The INSPIRE Project, a Horizon Europe initiative, is dedicated to transforming social inclusion, well-being, and prosperity across rural areas in Europe. Through a multidisciplinary approach combining cutting-edge computational tools and traditional data methods, INSPIRE tackles the challenges faced by rural populations, particularly those who are hard to reach. The project aims to identify the key drivers, risks, and trends in social inclusion to foster rural empowerment and ensure that no community is left behind.

Project Activities
INSPIRE is more than just a research project—it’s a transformative initiative designed to bring real-world change. Key activities include:

• Smart Village Labs: These are innovation hubs set up in seven pilot areas to promote collaboration across sectors like mobility, healthcare, housing, energy, and education. The labs work to strengthen local governance and support social inclusion efforts, while testing and scaling real-world solutions.
• Social Economy Solutions: INSPIRE provides evidence for the implementation of effective social economy practices, with a particular focus on improving service access and strengthening rural ecosystems.
• Services and Social Economy Atlas: ESN is leading the creation of this interactive tool, which allows users to search for best practices by sector, type of service, and end-user. The Atlas is a vital resource for policymakers and social service leaders aiming to replicate successful social empowerment models across rural Europe.
• Policy Dashboard and Replication Guidebook: These key outcomes will provide clear evidence-based guidelines for policymakers to enhance social inclusion and foster sustainable development in rural areas.