Supporting the inclusion, wellbeing, and growth of rural areas through multi-actor Smart Villages labs for enhanced governance frameworks The INSPIRE project (Horizon Europe, 2024–2027) aims to strengthen social inclusion, wellbeing, and sustainable development in European rural areas by co-developing innovative governance frameworks and Smart Villages labs. Within the consortium, the European Rural Development Network (ERDN) acts as a bridge between academic research and rural communities, ensuring that evidence-based insights inform both policy and practice. ERDN’s ϭϭϳ contribution focuses on field-based piloting and knowledge sharing across Central and Eastern Europe. In Poland, a pilot case in the Parczew district illustrates key vulnerabilities of rural populations: economic insecurity, limited access to healthcare, demographic aging, digital exclusion, weak transport infrastructure, and agricultural instability. Despite these challenges, communities demonstrate resilience through social cohesion, grassroots initiatives, reliance on public institutions, and intergenerational solidarity. Observational data and narrative research highlight both coping strategies and systemic barriers that hinder wellbeing and inclusion. ERDN integrates these findings into the broader INSPIRE framework by promoting territorial typologies, facilitating stakeholder dialogue in Smart Village labs, and contributing to the development of a Rural Social Inclusion Policy Dashboard. The network’s activities support capacity-building for local actors, strengthen social economy initiatives, and provide evidence for EU-level debates on the future of rural areas. The results not only inform the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas and the Rural Pact but also contribute to the transformation of food systems and inclusive governance models in Europe.

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