SHINE 2Europe presented the NewEcoSmart project at the 32nd Congress of the Portuguese Association for Regional Development (APDR), which took place from July 8 to 11, 2025, in Porto. The presentation was part of the thematic session on Regional Ecosystems of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The presentation entitled “Empowering Rural Communities for Sustainable Growth: The NewEcoSmart Approach” was given by Natália Machado, representing the authors Juliana Louceiro, Carina Dantas, Natália Machado and Inês Saavedra (SHINE 2Europe – Portugal), Lidia Parra (CTIC – Spain), Maddalena Illario (Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II – Italy) and Almudena Muñoz Puche (CETEM – Spain).
The article focused on the project’s approach to integrating local and regional stakeholders, exploring the processes of active involvement of communities and organisations in the pilot territories. This component generated particular interest among the session’s participants, who sought to better understand how this articulation was operationalised on the ground, as well as the facilitating factors and challenges identified.
The discussion around the communication also highlighted the importance of improving digital literacy in rural areas, the importance of collaborative and intergenerational dynamics, and the role of community-based initiatives in promoting a truly inclusive sustainable transition.
NewEcoSmart stands out as a concrete response to low levels of digital skills in rural areas and active ageing, promoting sustainable development and social inclusion in Europe’s most peripheral communities.