RuralGrowth - increasing competitiveness of SMEs in the rural visitor economy sector

Programme 2014 - 2020 Interreg Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-12-13

Description

Description (EN):

The innovation of SME’s in rural areas active in the visitor economy will bring a positive change in the rural socio-economic situation. This potential is covered by more than 30% of all SME’s settled in these rural areas. Regions in the project are struggling with scarce employment and business opportunities because of: 1. too strong reliance on traditional activities. 2. weak cross–fertilisation between relevant sectors and stakeholders 3. lack of tools to stimulate SME innovation. Opportunities for boosting rural economies are interlinked with the outstanding natural and cultural assets offering great potentials for attracting visitors. Crucial is the upgrading of hospitality sector SMEs and connected traditional rural activities. Boosting visitor economy is a means of producing economic benefit for sectors that even indirectly support tourism such as agriculture, processing industry and various services, resulting in creating new local jobs and infrastructure developments. Partners are engaged with the concept of slow tourism, an excellent driver for sustaining vivid local communities and preserving the integrity of the natural environment as well as cultural assets. A sustainable visitor economy not only facilitates the growth and competitiveness of local SMEs but also contributes to all aspects of sustainability. RG aims at improving policies related to SME development through fostering the uptake of green innovative solutions. It stimulates SME innovation support schemes and provides efficient capacity development for the private players of rural visitor economies. To efficiently enter new markets SME’s need to build cross-overs and new partnerships. The outputs (Action Plans) are linked to the development of SME innovation support schemes (novel products and services, branding and education programmes). Beneficiaries are the visitor economy related SME’s but also the inhabitants in general because of the expected socio-economic impact.

Achievements (EN):

In terms of activities, the project has organised a total of 115 policy learning events. It has also identified 21 good practices, produced 6 action plans and led to the increased capacity of 106 people. In terms of results, the project has succeeded in improving 11 regional development policies for a total amount of funds influenced of EUR 9,893,987. 92.

Website: https://www.interregeurope.eu/interreg-europe-2014-2020

Expected Results (EN):

The OVERALL OBJECTIVE of RuralGrowth (RG) is to improve policies related to better facilitation of small rural businesses within the visitor economy through stimulating the uptake of green innovative solutions which could serve as a launch-pad for SME competitiveness and a driver for sustainable development in rural regions involved in the project. Adoption of principles of slow tourism accompanied by mechanisms encouraging the application of eco-friendly products and services (e.g. eco-certification schemes), can create a high added value for rural visitor economies. Besides, improving ICT based systems and deploying novel marketing and distribution management tools is another important goal for these regions. Boosting entrepreneurship needs strong authority level commitment, therefore the FIRST SUB-OBJECTIVE of RG is to establish local and regional support schemes promoting entrepreneurship and innovative capacity development of SMEs operating in the visitor economy. Such schemes target improvement of business, digital and professional (e.g. hospitality) skills through providing structured support (e.g. trainings, setting up help desks and incubation) for enterprises, as well as deliver cross-sector funding opportunities also for start-ups. In rural regions, characterised by small settlements pattern, support schemes are most efficient if coordinated across municipalities, thus new types of horizontal and vertical cooperation frameworks of public administration players interlinked with a strong public-private partnership will be also fostered by RG. The SECOND SUB-OBJECTIVE is stimulating cooperation mechanisms among role-players of the visitor economy sector. It is crucial to create cooperative instead of competitive relationships between the individual SMEs through building trust-based bottom-up partnerships with the aim of diversifying as well as integrating offers and their promotion through joint branding and marketing (e.g. through direct sell mechanisms).

Expected Outputs (EN):

