On 27 November 2025, INSPIRE’s Irish Pilot Leader, The Wheel, held its second warm-up event, following an initial community meet-up during a Walk and Talk with the Sanctuary Runners in Moate, Westmeath, earlier in the month.
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.
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.
White Research is an impact-focused research and consulting company that provides services to the public sector, private sector, academia and civil society organisations, across a wide variety of sectors. Headquartered in Brussels, White Research works with partners from across the world. WR has a 40+ member strong multidisciplinary team including engineers, social scientists, political scientists and much more. The company has a large portfolio of projects including 30+ ongoing projects across the EU and beyond, covering a wide range of disciplines: energy and environment, circular economy, political sciences, mobility, health, and food, to name a few.
White Research is the Project Coordinator, responsible for the overall quality management of INSPIRE. It also leads the stakeholder engagement and co-creation activities and is responsible for guiding the pilot partners to co-design and operate the pilot Smart Village Labs. Given its expertise, the company coordinates all monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment activities that will take place in the pilot areas of the project, whereas it will design and issue the INSPIRE Replication Guidebook and Toolkit, thus steering the project’s results to policy makers and end-users in other rural areas across Europe.
WEBSITE URL
white-research.eu
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white-research-sprl
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whiteresearch
The University of Groningen is a research university with a global outlook, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has had top priority for four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists. The Faculty of Spatial Sciences provides education and research within Geography, Demography and Spatial Planning. The research theme is Wellbeing, Innovation and Spatial Transformation. With two bachelor and seven master programmes, the faculty offers a wide range of courses to 1100 students. We are making places better together!
The RUG is responsible for setting up primary data collection through surveys and interviews in Work Package 1, and the analysis of the data obtained. Using the findings from the primary data collection, the RUG team will make use of various techniques from computational social sciences, such as digital ethnographies, spatial micro-simulation, and agent based modeling to map the relationship between social inclusion and social enterprises.
WEBSITE URL
rug.nl/frw
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faculty-of-spatial-sciences
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FRWRUG
INSTAGRAM
spatial_sciences_groningen
BLUESKY
frw-rug.bsky.social
The University of Barcelona (UB) was founded in 1450, and it is ranked within the top highest public universities in Spain. Degrees are offered in 73 different areas of teaching with numerous postgraduate and doctorate programs as well as continuing education courses. The UB manages an average 150 European projects per year, for an average amount of about 8,6 million euro a year. The University of Barcelona is a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) as an association of leading research-intensive universities that share the values of high-quality teaching within an environment of internationally competitive research. The members of the UB participating in the INSPIRE project belong to the Regional Quantitative Analysis Group (UB-AQR), which is located in the Department of Econometrics, Statistics and Applied Economics and is integrated in the Research Institute of Applied Economics (IREA) and the Barcelona School of Economics.
University of Barcelona is responsible for WP1, whose objective is to map the global and European measurement tools for social inclusion, as well as to offer an integrated definition of social exclusion in rural areas and set a list of indicators and a common framework for measuring social exclusion. Within this WP, the UB also leads tasks 1.4 (Micro-level: community and individual specificities through observation fieldwork) and 1.5 (Typology on social wellbeing, resilience and exclusion of European rural areas). As a result of the research made in WP1, the UB is responsible for two deliverables: Deliverable D1.2, titled “Drivers and factors of social exclusion in rural areas: macro-, meso-, and micro-level” and Deliverable D1.3 “Typology on social wellbeing, resilience and exclusion of European rural areas”, providing a report that presents the contents and structure of the typology, and giving its presentation in project webpage.
WEBSITE URL
web.ub.edu/en
ub.edu/aqr/
LINKEDIN
university-of-barcelona
INSTAGRAM
UniBarcelona
BLUESKY
unibarcelona.bsky.social
The South-East European Research Centre (SEERC) is a non-profit research centre of CITY College, University of York Europe Campus, established in Thessaloniki, Greece in 2004. SEERC conducts multidisciplinary research in Digital Transformation, Sustainability, and Well-Being & Inclusion. Mission:SEERC's mission is to support the stable and smooth development of South-East Europe by conducting pure and applied research throughout and for the region. To accomplish this, SEERC employs the existing research capacities of the University of York and CITY College by facilitating the collaboration between their research staff, and by developing multi-disciplinary networks of researchers from across South-East Europe.
SEERC is responsible for redefining and reconceptualizing social exclusion in rural areas. The team is responsible for mapping global and European tools for measuring social inclusion/exclusion, developing an integrated definition, and establishing indicators within a common framework. SEERC will identify the needs and challenges of vulnerable groups, examine future trends, and design an advanced typology for rural wellbeing. Additionally, it will provide policy recommendations and develop the Rural Social Inclusion Policy Dashboard, a user-friendly platform enabling users to assess social wellbeing, explore good practices, and access guidelines for sustainable, participatory implementation, aligned with Smart Villages principles..
