On June 3rd, the NewEcoSmart (NES) Inter-Communities Workshop brought together stakeholders from across Europe for a dynamic and inspiring webinar titled “Empowering Rural Communities with Innovation and Sustainability.” As an official EU Green Week 2025 event, the session was focused on exploring the tangible impact of the NES project in driving digital innovation and sustainable transformation across rural communities.
With more than 50 participants, the webinar highlighted achievements, shared local experiences, and promoted meaningful dialogue on strategies to foster innovation within rural communities.
The event featured insightful presentations from NES pilot leaders representing three active regions. Mariana Assunção from AD ELO shared the experience of Montemor-o-Velho in Portugal, María Sanchez from AMUEBLA presented the work carried out in Yecla, Spain, and Maddalena Illario from UNINA provided an overview of the initiatives in Pacentro, Italy. Each speaker detailed their on-the-ground efforts, highlighting both the challenges faced and the successes achieved in implementing sustainable and smart practices adapted to the specific needs of their communities.
The NES Ambassadors enriched the discussion with thoughtful reflections, emphasising the vital role of both human and institutional engagement in ensuring a successful transition. Luís Rocha from Portugal stressed the importance of involving stakeholders to truly build a sense of community. From Spain, Miguel Miñano Núñez highlighted the need for new skills and people to support the transition process. Antonio De Capite Mancini from Italy pointed out the diversity of rural areas, noting that significant differences exist even within the same country. Finally, Ciro Buonajuto, also from Italy, underscored the value of the NES initiative in helping rural areas integrate digitalisation into the workforce.
A standout moment of the event was the presentation of results by the NES Open Call winners: INWIRE, PUSH, and ACR SEIXO. These innovative initiatives offered concrete examples of how local actors are already leveraging the NES platform to drive meaningful change within their communities.
The NES Open Call funded forward-thinking solutions aimed at revitalising rural areas across the project’s pilot sites. These projects specifically addressed the green and digital transformation, focusing on empowering adults aged 45 and over, as well as supporting SMEs and micro-enterprises through socially innovative approaches. By operating within real-world contexts, the Open Call provided a unique opportunity to demonstrate how sustainable development can be achieved through practical, scalable solutions tailored to local needs.
The NES Webinar underscored the power of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and community engagement in achieving greener, smarter rural futures. It was a fruitful discussion with real impact, and a clear signal that rural areas are ready and eager for the transition to a sustainable digital economy.