Pilots

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  Improving access to housing in the Communauté de communes du Guillestrois-Queyra (FR)

  The “Communauté de communes” of Guillestrois and Queyras is a French community of municipalities created in 2017, gathering 16 villages, with a population of more than 8200 inhabitants. It is characterized by the concentration of SGI’s around two central towns: Guillestre and Aiguilles. The area is also attractive for its natural beauty and wilderness, with a regional nature park, remote valleys/satellites at the foot of Mont Viso. Tourism is a strong feature of the region's economy in both winter and summer periods, with a lack of open services and activities in between seasons. Pilot Solutions 1) Developing the economic attractiveness of the territory through an improved access to housing - the aim is to create a community of professionals and connect them with local homeowners and residents to provide housing matchmaking solutions, through organization of housing events. 2) Community promotion by addressing the issue of demographic ageing and preventing the isolation of vulnerable groups (the elderly), particularly in winter, by creating a11 network of connected actors, sharing information, and organizing caring visits with the participation of young volunteers.  

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  Creating a Mobility Center Service in the Communauté de communes des Baronnies en Drôme Provençale (FR)

  The Communauté de communes des Baronnies en Drôme Provençale (Département de la Drôme, Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) test area was created in 2017, gathering 67 villages with 21660 inhabitants.  It's a sparsely populated area, with a pre-Alpine topography and remarkable landscapes. The region is characterized by the diversity of its produce : winegrowing, olive-growing and aromatic plants protected by several Protected Designations of Origin. The Baronnies  is also touristic region. Pilot activities: 1) Creating a Mobility Center Service, acting as an interface between users and public on collaborative transport. The Center will provide information on all the possibilities for getting around, depending on time and economic factors, and would link shared active and collaborative mobility via fluid intramodality, with a solidarity component for a fragile and poor public. 2) Development of a Mapping System to increase the visibility of the SGI’s

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  Green Point Living Lab in the Pomurje Region and and Podravje Region (SI)

  With an attractive location, bordering Austria in the north, Hungary in the east, and Croatia in the south, Pomurje region nurtures close ties with the neighboring countries in the fields of economy, development, and culture. It lies in the fifth European transport corridor, representing one of the most important transport routes in Europe. Modern railways and highways connect the region with Central European economic, transport, and logistics centers. Transport routes and infrastructure connections offer the opportunity for further investments in the field of industry, logistics, business zones associated service activities development, and nature- and people-related tourism. It is the most suitable area for food production in the country, therefore particular attention is given to stimulation of agricultural production. Similar to the entire Slovene agriculture, Pomurje agriculture is characterized by the contradiction between the socio-economic and land structure in the rural area. Very closely connected to food production are gastronomy and tourism, which are also significant sectors in the Pomurje region. The Green Point is a fully operational, largest, and most advanced regional short food supply chain, founded by farmers, involving more than 100 local farmers, food producers, and cooperatives, covering the process of production in a greenhouse and open-air fields, with logistics from own distribution center and different means of sales: gross sale, retail and online. The Green Point delivers food to citizens, public institutions (schools, kindergartens, elderly homes, hospitals, ...), and private organizations (HoReCa sector organizations). In 2023, Green Point SFSC became a Living lab, based on a Multi-Actor Approach involving input from the industry and technology providers, primary producers, food businesses, consumers, citizens, local authorities, and other actors, and promoted with a view to co-create innovative systemic solutions in support of food systems sustainability goals. The Green Point Living Lab implements innovative models and technologies relevant to the Smart villages & Rural development concepts, piloting and demonstrating technological (blockchain, big data, …), economic (circular economy, Food loss and waste, …), and social (consumer participation, public awareness, food sharing, food locality, …) innovations. Pilot Solutions: 1) Co-create a transnational community that will change both the practices and the perception of smart rural areas, through facilitating capacity building of the selected rural area, promoting existing digital tools and solutions, and developing innovative and interactive digital tools to promote the "smart transition" of Alpine areas, considering community and sustainability aspects. 2) Transfer some of the most successful practices from the past Smart Villages project, among which the practice from Pomurje region is the most popular in Slovenia.

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  Löffingen (DE) as a lighthouse test area

  The city of Löffingen counts 7672 inhabitants (2019) and is situated in the Black Forest area in Baden-Württemberg (Germany). Löffingen can be reached from Freiburg im Breisgau in about 50 km. The city has a dispersed settlement structure and consists of the high-altitude health resort Dittishausen and other five city areas namely Bachheim, Göschweiler, Reiselfingen, Seppenhofen and Unadingen. The area of the municipality is 8,803 ha, of which approx. 3,900 ha is forest and agricultural land. Löffingen was the pilot municipality of RVSO in the Interreg-V project SmartVillages. Within the framework of this project, several "smart" projects have already been implemented and a digital strategy has been drafted. That is why Löffingen, as an Lighthouse Test Area, is a role model for the Follower Test Area Elzach and Winden im Elztal. Pilot Solutions: Löffingen serves for the FTAs Elzach und Winden im Elztal as an example of a successful digitisation process. An exchange between the FTAs and Löffingen is to take place in the project.

