Attending international research meetings is a rewarding experience – not only for the diversity of ideas and fresh perspectives they offer, but also for the opportunity to visit places that are actively living through the challenges we often address only in theory.
Hence, participating in the consortium meeting of the Horizon-funded RUSTIK project in Joensuu, Eastern Finland, from 3–5 June 2025, was an easy decision. Traveling by train from Helsinki to the border region of North Karelia, the signs pointing toward closed border crossings served as a stark reminder of the region’s current geopolitical and social challenges.
North Karelia, where Joensuu is located, is the easternmost region of continental Europe, directly bordering Russia. It is not only geographically remote but also sparsely populated – with a density of around 7.6 inhabitants per km² – and marked by a demographic profile that is both ageing and declining. In this sense, it is an ideal setting to host a workshop on demographic change [see more here].
Beyond the generous hospitality of our hosts at the University of Eastern Finland (yes, the sauna was a highlight), the meeting focused on reviewing progress across various project tasks. At the heart of the RUSTIK project are 14 Living Labs, which adopt a multi-actor, action-oriented approach to studying rural diversity and societal transformation across Europe.
Now in its third year, the project’s discussions centred on the Living Labs’ progress toward completing their data experiments, developing final results, identifying policy impacts, and planning next steps. A major benefit of gathering in person was the chance for Living Lab participants to exchange insights – sharing both their successes and the ongoing challenges in their work.
While plenary sessions provided an overview of the project’s current state, smaller group discussions allowed for deeper dives into the progress being made on RUSTIK’s core objectives, including:
- Better understanding of diversity and dynamics of rural areas, and of policy impact;
- Maintenance and continued novel data collection and analysis;
- Use of RUSTIK Information System by rural actors as information source;
- Use of new intervention design approaches for evidence-based strategies and initiatives;
- Improved policies/governance frameworks fostering transitions;
- Use of standardized model for (decentralized) Rural Proofing;
- Development of better/improved local strategies and initiatives.
These interactions help make clear what has been accomplished, what remains to be done, and how challenges might be addressed going forward. While many of the objectives have already been at least partially achieved, the coming months will be a critical period for all Work Packages (WP) – including Work Package 4, which focuses on integrating evidence and indicators into practical strategies and policy implementation. Here, EPRC plays a key role in supporting the lead partner of WP4, the University of Eastern Finland.
Currently, we are working closely with several Pilot Regions that are implementing Living Labs to explore how decentralised rural proofing could function in practice and where it may add value. While it is too early to share concrete outcomes, we look forward to providing a further update following the next RUSTIK consortium meeting, scheduled for Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire in November 2025.
Heidi Vironen, Senior Knowledge Exchange and Research Fellow, European Policies Research Centre, The University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
RUSTIK, currently in its third year of implementation, is a Horizon funded project that aims to enable policy makers to design better strategies, initiatives and policies that foster sustainability transitions of rural areas. As part of this, the project aims to contribute to an advanced understanding of different rural functionalities and characteristics as well as the potentials and challenges of rural areas.