As an official Rural Thrive supporter, CORE will focus its contribution on quality employment and better opportunities for young people in rural and agricultural areas.
Led by the Horizon Europe project RURALITIES, Rural Thrive 2050 launched on 1 September 2026 and will run until February 2027. The international campaign connects rural communities, projects and organisations across Europe and Africa to increase the visibility of local innovation and encourage exchange across territories.
Local Voices. Shared Rural Futures.
The campaign is built around one simple idea: Local Voices. Shared Rural Futures. This principle places the knowledge, experiences and priorities of rural communities at the centre of its activities.
It will be put into practice through local events, workshops, webinars, storytelling and cross-project collaboration. These activities will focus on six areas of rural innovation:
- Agri-tech and precision farming
- Circular and bioeconomy
- Renewable energy
- Sustainable tourism
- Social and inclusive innovation
- Digital connectivity
Together, these themes reflect some of the main transitions affecting rural territories, including climate adaptation, changing food systems, digital inclusion, social cohesion and sustainable economic development.
RURALITIES: the project behind the campaign
RURALITIES is a Horizon Europe project developing a framework for rural expertise, learning and collaboration. It helps rural communities use knowledge, innovation and technology to respond to local climate, social and economic challenges.
Working through six place-based rural socio-ecological systems in Europe and a wider partnership with African organisations, the project combines learning hubs, Living Labs and capacity-building activities. This approach enables rural actors and institutions to develop and test solutions suited to the needs and characteristics of their territories.
Rural Thrive 2050 builds on this model by extending participation beyond the project’s pilot areas and inviting a broader range of rural actors to contribute their knowledge and perspectives.
Bringing rural youth employment into the conversation
CORE addresses the challenges young people face in accessing quality employment and building their future in rural and agricultural areas. The project brings together youth and agricultural organisations, research institutions and other rural stakeholders to strengthen knowledge and dialogue around rural youth employment.
As part of Rural Thrive 2050, CORE will contribute knowledge and resources emerging from the project, bringing quality employment and better opportunities for young people into wider discussions on rural innovation.
Participation in the supporter community will enable CORE to engage with organisations working in diverse local contexts across Europe and Africa. This exchange will create opportunities to explore common priorities, learn from complementary approaches and build connections around shared areas of interest.
Follow the campaign and take part
Rural Thrive 2050 welcomes participation from rural communities, organisations, researchers, local authorities, entrepreneurs, civil society actors, youth groups and anyone interested in the future of rural territories.
Throughout its six-month duration, people and organisations can follow campaign activities, take part in public events and online discussions, and contribute relevant experiences using the official hashtag #RuralThrive2050.