts. A Sharing Centre was created to facilitate the collection and redistribution of household goods to families in need, reinforcing the principle of resource sharing and mutual support.
Community-building efforts extended into the culinary realm as well. Gastronomy workshops revived local Gandaresa recipes, creating opportunities for intergenerational learning and cultural pride. A community library was also activated as a hub for literacy, environmental learning, and social connection, providing residents with an inclusive space for continued engagement.
Environmental awareness was further encouraged through the launch of a selective green waste collection system and the organization of solidarity walks, which brought people together for healthy outdoor activities and collective reflection on ecological responsibility.
AGRIoT (Spain): Smart Farming for Inclusive Digital Transformation
In Spain, the AGRIoT project set out to bridge the digital divide in agriculture by equipping rural communities—especially in Yecla and El Valle de los Pedroches—with knowledge and tools for IoT-enabled farming. The pilot addressed the lack of digital literacy, low use of smart farming technologies, and gaps in vocational training that hinder the sustainability and efficiency of small-scale farms.
AGRIoT introduced a hands-on learning pathway using the Smart Agriculture Kit and accessible digital platforms like MakeCode, ThingSpeak, KidsIoT, Blynk.io, and HiveMQ. Through these tools, participants were able to simulate, prototype, and implement smart agriculture systems customized for their local contexts.
The project’s reach went well beyond its original site. In addition to Yecla, it successfully expanded to the rural area of El Valle de los Pedroches in Córdoba, where activities were organized in collaboration with local schools and the city council. In-person training workshops were held at CEIP Ntra. Sra. de las Veredas in Torrecampo, engaging schoolchildren and their teachers. Vocational training students and educators at IES Los Pedroches and IES Antonio María Calero in Pozoblanco also took part. Furthermore, the project partnered with AMPY in Yecla to offer accessible training to individuals with intellectual disabilities, working alongside the CETEM technology centre.
The engagement of professionals and stakeholders in Córdoba strengthened the project’s ties to the local ecosystem. One standout result of this collaboration is a new partnership with a female-run small farm that participated in the training. This partnership is now laying the groundwork for a proposal to the upcoming GUARDIANS open call, demonstrating the project’s ability to catalyse real-world action.
