1 September 2026 | 10:00–11:30 (WAT) / 11:00–12:30 (CET)
The RURALITIES project is delighted to invite organisations, projects, rural stakeholders and anyone passionate about the future of rural communities to the official online launch of Rural Thrive 2050.
Rural Thrive 2050 is an international EU–AU communication and engagement campaign designed to celebrate rural innovation, strengthen collaboration and amplify local voices across Europe and Africa. More than a communication campaign, Rural Thrive 2050 is a collaborative movement that connects people, organisations and initiatives working towards stronger, more resilient and more sustainable rural futures.
The launch event will officially mark the beginning of the campaign and provide participants with the opportunity to discover its vision, meet its first supporters and explore how they can become part of this growing international community.
What to Expect
During the event, participants will:
- Discover the vision, objectives and key themes of the Rural Thrive 2050 campaign.
- Learn more about the RURALITIES project and its six Systemic Innovation Model Sites (SIMSES).
- Meet the first cohort of Rural Thrive Supporters, bringing together organisations from across Europe and Africa committed to strengthening rural communities.
- Discover how each SIMSES plans to contribute to the campaign through local activities, storytelling and community engagement.
- Participate in an interactive session exploring what thriving rural futures mean and identifying opportunities for collaboration.
- Learn how organisations can get involved throughout the campaign through communication activities, webinars, local events, storytelling, podcasts, dissemination and knowledge exchange.
A detailed agenda and speaker information will be shared with registered participants closer to the event.
Become a Rural Thrive Supporter
Applications to become a Rural Thrive Supporter are still open.
We welcome applications from Horizon Europe and other EU-funded projects, research organisations, universities, NGOs, SMEs, Living Labs, local and regional authorities, rural networks, community organisations, and individuals that share our vision for thriving rural futures.
Supporters can contribute in many different ways, including by sharing stories and good practices, participating in webinars and podcasts, organising local events, promoting project results, collaborating on communication activities and helping amplify the campaign across their own networks.
The first cohort of Supporters will be officially recognised during the launch event, while the programme will remain open throughout the campaign, allowing new organisations to join at any time.
Event Information
- Date: Tuesday, 1 September 2026
- Time: 10:00–11:30 (WAT) / 11:00–12:30 (CET)
- Format: Online
- Registration: https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/ZUATQVaq
Join the Movement
Whether you are already working to strengthen rural communities or are looking for new opportunities to collaborate, Rural Thrive 2050 offers a platform to connect, exchange knowledge and inspire action across Europe and Africa.
Discover the Rural Thrive 2050 campaign:
https://www.ruralities-project.eu/join-the-movement/
Read the Open Call for Supporters:
https://www.ruralities-project.eu/open-call/
Apply to become a Rural Thrive Supporter:
https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/pnzX43HG
We look forward to welcoming you on 1 September as we officially launch Rural Thrive 2050 and begin building stronger rural futures together.
Local Voices. Shared Rural Futures.
