RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Rural innovation, territorial enablers and obstacles. Lessons from experiences in Castilla y León (Spain)
A1 Khairullina, Elvira
A1 Pérez Eguiluz, Victor
A1 Lalana Soto, José Luis
A1 Navarro Martínez, David
A1 Castrillo Romón, María A.
K1 Rural innovation
K1 Territorial factors
K1 Qualitative methodologies to rural research
K1 Depopulated
K1 Low density
K1 Aging rural areas
K1 Castilla y León
K1 Inner rural Spain
K1 3329.05 Desarrollo Regional
AB 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 innovationthrough an examination of various rural innovation initiatives in the Autonomous Community of Castilla y Le´on,Spain. Marked depopulation has left the rural areas in this region with an extremely low density, aging popu-lation; the high rates of dependency in such populations and difficulties in the provision of public services toremote 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 toimprove local social, economic and environmental conditions.As part of the ‘Territorios Activos’ project, 24 interviews were carried out with people who, as individuals or aspart of a collective, have initiated rural innovation projects. From these interviews it was possible to identify arange of territorial factors that either enable or hinder rural innovation. In this work we discuss each of thefactors identified moving away from a focus on the demographic challenges to the viability of rural areas andtowards a consideration of the processes of adaptation and improvement taking place in communities due torural innovation. In this way we hope to offer some pointers to policy-makers concerning the most efficient waysto boost rural innovation in Castilla y Le´on, Spain.
PB Elsevier
SN 0743-0167
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/78212
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/78212
LA eng
NO Journal of Rural Studies, 2025, vol. 119, p. 103716
NO Producción Científica
DS UVaDOC
RD 24-oct-2025