WEBSITE URL
seerc.org/new/
LINKEDIN
south-east-european-research-centre-seerc
INSTAGRAM
seercorg
FACEBOOK
SOUTHEASTEUROPEANRESEARCHCENTRE.SEERC
The Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU), established in 1906, is a prominent educational institution that initially focused on agriculture. Over the years, CZU has expanded its areas of expertise to include natural resources management, environmental sciences, and engineering. Today, CZU offers a diverse range of programs across six faculties and is home to over 20,000 students, making it one of the largest universities in the Czech Republic. The university emphasizes both research and practical applications, fostering partnerships with academic institutions and industries across Europe and beyond. CZU aims to provide high-quality education and research while addressing current global challenges, such as climate change, sustainable agriculture, and food security.
CZU is responsible for the profiling of pilot territories (T 3.1) and has significant impact in implementing tasks from WPs 1, 2 and 4. For environmental dimensions of social inclusion, CZU explores how sustainable practices in rural areas can enhance social equity and community resilience, emphasizing the integration of marginalized groups. Furthermore, CZU drives capacity building in the Agro-Food sector by providing training, fostering innovation, and facilitating knowledge transfer to local stakeholders. This ensures the adoption of sustainable farming practices, strengthens value chains, and promotes socio-economic growth. Through these activities, CZU brings its expertise in agricultural sciences, environmental management, and rural development to advance the project's goals of sustainability and social inclusion.
WEBSITE URL
czu.cz/en
af.czu.cz/en
LINKEDIN
afczucz
FACEBOOK
af.czu.cz
INSTAGRAM
af.czu.cz
KU is an endowed, non-profit institution of higher education, located in İstanbul, Türkiye. Founded in 1993 by the Vehbi Koç Foundation, its mission is to produce the most capable graduates by providing a world-class education, advancing the frontiers of knowledge, and contributing to the benefit of Turkey and humanity. It is spread over a main campus, a separate university hospital campus, and two smaller locations in İstanbul. As of the 2024 report by the Higher Education Quality Council of Türkiye, KU is the top research university in Türkiye and leads research publications per faculty member per year, based on peer-reviewed journals indexed by the SCI, SSCI ve A&HCI. KU ranks among the top 400 globally in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings (351-400 band) and holds the 401st position in the latest QS World University Rankings.
KU facilitates the transferring and replication of the INSPIRE research and pilot methodologies to Turkish rural territories, as well as EU-associated countries in the South-Eastern periphery of the European Union (Western Balkans). These activities will contribute to the sustainability and post-project exploitation of the project’s assets.
WEBSITE URL
ku.edu.tr
LINKEDIN
kocuniversity
FACEBOOK
kocuniversity
INSTAGRAM
kocuniversity
YOUTUBE
KUKocUniversity
Social Economy Europe (SEE), founded in 2000, serves as the voice of the social economy in Europe, representing over 4.3 million enterprises and organizations through its diverse membership, which includes European groupings, national umbrella organizations and European networks. SEE focuses on advocating and lobbying for policies that support the social economic models, aligning closely with the European Union’s social goals. SEE advocates for the social economy, united around the values of: primacy of people and the social objective over capital, democratic governance, solidarity and the reinvestment of most profits to carry out sustainable development objectives.
SEE is the leader of WP2 ( Researching and benchmarking social empowerment services and social economy activities in rural Europe) given SEE expertise in the field of social economy. Also, SEE is the Task Leader of T2.2 given its well-known expertise in research analysis. Also, SEE's extensive network of social entrepreneurs across the EU provides critical support for replicating and expanding the project's economies of scale strategy to other rural ecosystems.
WEBSITE URL
socialeconomy.eu.org
LINKEDIN
social-economy-europe
FACEBOOK
socialeconomyeurope
INSTAGRAM
socialeconomyeu
The European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) is a non-profit European NGO in the disability support sector. We represent over 20,000 social services and their umbrella associations. Our main objective is to promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities through effective and high-quality service systems.
To maximise the benefits of our work in Brussels, we focus our attention on three key pillars:
1. Having an impact on European policy;
2. Staying informed and updating our members and partners regarding the latest developments at EU level;
3. Fostering ing innovation at all levels of service provision throughout Europe.
EASPD is a support partner in various project tasks, mainly through Ensuring the promotion and dissemination of the project’s actions and outcomes through its excessive network base (over 20,000 members); and by supporting the activities in the rural pilot areas which target persons with disabilities.
