On November 14th and 15th, 2024, the Vojvodina Development Agency (RAV) proudly participated in the 1st Kick-off Meeting of the ADRURAL project. The meeting occurred at the Regional Union of Municipalities of the Ionian Islands in Corfu, Greece. This two-day event set the stage for the project’s successful implementation by:
- Presenting the vision and objectives of ADRURAL,
- Defining the work plan and expected outcomes,
- Discussing the roles of project partners, timelines, and overall schedule.
What is ADRURAL?
The ADRURAL project, part of the Interreg IPA ADRION program, focuses on enhancing the quality of life in rural communities across the Adriatic-Ionian region. By introducing innovative smart solutions, the project aims to develop a transnational cooperation network that empowers rural areas with sustainable growth and development models.
The initiative supports women, youth, and vulnerable groups, addressing critical social challenges in rural areas through transnational collaboration. The project encompasses five essential work packages:
- Knowledge exchange through a dedicated network,
- Testing innovative tools,
- Supporting local initiatives via a digital network,
- Long-term sustainable strategy planning,
- Ensuring the durability and transferability of results to other contexts.
The Development Agency of Vojvodina (RAV) actively participates in all phases, especially in the development of the ADRURAL network and the organization of events, as well as the implementation of pilot projects for the implementation of innovations in the rural communities of Vojvodina.
Project scope and partnersWith a budget of €1,757,463.87, ADRURAL will run for 36 months, from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2027.
The partnership includes:
- Regional Union of Municipalities of Ionian Islands (Lead Partner, Greece),
- “Reframe Food” (Greece),
- DIH “Agrifood Croatia” (Croatia),
- Central European Service for Cross-Border Initiatives Balkans (Serbia),
- Vojvodina Development Agency (Serbia),
- ITC – Innovation Technology Cluster Murska Sobota (Slovenia),
- Foundation for Sustainable Economic Development PREDA Plus (North Macedonia),
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis (Montenegro),
- Foundation for Innovation and Technology Development (Bosnia and Herzegovina),
- Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Craft, and Agriculture of Venice Rovigo (Italy).
ADRURAL stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing the unique challenges of rural development across diverse socio-cultural and geographic contexts.
