Two new Smart Village Labs were established in Konitsa and Kythera within the framework of the European INSPIRE project, with the support of MedINA and the active involvement of local communities.
Smart Village Labs are participatory co-creation spaces where citizens, professionals, researchers and local stakeholders collaborate to develop solutions tailored to the specific needs of each area.
- Konitsa – A Lab empowering women
In Konitsa, the participatory Lab “BRIDGE TO TOMORROW – Women of Konitsa – Empower. Create. Connect.” focuses on empowering women and strengthening their active participation in community life.
By fostering a supportive environment, the Lab aims to strengthen women’s agency, encouraging skills development, knowledge exchange and collaboration in collective initiatives. It also promotes self-expression, with a particular emphasis on creative activities that contribute to well-being, self-confidence and stronger social bonds.
The initiative contributes to reinforcing the role of women in the social and economic life of the area, while also highliting local assets, resources and opportunities.
The Lab brings together women from the local community, the Women’s Association of Konitsa “Myrtali”, and active citizens, with the support of local organisations and community groups.
- Kythera – Collective action for the revitalisation of the agricultural sector
In Kythera, the Lab “KYTHERIAN LAND – Our Land, Our Food” focuses on strengthening and revitalising the agricultural sector through collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The initiative brings together producers, agricultural cooperatives, agronomists, active citizens and local stakeholders, aiming to shape a collective scheme that enhances the sustainability and resilience of the local agricultural ecosystem, while expanding collaboration with local authorities and businesses.
The participatory Lab in Kythera responds to key challenges faced by the area, including the gradual decline of agricultural activity, limited access to technical support, low market presence of local products, weak cooperation among stakeholders, and the impacts of the climate crisis.
Through targeted actions to support local production and highlight the island’s natural wealth and the quality of its products, the Lab aspires to function as a hub for technical support, training and strategic planning. Among its key objectives is to raise awareness of the need for increased and more targeted support for the agricultural sector, both in Kythera and across island regions in Greece.
A model for participatory development
The initiative in Konitsa and Kythera demonstrates the importance of participatory approaches to local development, where knowledge, experience, and the active engagement of local communities act as key drivers of change.
Smart Village Labs stand as a living example of how communities can shape their own future when provided with the space, tools and support to collaborate. Through the INSPIRE project, they aim to serve as good practice examples, inspiring similar initiatives in rural and island areas.
INSPIRE supports social inclusion, well-being, and rural development through Smart Village Labs, which aim to establish more inclusive governance frameworks. INSPIRE is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