WEBSITE URL
easpd.eu
LINKEDIN
easpd-european-association-of-service-providers-for-persons-with-disabilities
FACEBOOK
easpdbrux
YOUTUBE
UCd48JhmUCdovkm_ELw5elAw
The European Social Network (ESN) represents the voice of public social services as employers, managers, funders, planners, deliverers, and inspectors of social services in Europe. ESN inspires social services leaders to improve the lives of people in the community through the development and exchange of knowledge to improve policy and practice in public social services, including all support and community-based services fighting poverty, promoting social inclusion and autonomy, child protection, protection of people with disabilities, care and support for older people, homeless people, as well as people and families in disadvantaged socio-economic situations.
ESN is responsible for mapping social services and initiatives that promote social empowerment in rural regions. ESN is leading two tasks. Under WP2, we are leading the task “Identifying and benchmarking broader social inclusion services, policies, and initiatives in rural Europe” and “Development of Services and Social Economy Atlas on Rural Empowerment”. We are responsible for 2 deliverables: D4 “An assessment of social inclusion services, policies, and initiatives in rural Europe”, and D7 “Services and Social Economy Atlas on Rural Empowerment”.
WEBSITE URL
esn-eu.org
LINKEDIN
european-social-network
YOUTUBE
ESNsocial
European Network of Migrant Women is a feminist secular migrant-women led platform of NGOs and individual women that advocates for the rights, freedoms and dignity of migrant, refugee and ethnic minority women and girls in Europe. Our membership ranges from grassroots service providers to NGOs focused on advocacy and research. We cover a diverse range of subjects in the area of human rights of migrant and refugee women, with economic empowerment, anti-discrimination and access to justice, and combating male violence against women and girls, being among our priorities.
WEBSITE URL
migrantwomennetwork.org
LINKEDIN
migrantwomeneurope
INSTAGRAM
migrantwomennetwork
FACEBOOK
migrantwomeneurope
YOUTUBE
enomw
PEDAL Consulting is a leading innovation management firm with over 12 years of experience in designing and implementing successful partnerships and cooperation models. Recognized as a top-performing SME, PEDAL has a proven track record of securing and delivering projects under Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, and COSME programs.
With a multinational team and an extensive network spanning the EU, Eurasia, Africa, MENA, South America, and the US, PEDAL provides exceptional support to public and private sector clients across industries and regions.
PEDAL Consulting oversees the pilot area in Košice, Slovakia, where it supports participants in the project’s labs in turning their social economy ideas into practical solutions. Its responsibilities include coordinating activities, providing expert guidance, facilitating Design Thinking workshops, organizing networking events and field visits, and developing deployment roadmaps to pave the way for small-scale demonstrations.
WEBSITE URL
pedal-consulting.eu/
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pedal-consulting
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pedal_consulting
FACEBOOK
pedal.consulting
YOUTUBE
pedalconsulting
The European Rural Development Network (ERDN), established in 2002, connects leading research centers specializing in rural development across Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It fosters collaboration through informal ties and social capital, enabling unique scientific contributions. ERDN's key objectives include promoting interdisciplinary networking, advancing knowledge transfer, and enhancing international cooperation in rural development and agriculture. By engaging policymakers and stakeholders, it supports sustainable development in rural areas. With over two decades of successful collaboration, ERDN bridges EU and non-EU countries through projects like Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe and initiatives like the Rural Pact. Through seminars, workshops, and research programs, ERDN strengthens connections between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.
The European Rural Development Network (ERDN) plays a vital role in the INSPIRE project, focusing on fostering sustainable and inclusive development in European rural areas. As a key beneficiary, ERDN is responsible for preparing comprehensive policy recommendations aimed at enhancing governance frameworks and promoting social inclusion in rural regions. It leads efforts to establish a robust Network of Interest, connecting diverse stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers to facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange. Furthermore, ERDN is tasked with creating synergies between INSPIRE and other related initiatives, maximizing the impact and coherence of project activities. Through these responsibilities, ERDN supports the development of innovative solutions such as "Smart Village Labs," advances social entrepreneurship, and strengthens stakeholder engagement, all of which align with the project's goals to improve access to high-quality social services and promote equitable rural development.
WEBSITE URL
erdn.eu
FACEBOOK
ERDN.EU
The Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (MedINA) aims to inspire people to recognise the value and connection between our natural and cultural heritage, and to work towards a just and sustainable future through research, working with communities, the exchange of ideas and knowledge, and networking in the Mediterranean and beyond.
MedINA serves as a pilot partner and is responsible for administering all research and implementation activities related to the two participating communities from Greece, those of Konitsa and Kythera. MedINA’s team is involved in all work packages and will also oversee the establishment of “Smart Village labs” in all communities.