The most important outputs of RuralGrowth will be the 6 regional Action Plans targeting the improvement of the respective policy instruments related to SME competitiveness in the visitor economy sector in the rural regions involved. After assessing local needs and fine-tuning priorities, based on good policy practices transferred from other regions, smart, higher added value new projects will be generated and submitted under the Operational Programmes addressed, and through their implementation the performance of the respective 6 ERDF OPs will be improved. Activated business support tools will enhance the access of rural SMEs to finance and knowledge, improve entrepreneurs’ skills and innovation capacity, as well as boost bottom-up networking across private and public players within the leisure and hospitality industry and related sectors. Improved competences and capabilities of rural SMEs will enhance the quality of products & services and access to new domestic or international markets. This will result in generating new jobs and additional income-earning opportunities also for social groups disadvantageous on the labour market (people with low qualification, young people, women, elderly) and ultimately put remote rural regions on the right track to competitiveness. Uptaking the slow tourism concept, also to be manifested in eco-conscious investments, will help to build responsible rural visitor economies valorising local (human, natural, cultural) resources, a key for sustainable regional development. Greening the hospitality industry along with strengthening the interest and ownership of residents towards local assets will contribute to an improved natural quality, which, together with the revival of local traditions can further strengthen the attractiveness of these regions. Upgrading the rural visitor economy sectors is an excellent tool for empowering local communities and thus boosting endogenous development. The engagement of and continued dialogue with all relevant regional actors from different sectors in the framework of the local stakeholder groups will be a driver for integrating co-creation as business-as-usual practice into policy-making processes. Based on the participatory approach, more evidence-based regional development strategies responding to the factual needs of rural visitor economies can be formulated on the middle/long run. The project will also upgrade the work culture of public authorities, stimulating more coordinated horizontal and vertical cooperation which can result in setting up or improving (sub-)regional SME support schemes (ultimately even with creating new local/regional funds) sustaining a long-term competitiveness of rural economies. As a direct result, 120 people (staff & stakeholders) directly participating in the project and at least further 150 people through the institutional & stakeholder learning will become better equipped and more effective in implementing regional programmes and policies.

Thematic information

Rural and peripheral development SME and entrepreneurship

Specific Objective: Improve the implementation of regional development policies and programmes, in particular programmes for Investment for Growth and Jobs and, where relevant, ETC programmes, supporting SMEs in all stages of their life cycle to develop and achieve growth and engage in innovation

Thematic Objective: (03) enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs by:

Investment Priority: (03d) supporting the capacity of SMEs to grow in regional, national and international markets, and to engage in innovation processes

Partners (7)

Lead Partner: Nagykanizsa Megyei Jogú Város Önkormányzata

Address: Erzsébet square 7., 8800 Nagykanizsa, Hungary

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.nagykanizsa.hu

Total budget: EUR 478 339.00

ERDF budget: EUR 406 588.15

Savonlinnan Hankekehitys Oy

Name: Savonlinnan Hankekehitys Oy

Department: Tourism development

Address: Olavinkatu 27, 57130 Savonlinna, Finland

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.savonlinnanyrityspalvelut.fi

Total budget: EUR 301 997.00

ERDF budget: EUR 256 697.45

Consiliul Judetean Harghita

Name: Consiliul Judetean Harghita

Address: P-ta Libertatii nr.5, 530140 Miercurea Ciuc, Romania

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.harghitacounty.ro

Total budget: EUR 113 545.00

ERDF budget: EUR 96 513.25

Newcastle University

Name: Newcastle University

Department: Centre for Rural Economy (CRE)

Address: Newcastle University, Kings Road,, NE1 7RU Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk

Total budget: EUR 201 150.00

ERDF budget: EUR 170 977.50

DELTA 2000 - SOCIETA' CONSORTILE A R.L.

Name: DELTA 2000 - SOCIETA' CONSORTILE A R.L.

Address: Strada del Mezzano 10, 44020 Ostellato (Ferrara), Italy

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.deltaduemila.net

Total budget: EUR 228 227.00

ERDF budget: EUR 193 992.95

Ayuntamiento de Medina del Campo

Name: Ayuntamiento de Medina del Campo

Address: Plaza Mayor de la Hispanidad 1, 47400 Medina del Campo, Spain

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.ayto-medinadelcampo.es

Total budget: EUR 242 503.00

ERDF budget: EUR 206 127.55

Provincie Drenthe

Name: Provincie Drenthe

Department: Rural Development

Address: Postbus 122, NL-9400AC Assen, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.Drenthe.nl

Total budget: EUR 272 107.00

ERDF budget: EUR 231 290.95

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Savonlinna Development Services Ltd

RuralGrowth - increasing competitiveness of SMEs in the rural visitor economy sector

Partners and Projects info

Harghita County Council

RuralGrowth - increasing competitiveness of SMEs in the rural visitor economy sector

Partners and Projects info

Newcastle University

RuralGrowth - increasing competitiveness of SMEs in the rural visitor economy sector

Partners and Projects info

DELTA 2000 Soc. Cons. a r.l.

