Rural innovation, territorial enablers and obstacles. Lessons from experiences in Castilla y León (Spain)

Abstract

Rural innovation is a complex concept and an emerging area of interest in innovation theory and rural studies. The goal of the ‘Territorios Activos’ (Active Regions) project is to identify the factors that enable rural innovation through an examination of various rural innovation initiatives in the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León, Spain. Marked depopulation has left the rural areas in this region with an extremely low density, aging population; the high rates of dependency in such populations and difficulties in the provision of public services to remote areas have led to large intra-regional inequalities. These issues notwithstanding, in some rural areas, so-called rural innovators are engaged in initiatives to enhance rural habitability by providing opportunities to improve local social, economic and environmental conditions.

As part of the ‘Territorios Activos’ project, 24 interviews were carried out with people who, as individuals or as part of a collective, have initiated rural innovation projects. From these interviews it was possible to identify a range of territorial factors that either enable or hinder rural innovation. In this work we discuss each of the factors identified moving away from a focus on the demographic challenges to the viability of rural areas and towards a consideration of the processes of adaptation and improvement taking place in communities due to rural innovation. In this way we hope to offer some pointers to policy-makers concerning the most efficient ways to boost rural innovation in Castilla y León, Spain.