The objective is to analyse the state of innovation and entrepreneurship at rural areas at European level and also promote there innovation and entrepreneurship, based on a study about Startup Villages and The Long Term Vision, aligned with the concepts supported by the European Commission.
Note: Potential definition of startup village:
It is related to villages willing to execute activities helping themselves to become stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous areas and communities, having approximately a population equal or lower than 15.000 inhabitants.
Such actions should be orientated to create new opportunities to attract innovative businesses (startups, innovative SMEs, digital nomads, innovators, etc.), provide access to quality jobs, promote new and improved skills, ensure better infrastructure and services, and leverage the role of sustainable agriculture and diversified economic activities.
Such villages must have a coworking space as a tool to promote the above actions where relevant aspects related to innovation and entrepreneurship should be taken into account. These relevant aspects include, among others:
– The number of startups and entrepreneurs associated to the Startup Village.
– The innovation and entrepreneurship activities (eg. events, matchmaking, etc) carried out at it.
– Access to connectivity (fiber).
– The participation of the Startup Village and its entrepreneurs/startups taking part in events and other activities related to entrepreneurship and innovation.
– The number of activities organised by the Startup Village.
– Description of the coworking space (a photo and a description of the coworking space, etc.)
To participate, each Startup Village should get registered and allow the project to use the information for this study and to be included and shown in the repository. This information will refer to:
Relevant aspects related to innovation and entrepreneurship:
– The prospects and problems of startups in European rural areas and in the Startup Villages which currently exist.
– The number of startups and entrepreneurs associated to each Startup Village.
– The innovation and entrepreneurship activities (eg. events, matchmaking, etc) carried out at them.
– Access to connectivity (fiber).
– The participation of the Startup Village and its entrepreneurs/startups taking part in events and other activities related to entrepreneurship and innovation.
– The number of activities organised by the Startup Villages.
– Description of the coworking space (a photo and a description of the coworking space etc.)
General aspect of the village:
– The number of inhabitants (maximum of 15.000 inhabitants approx.).
– A brief description of the village and its commercial/business/entrepreneurial activity.
– A photo of the village and the coworking space must be inserted, as well as a description of the latter.
– Call for startup villages and Registration – NEW DEADLINE : 21st February ‘22.
– Winner announcement: end of February ‘22.
– Execution: Starting March ‘22 and ending November ‘22.
(Major awards) Six awards of 20.000 € each (taxes included) + (Minor awards) Three awards of 10.000 € each (taxes included), consisting of covering the salary of 1 employee to run the coworking space of the startup village (to ensure the operavility of the coworking space and attract startups, digital nomads, etc.), during a period of at least 12 months. (Every 2 months the employee will have to send to the organisation a report of the improvement made). The award also covers at least 2 travelling cost to attend the launch event.
Ten awards of startup OLÉ ’22 package. Each package includes: Networking Platform / APP | Round Tables | Matchmaking | Pitch Competition | Virtual Fair / Stand | Global Visibility | Networking Cocktails (for 2 persons of each team) | And much more… As well as the above award, it also covers the traveling cost to attend the event in Salamanca, Spain.