SIMRA workshop discusses how to shape social innovation for marginalised rural areas

"In four years, SIMRA will make a real difference on the ground in marginalised rural regions of Europe and beyond

How can social innovation change the face of marginalised rural areas in Europe and beyond? What are the most appropriate approaches, methods and tools that can be used for assessing social innovations? What does policy support to social innovation mean in different regional settings and contexts? These questions along with many others were at the heart of the first transdisciplinary workshop of the H2020-funded SIMRA (Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas) project, held on 26-28 October 2016 in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Endorsed by the Slovak presidency of the European Council, the workshop gathered Executive Board members of the SIMRA research consortium (consisting of 26 partners from 15 countries) as well as 20 members of the Social Innovation Think Tank (SITT), during three days of intense discussions covering five thematic areas. It also featured an invited lecture by Professor Susan Baker (Cardiff University, Wales).

Engagement of the SITT members since the beginning of SIMRA has been recognised as crucial for the creation of a transparent and inclusive approach to the framing of social innovation in marginalised rural areas.

Professor Maria Nijnik, principal research scientist at the James Hutton Institute's Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences group and SIMRA project coordinator, described the workshop as a success. "I strongly believe that in four years, SIMRA will make a real difference on the ground in marginalised rural regions of Europe and beyond, by developing their territorial capital and enhancing social innovation," she said.

The SIMRA project was launched in April 2016 and is a four-year project which seeks to unlock the potential growth of rural areas through an enhanced governance and social innovation. For more information visit the project website, follow SIMRA on Twitter or visit their Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement 677622.