WEBSITE URL
med-ina.org
LINKEDIN
mediterranean-institute-for-nature-and-anthropos
INSTAGRAM
medina_greece
FACEBOOK
Medinanatureculture
YOUTUBE
MedINA_Greece
LADAPT is a French non-profit association, recognized as a public utility, with a mission to support people with disabilities in their daily challenges, ensuring everyone can “Live together, all different, all equal” (2024-2030 Strategic Plan). With 116 establishments across nine regions, LADAPT provides care, education, vocational training, and social support to over 19,000 individuals annually. In 2023, its key areas of impact included:
● 2,944 individuals supported in social integration,
● 813 in education,
● 3,918 towards employment,
● and 4,974 receiving healthcare services.
Backed by 3,296 employees, 681 members, and 150 volunteers, LADAPT fosters innovative and tailored solutions to promote social and professional inclusion at every stage of life. For over 95 years, LADAPT has remained steadfast in its mission to empower people with disabilities and champion their rights for a more inclusive society.
LADAPT is one of the pilot partner. It will lead the experimentation of implementing a Smart village LAB in Bourgogne Franche Comté.
WEBSITE URL
ladapt.net
LINKEDIN
l'adapt
INSTAGRAM
ladapt
FACEBOOK
ladapt
The Wheel is Ireland’s national association of charities, community groups and social enterprises. As a representative voice, we provide leadership to the charity and community sector and we advocate on behalf of our growing community of members. As a supportive resource, we offer advice, training and other opportunities to people working or volunteering in the charity and community sector.
The Wheel are the WP4 leader (pilot innovation activities). The Irish pilot will focus on the Midland and Eastern Regions of Ireland.
WEBSITE URL
wheel.ie
FACEBOOK
The Wheel
INSTAGRAM
thewheelirl
LinkedIn
the-wheel
ROMONTANA was established in 2000 as a non-governmental, multi-sectoral organisation, with the aim of supporting the overall development of mountain areas in Romania. It has gained relevant expertise in developing policies and strategic measures for the mountain areas, facilitating tourism development, supporting mountain producers and farmers to organize and add value to their products and many other activities that contribute to the overall sustainable development of mountain communities, having experts and researchers among its personnel and establishing a wide range of partnerships with relevant stakeholders at national and international level. ROMONTANA aims to stimulate all sectors that influence the sustainable development of mountain communities in a strategic, integrated and long-term vision, in harmony with European policies, creating a framework for public debate and ensuring a correct and balanced information of the population. ROMONTANA develops and advances to the governmental sector and the political environment concrete proposals to improve legislation and develop strategies and actions.
Pilot partner in Romania.
WEBSITE URL
romontana.org
FACEBOOK
AsociatiaRoMontana
INSTAGRAM
romontana_asociatia
LinkedIn
asociația-romontana
Q-PLAN is an innovation and management consulting company based in Thessaloniki, Greece. It focuses on design, management and implementation of Research and Innovation projects as well as studies; support of private or public organisations of different types and sizes to (re)design, implement, audit and accredit/ certify their management systems and processes; and support services for businesses to make the most out of available funding and financing opportunities. Q-PLAN has been involved in over 70 EU-funded projects and policy studies.
WEBSITE URL
qplan-intl.gr
LINKEDIN
q-plan
FACEBOOK
QPlanInternational
YOUTUBE
Q-Plan
Founded in 2001, Arx.Net SA is a Greece-based SME powered by over 110 skilled software engineers, marketing specialists, and UI/UX experts. The company designs and develops cutting-edge software, applications, and services for Telecom, Video, Gaming, and Banking industries. A leader in cloud-based solutions, family security apps, cross-platform TV development, and end-to-end multi-platform service delivery, ARX.NET also operates white-label platforms for Telecom Service Providers, enabling them to differentiate, boost customer loyalty, and generate new revenue streams. With a strong focus on Research & Development, ARX.NET explores cloud services, big data, AI, mobile tech, security, customer insights, TV streaming, AR/VR, and IoT projects, driving continuous innovation in digital transformation and next-gen technology solutions.
As a key technical partner, ARX.NET contributes to the design and implementation of the Rural Social Inclusion Policy Dashboard, integrating data from territorial typologies, service atlases, and policy recommendations into a user-friendly platform. Additionally, ARX.NET supports the development of the Services and Social Economy Atlas on Rural Empowerment, which maps and categorizes social economy initiatives across rural Europe. The company also plays a crucial role in building and sustaining Smart Village Labs, facilitating user innovation, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of these community-driven hubs.
WEBSITE URL
arx.net