The European Commission is calling on rural municipalities to contribute to its Startup Village Mapping, an initiative designed to identify and connect innovation hotspots across Europe’s countryside.

By joining the mapping effort, communities can showcase their local initiatives, highlight the conditions that enable rural innovation, and gain visibility within a growing European network of Startup Villages.

Understanding how innovative entrepreneurship operates in rural areas is crucial for defining and implementing effective public and private sector initiatives. 

Share your experiences by completing the Commission’s questionnaire: European Startup Village Forum

A startup village is a place (or a network of small places) that embraces innovation and ambitious entrepreneurship as a way to unlock development potential and support wellbeing in rural areas. By combining local place, people, and purpose with external knowledge, resources, and markets, the Startup Village strives to provide favourable conditions for entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystems to flourish.