Meeting social services challenges in rural areas 

Remote and rural areas often lack access to social services and to economic and social opportunities. Their often hard-to-reach location and isolation from urban settings can contribute to demographic changes, such as population ageing and depopulation.  

The European Social Network (ESN) has long focused on these trends. Research shows that the specific needs of rural populations require tailored solutions. In ESN’s 2025 report under the INSPIRE project, it was frequently mentioned in interviews with social services users that existing services in these areas often fail to address the diverse and specific needs of populations, including migrants, minorities, marginalised communities, older people, and people with disabilities. These gaps are a result of the exclusion of these groups from needs assessments and policy-making processes. When combined with the practical difficulties involved in reaching rural populations and a lack of joined-up data, the need for fresh approaches is clear. 

The rural-urban gap cannot be addressed by simply transferring urban solutions to rural areas. Instead, it requires locally tailored approaches developed in partnership with communities. 

Co-creating solutions with Smart Villages Labs 

One new approach garnering interest is Smart Village Labs. The concept aims to enhance the economic and social infrastructures and opportunities of rural areas by fostering knowledge, innovation, and digitalisation (Loewen & Streifeneder, 2025). Smart Villages are community-led initiatives in which local stakeholders design and implement innovative solutions, often supported by digital tools, to address rural challenges and improve the quality of life. The aim is for local people to improve their living conditions through a co-creation approach, working directly with end users and those who experience the challenges of rural life firsthand.  

INSPIRE aims to advance the sustainable and inclusive development of Europe’s rural areas by strengthening social well-being. To do so, it is developing an innovative categorisation that reflects the diversity of rural areas across Europe. In addition, the project establishes and operationalises seven “Smart Village Labs”, which function as collaborative spaces for experimentation, learning and local engagement.  

From ideas to co-created impact 

On 18-19 March, ESN visited one of the INSPIRE Project Smart Village Labs at the Technical University of Košice (TUKE) and learned firsthand how the project was progressing. Through the observational fieldwork developed in the project, it was found that in the Region of Kosice, people with disabilities lack access to inclusive and accessible leisure activities, particularly in peri-urban and rural zones. In schools, bullying, the absence of staff support, and inaccessible infrastructure were also preventing meaningful participation.  

To help address these issues, the Smart Village in Košice targets young people with disabilities for support. The initiative promotes the co-production of solutions with people with disabilities. Using technology to support daily life and enhance participation in society is central to the approach. 

The key priorities of this Smart Village are to: 

• Improve access to employment opportunities 

• Engage employers more actively 

• Create suitable and flexible working conditions 

• Strengthen cooperation with the creative sector 

• Use innovation, including AI, to improve daily life 

The Smart Village in Kosice comprises a group of young people with disabilities who are currently working with university professor Radoslav Delina on various AI tools. During the ESN visit, they showcased their work on an application designed to help people with disabilities and their families navigate cities and villages, particularly in relation to public transportation. They are also co-creating and developing AI tools to support labour market inclusion by leveraging their hobbies and turning them into employment opportunities. 

Inspiring rural areas to work for social inclusion 

The INSPIRE Project and the Smart Villages Labs are examples of how co-creation, when combined with innovation and local engagement, can generate practical and inclusive solutions to the realities of rural areas. They demonstrate that meaningful change begins with the communities themselves and offer a practical, impactful way forward to reduce rural exclusion on numerous measures.