RuralGrowth - increasing competitiveness of SMEs in the rural visitor economy sector

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Medina del Campo

RuralGrowth - increasing competitiveness of SMEs in the rural visitor economy sector

Partners and Projects info

Province of Drenthe

RuralGrowth - increasing competitiveness of SMEs in the rural visitor economy sector

Partners and Projects info

Nagykanizsa Megyei Jogú Város Önkormányzata

RuralGrowth - increasing competitiveness of SMEs in the rural visitor economy sector

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): RuralGrowth - increasing competitiveness of SMEs in the rural visitor economy sector

Project acronym: RuralGrowth

Project start date: 2016-04-01

Project end date: 2020-09-30

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 837 868.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 562 187.80

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 562 187.80.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Reports

RuraI Growth Action Pla n Southwest Drenthe.

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2019-07-01

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan Local Government of Nagykanizsa

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan Harghita County Council

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2018-12-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan Medina del Campo

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan Delta 2000 - Po Delta Area

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan Savonlinna Development Services Ltd

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Brochures / magazines / manuals

1st version of Collection of Good practices

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2017-07-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Media releases / articles

Rural Growth media appearances 4th Semester

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2018-03-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Rural Growth media appearances 3rd semester

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2017-06-07

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Media appearances of Rural Growth project during Semester 1

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Boerhoorn en Waterlelie op eigen benen

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2016-11-23

Languages: nl

Attachment file: Download

Appearances in the social media on Facebook profile of PP4 DELTA 2000

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2016-12-01

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Il Delta del Po in Olanda a confronto con aree rurali d’Europa per la crescita del turismo rurale

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2016-11-29

Languages: it

Attachment file: Download

Il Delta del Po in Olanda per la crescita del turismo rurale

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2016-11-30

Languages: it

Attachment file: Download

Archeologia del territorio Coinvolte anche le scuole

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2016-12-01

Languages: it

Attachment file: Download

IL GAL DELTA 2000 IN OLANDA UN PROGETTO PER LE AREE RURA

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2016-12-01

Languages: it

Attachment file: Download

Il Delta del Po in Olanda a confronto con aree rurali d’Europa per la crescita del turismo rurale

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2016-12-02

Languages: it

Attachment file: Download

Il Delta del Po in Olanda a confronto con aree rurali d’Europa per la crescita del turismo rurale

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2016-11-29

Languages: it

Attachment file: Download

Europeanen slaan toeristische handen ineen

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2016-12-01

Languages: nl

Attachment file: Download

A helyi érintettek elsö találkozója a RuralGrowth projekt keretében

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: hu

Attachment file: Download

Prima întâlnire a grupului actorilor locali în cadrul proiectului Rural Growth

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: ro

Attachment file: Download

Medina del Campo IIeva su estrategia de desarrollo a Finlandia

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2017-03-23

Languages: es

Attachment file: Download

Medina del Campo prsenta en Finlandia su estrategia de desarrollo

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2017-03-23

Languages: es

Attachment file: Download

Medina recibirá 200.000 euros gracias al proyecto Rural Growth

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2017-06-30

Languages: es

Attachment file: Download

El proyecto Rural Growth se cita en Medina con la Ruta del Vino de Rueda

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2016-12-12

Languages: es

Attachment file: Download

Ennakkoluulottomien ideoiden ja rohkeuden uskotaan pitävän paikat asuttuina

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2017-02-09

Languages: fi

Attachment file: Download

TERVETULOA RG INTERREGIONAL MEETINGIN AVAUKSEEN TI 21.3. KLO 9

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2017-03-23

Languages: fi

Attachment file: Download

Media appearances of Rural Growth project during Semester 2

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-02

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Videos / films

RURAL FINAL 2

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-03

Document date: 2018-10-24

Languages: nl

Jornadas de Enoturismo en Amarante

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-03

Document date: 2017-03-21

Languages: es

Flyers

Harghita County Council – Lessons Learned

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-03

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Rural Gems of Muraland

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-03

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Southwest Drenthe - Lessons Learned

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-03

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Rural Growth Savonlinna

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-03

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

DELTA 2000 - Lezioni apprese

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-03

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Rural Gems of Medina del Campo

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-03

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

RuralGrowth

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: http://www.interregeurope.eu/RuralGrowth

Publication date: 2022-02-03

Document date: 2020-09-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 Interreg Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2023-10-31

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

258 / 258 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

2 084 / 2 085 (99.95%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme.

The financial data featured in keep.eu for this programme, it's projects and its partners is not exact and should be taken as a reference only.

Languages

Contact Form

RuralGrowth - increasing competitiveness of SMEs in the rural visitor economy sector

Description

Thematic information

Partners (7)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer