Second meeting of the Rural Digitalisation Forum. Highlights from the RDF Scenario Planning Workshops

Between December 2021 and February 2022, the Rural Digitalisation Forum (RDF) of DESIRA (Digitisation: Economic and Social Impacts in Rural Areas) organised an EU scenario planning exercise. The activity was structured in two workshops, which took place on 7 December 2021 and 8 February 2022. Bringing together 30 stakeholders from different backgrounds (research, public authorities, SMEs, stakeholders’ organisations, members of National Rural Networks), the exercise was intended to create linkages between the 2031 scenarios developed by DESIRA Living Labs and the European Commission’s long-term vision for rural areas. Building on the existing approach (stronger, connected, more resilient rural areas that foster well-being, and prosperous rural areas), DESIRA aimed to add a fifth element: the vision for digitalisation of rural areas.