RUSTIK is a four-year transdisciplinary research project aiming to enable rural communities’ actors and policy makers to design better strategies, initiatives and policies fostering sustainability transitions of rural areas. In consideration of increasing social and ecological challenges, the project envisages an analysis of current adaption requirements and the support of effective rural policy-making processes. The project will contribute to an advanced understanding of different rural functionalities and characteristics as well as the potentials and challenges of rural areas.

The project focusses on co-creating process innovation on data collection, integration and analysis, and on improving governance and policy frameworks. RUSTIK will establish a network of 14 Living Labs in Pilot Regions across ten countries covered by the consortium. Each Living Lab will be co-convened by a research and a Pilot Region practice partner ensuring work balances both needs.

The project implementation period is 2022-2025. Total budget – 6 776 500€