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  Elzach (DE) to become more digital and smarter

  The city of Elzach counts 7332 inhabitants and is situated in the Elzvalley which is part of the Black Forest area in Baden-Württemberg. Elzach can be reached from Freiburg im Breisgau in about 30 km or by train via the Breisgau S-Bahn. The city has a dispersed settlement structure and consist of five city areas namely Elzach, Katzenmoos, Oberprechtal, Prechtal and Yach. While the northern side of the Elz-valley rises steeply, the southern side is much flatter. In the year 2018 around 2144 people commuted out and 1300 commuted in the city of Elzach. Tourism has gained in importance in the Elz Valley in the recent years. Elzach is awarded as a “climatic health resort” and offers sports and leisure activities. Elzach has over 80 clubs from the fields of music, art, sport, and culture. Voluntary commitment is strong and has a long tradition. Pilot Solutions: 1) A citizens' app will be developed to serve as a simple and user-friendly medium for communication between the city administration and citizens. Citizens will be able to use the app to submit enquiries or applications to the administration, e.g. via a digital registration for kindergarten and school places or a deficiency report. Conversely, the citizens' app will make it easier for the city administration to inform its citizens in a short, digital way. 2) Mobile youth work and services, aiming to provide young people with flexible services. This includes digital offers combined with physical spaces. In this way, young people are reached via digital channels and at the same time "non-virtual" meeting places are created.   6) Sensor technology for street greenery: Urban trees and street greenery need to be watered regularly to ensure that they are supplied with sufficient water, especially during periods of low rainfall and in times of climate change. With the help of sensors installed on the trees or green strips, irrigation will be controlled according to need. 7) Co-working space: Working from a distance, so-called remote work, has increased in recent years. Instead of commuting, people also work at home. In addition, co-working spaces are gaining in importance. A co-working space will be established in Elzach, for example on the upper floor of the Ladhof. A booking app will be used to facilitate administration.

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  Better communication and inter-municipal cooperation in Winden im Elztal (DE)

  The municipality of Winden im Elztal counts 2846 inhabitants and is situated in the Elzvalley which is part of the Black Forest area in Baden-Württemberg/Germany. Winden im Elztal can be reached from Freiburg im Breisgau in about 30 km or by train via the Breisgau S-Bahn. The municipality has a dispersed settlement structure and consist of two city parts namely Oberwinden und Niederwinden. While the northern side of the Elz-valley rises steeply, the southern side is much flatter. Most of the working population in Winden commutes to work in the surrounding towns and municipalities. Tourism has gained in importance in the Elz Vallay in recent years. Winden im Elztal is awarded as a "climatic health resort “and offers sports and leisure activities.

  Pilot Solutions:

  1) Multifunctional meeting place and civic center for citizens to host co-working and commercial activities, cultural events and learning and training activities.

  2) Neighborhood platform to disseminate regional information quickly and easily

  3) Training opportunities on digital media

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  Smart network to collect, store and visualize community data in Lienzer Talboden (AT)

  The district of East Tyrol belongs to the federal province of Tyrol and is characterized by its geographically remote location from North Tyrol. The district capital Lienz can be reached by car from the provincial capital Innsbruck in about three hours, whereby one must either pass through the Felbertauern tunnel or detour via neighboring South Tyrol. In the past, the Region Lienzer Talboden had to struggle with emigration. For this reason, measures for regional development are particularly important, also considering digitalization. Pilot Solutions: 1) Establish a LoRaWAN network with gateways and sensors to collect, store and visualize community data. The pilot solution will enable smart transition through real-time analysis of data collected from community buildings and enable cost-efficient work and provide a better basis for decision-makers.

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  Developing a smart and ecological connectivity in Lower Austria (AT)

  Lower Austria is a diverse region in Austria characterized by its rich landscapes, from the lush Danube River valleys to the rolling hills of the Weinviertel wine region and the picturesque Wachau Valley. The region faces challenges such as preserving its historic sites and natural beauty in the face of urbanization and modern development. The Vienna Woods provides a haven of greenery and recreational opportunities near the capital city of Vienna. Agriculture and viticulture thrive in the fertile plains, while sustainable land use practices are crucial to maintain a harmonious balance between economic growth and environmental preservation. The Lower Austrian Alps offer breathtaking mountain vistas and outdoor adventure, presenting both opportunities and challenges for responsible tourism and conservation. The TA is already heavily affected by the consequences of climate change. In addition to further promoting climate protection measures, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, they must learn to cope with changing climatic conditions. 

  Pilot solutions:

  1) Strengthening the KLAR! Network, through regular meetings providing a platform for sharing experiences and receiving inputs from speakers on current topics. A newsletter will inform KLAR! 10 Regions in Lower Austria: Waldviertler Kernland, Thayaland, Unteres Traisental & Fladnitztal, Bucklige Welt – Wechselland, Amstetten Nord, Amstetten Süd, Tullnerfeld OST, Gölsental, Südliches Weinviertel, Pielachtal, Kampseen, Waldviertler Hochland, Region Horn, Retzer Land, Wagram.

