D2.03.Rural Development Potential Maps
The following document is a strategic tool that identifies and illustrates the key resources, development opportunities, and innovative initiatives within a rural region. It combines socio-economic data, local knowledge, and real-life examples to show how rural assets can be transformed into entrepreneurial and sustainable growth. The map also highlights the skills and competences needed to implement these initiatives, supporting informed planning, education, and policy-making.
Discover the Rural Development Potential Maps
Mapping the Potential of Rural Regions
Rural Development Potential Maps are central to our strategy for promoting sustainable and inclusive growth in rural areas. These maps provide a clear and comprehensive overview of rural resources and development opportunities. By integrating local knowledge with data-driven analysis, they highlight how existing and emerging entrepreneurial and innovative initiatives can unlock the unique assets of rural regions.
Crucially, the maps also identify the key competencies in innovation and entrepreneurship required to harness these opportunities, helping to shape targeted educational content, strengthen local capacity, and guide skills development in line with real regional needs.
Each map highlights:
The socio-economic profile of the region, placing rural areas in a broader regional context
A visual presentation of how local resources connect with key development potentials and real-life initiatives
A catalogue of initiatives that demonstrate how to transform local resources into impactful action, but also clearly outline the entrepreneurial and innovation competencies required for their success.
Rural Development Potential Maps for ENGINE Regions
As part of the consortium’s research efforts to date, four comprehensive Rural Development Potential Maps have been developed for the regions of Małopolska, Münsterland, Foggia, and Alto Minho. Each map includes a socio-economic profile of the region and its rural areas, outlines local resources and development potentials, and features at least 15 entrepreneurial and innovative initiatives – both social and business-oriented – that leverage these potentials. Additionally, the maps identify the related competency needs in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The combined results of the four maps offer a valuable comparative resource, enabling the identification of patterns in entrepreneurship and innovation, examples of good practice, and recurring E&I competency needs. These insights will serve as the foundation for developing the educational modules within EduPack.
Created by team from:
Rural Development Potential Maps for ENGINE Regions
As part of the consortium’s research efforts to date, four comprehensive Rural Development Potential Maps have been developed for the regions of Małopolska, Münsterland, Foggia, and Alto Minho. Each map includes a socio-economic profile of the region and its rural areas, outlines local resources and development potentials, and features at least 15 entrepreneurial and innovative initiatives – both social and business-oriented – that leverage these potentials. Additionally, the maps identify the related competency needs in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The combined results of the four maps offer a valuable comparative resource, enabling the identification of patterns in entrepreneurship and innovation, examples of good practice, and recurring E&I competency needs. These insights will serve as the foundation for developing the educational modules within EduPack.
Created by team from:
Rural Development Potential Maps for ENGINE Regions
As part of the consortium’s research efforts to date, four comprehensive Rural Development Potential Maps have been developed for the regions of Małopolska, Münsterland, Foggia, and Alto Minho. Each map includes a socio-economic profile of the region and its rural areas, outlines local resources and development potentials, and features at least 15 entrepreneurial and innovative initiatives – both social and business-oriented – that leverage these potentials. Additionally, the maps identify the related competency needs in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The combined results of the four maps offer a valuable comparative resource, enabling the identification of patterns in entrepreneurship and innovation, examples of good practice, and recurring E&I competency needs. These insights will serve as the foundation for developing the educational modules within EduPack.
Created by team from:
Rural Development Potential Maps for ENGINE Regions
As part of the consortium’s research efforts to date, four comprehensive Rural Development Potential Maps have been developed for the regions of Małopolska, Münsterland, Foggia, and Alto Minho. Each map includes a socio-economic profile of the region and its rural areas, outlines local resources and development potentials, and features at least 15 entrepreneurial and innovative initiatives – both social and business-oriented – that leverage these potentials. Additionally, the maps identify the related competency needs in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The combined results of the four maps offer a valuable comparative resource, enabling the identification of patterns in entrepreneurship and innovation, examples of good practice, and recurring E&I competency needs. These insights will serve as the foundation for developing the educational modules within EduPack.
Created by team from:
Key Benefits of the Rural Development Potential Maps include:
Better alignment of education and training
They define the specific entrepreneurial and innovation-related competences required to bring initiatives to life. This enables the creation of targeted, relevant, and future-oriented education and training programs that respond to actual rural needs.
Clear identification of local strengths
They highlight available rural resources and their development potentials, helping regions understand what assets they already possess.
Support for strategic planning
The maps serve as tools for policymakers, educators, and local leaders to align development strategies with real opportunities.
Promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation
By showcasing inspiring initiatives, the maps encourage others to pursue similar paths, fostering a culture of innovation in rural areas.
Enhanced stakeholder collaboration
Developed through a combination of data analysis and stakeholder input, the maps foster dialogue between institutions, communities, and businesses.
Encouragement of knowledge sharing and replication
Highlighting best practices enables other regions to adapt successful initiatives to their own local contexts.