  2) Videos: "What is Climate Change Adaptation?" - introductory explainer videos will be created to provide the target audience with a clear understanding of climate change adaptation in Lower Austria 3) Best Practice Examples, to showcase successful climate change adaptation initiatives in Lower Austria, encompassing a wide range of areas and aspects of climate change adaptation 4) Project Implementation - Climate-Fit action guides present successful climate adaptation project implementations in KLAR! regions.  

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  Smart mobility and smart economy workshops to face demographic challenges in the Region Luzerne West

  The Region Luzerne West is a rural area with different valleys around a big hillside called “Napf”. It is consisted of several small villages which face demographic challenges, as well as challenges in terms of mobility and use of empty stores in the village centers. Napfbergland is a beautiful, turistical area. During weekends people from nearby cities come to the area to enjoy the nature and beauty of the Napf. But they usually they get there by car which leads to roads blockages, noise pollution, and many visitors. Pilot solutions:

  1) Organization of workshops with a focus on smart mobility – a set of workshops to achieve a smarter mobility in Napfbergland (Romoos, Doppleschwand, Luthern, Menznau, Hergiswil bei Willisau communities), with the participation of Napfbergland Association, will be delivered.

  2) Organization of workshops with a focus on smart economy – a set of workshops in the 27 communities in the Region Luzerne West will be organized to achieve a smarter economy in their village centers.

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  Developing technologies to strengthen local Alpine identity in the Gran Paradiso National Park and Mont Avic Regional Park (IT)

  As the Aosta Valley is a mountainous region, it is difficult to provide adequate services and to maintain the population in the valleys, especially in the small villages, and to foster their economic development, particularly in tourism. New technologies offer an opportunity for the local development of territories, to populate/repopulate mountain areas through new jobs and professions that can be carried out remotely. This has given rise to the phenomena of remote work and digital nomads. A further possibility is offered by technologies to develop the active participation of the population through citizen science and other e-citizenship activities. Finally, technology can contribute to the digital transformation of local culture and identity by transmitting and at the same time transmuting local knowledge. Pilot Solutions: 1) "Workcation" for digital nomads: exploring new interactions between work and holiday time for workers and tourists, developing a concept for a new model of hospitality in natural and protected areas that favors the creation of new potential digital workers and the development of related coworking spaces 2) Digital technologies to promote local products and their authenticity: explore the interaction between tourists/habitants/producers, promote and communicate local and protected area products, exploiting digital technologies for the promotion, tracking and creation of short supply chains 3) Active involvement in the protection of natural resources and Participatory Science: exploring the interaction between natural areas and their inhabitants to involve them in biodiversity protection and awareness-raising, e.g. through initiatives using apps for biodiversity monitoring (e.g. iNaturalist) 4) Community and cultural heritage: exploring the possible interactions between older and newer generations to defend and hand down the cultural heritage of communities through digitization supporting the elderly population in using new digital technologies and access to PA services 5) Digitally connected shared spaces: to explore the possible interactions between physical and digital spaces and how it is possible to provide the population with places where on the one hand they can receive support for services and practices in digital mode, and on the other hand these places can also be points where innovative practices can be implemented.

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  Smart environment and agricolture: a hub for training and educational initiatives in the Municipality of Cogorno (IT)

  The lighthouse test area is the municipality of Cogorno which is one of the access gates to Fontanabuona Valley (Follower Test area). The “Val Fontanabuona” is one of the main valleys of the Metropolitan City of Genoa, it includes 15 municipalities, occupies a surface of 249,37 km² with a population of 28.844 inhabitants. The municipality of Cogorno extends for about 9 km2, gathers 5.689 inhabitants and is 3 km from the sea. It is a municipality of intermediate size in a suburban area characterized by a more urbanized part in the flat area and a hilly area with a more rural vocation.

  Fontanabuona Valley is known for the artisan activities linked to the carpentry sector, as well as for the extraction and processing of slate. In the lower valley near the river, where large-scale distribution companies, industries in the agri-food and floricultural sectors are found. There are very diversified companies, but solid and largely innovative, some at the cutting edge, others are niche in the craft sector. The hilly areas of the valley has agricultural activities, a traditional weaving company and outdoor tourism activities.

  Pilot solutions:

  1) Pilot solutions will be developed by the stakeholder group during the meetings that are taking place and will take place in the future. Currently, some topics have been identified on which activities will be carried out in the lighthouse test area through the involvement of the follower test areas.The themes are climate change, tourism and school orientation.

   

  2) The “Water Portal”, a recently established eco-sustainable structure, in the Municipality of Cogorno, will become a hub for training and educational initiatives. It will facilitate programs about agricultural, environmental, and tourism research, including digital tools for an enhanced learning experience.