Conference Agenda

Quality data and comprehensive information are essential for effective policymaking, particularly in rural areas where shaping socio-economic transition depends on an accurate understanding of local dynamics. This presentation will showcase a data experiment conducted in the Living Lab Nockregion-Oberkärnten (Austria) as part of the Horizon-Europe project RUSTIK, with a particular focus on the methods and data, and their opportunities, and challenges. The experiment focused on enhancing the visibility of Small Rural Businesses (SRBs) in regional development processes, as they are seen as relevant contributors to regional resilience and development. Therefore, spatial data on business locations was collected, business and employment statistics analysed, and SRB needs and challenges assessed through an online survey – to provide a comprehensive overview of the SRB landscape. Austria lacks comprehensive, up-to-date and freely accessible spatial business data, an initial solution involved using crowdsourced data from Google Maps and OpenStreetMap. The verification revealed that the completeness was not sufficient for a representation of the economic activities in the region. This led to an adaptation and an iterative multi-method approach, integrating spatial data from multiple sources. For overcoming data challenges like inconsistencies, gaps and differing classifications, a complex consolidation process was implemented and complemented by a series of mapping workshops with local decision makers. These mapping workshops were central to the consolidation process, serving as a participatory data validation and enrichment mechanism. The workshops provided critical local insights, ensuring the relevance and accuracy of the dataset while fostering trust and engagement among stakeholders. Despite these efforts, challenges remain: the data represents only a snapshot in time, requiring ongoing efforts for long-term benefits. The experiment also showed that data generation alone is insufficient – a supportive policy framework is needed to turn insights into action. The final output includes a detailed database and an interactive Leaflet-map of businesses, an accessible tool for regional decision-makers to support evidence-based policymaking. Beyond improving data accuracy, the participatory approach also raised awareness of SRBs’ importance for regional development. This iterative process illustrates how data can serve as a catalyst for building collaborative frameworks and consistent decision-making processes tailored to local needs.

The Osrednjeslovenska Living Lab’s (LL) goal is to improve the well-being of marginalized populations in rural areas, while addressing the challenge of food loss and waste (FLW). The research aims to answer how different approaches to food redistribution and donation impact subjective well-being, assess costs and benefits of redistribution, and explore the integration of quantitative and qualitative data for informed policymaking. Utilizing a heuristic approach guided by the Theory of Change framework, the LL seeks to provide a data tool that supports initiatives aiming to enhance social inclusion while simultaneously reducing FLW.

The data experiment utilized Etri, a social cooperative, as the primary data source and proof of concept. Etri's operations include redistributing surplus food to vulnerable groups in a canteen, while maintaining employment opportunities for marginalized individuals. The living lab approach integrates social metrics research and data-driven innovation. Through surveys, direct observations, and the analysis of logistics data, we gathered comprehensive insights into the operational dynamics and societal impact of this initiative. With the data gathered, we are designing a system dynamics economic model that combines quantitative data on surplus food and processing logistics with insights gathered through surveys. In this way, the model will serve to make a connection between the costs and social impact associated with donated meals. The model's robustness was preliminarily confirmed through iterative validation against real-world historic data, though the range of its applicability remains constrained by data availability.

Next steps include refining the model with additional data, applying it to different regions and approaches to redistribution, and scaling up through policy integration. The aim of the LL is to offer this model as a tool for enabling policymakers and social entrepreneurs to evaluate the feasibility and funding needs for new initiatives that would adopt this kind of framework. The specific approach to food redistribution was shown to improve recipients' well-being and foster community cohesion. Moreover, the case study initiative demonstrated the potential to contribute to broader policy goals, including circular economy practices and the European Green Deal, by mitigating the environmental impact of food production through reducing FLW.

On the basis of practical experience gathered in the project entitled Rural Sustainability Transitions through Integration of Knowledge for improved policy processes (RUSTIK), the authors of this article posed the question of what challenges accompany the implementation of the living lab approach to rural studies, and what new opportunities it provides. The information it yields is based on the practical knowledge of the residents, entrepreneurs and various institutions operating in the study area, which is a feature of most social surveys. However, the novelty of the aforementioned approach lies in the inclusion of the participants in the study (‘bottom-up’ information) already at the stage of problem identification, their active contribution to the research questions, which corresponds to the needs of the area in question to the greatest extent possible. The approach has been previously applied in urban areas and is more widely known as Urban Living Labs. Its application in rural areas, specific for instance due to the greater role of informal relationships and tacit knowledge, is currently a sort of methodological experiment.

In an attempt to answer the question posed, the authors took a deeper insight into the process of collecting information in the aforementioned project by implementing the living labs approach within one of 14 so-called Pilot Regions that correspond to broadly defined Functional Rural Areas (FRAs) dispersed across 10 countries. The selected case is part of the so-called inner-peripheries of Poland, a socially problematic area, one that has been struggling with the consequences of economic restructuring since the beginning of the transition period. This example will be used to present a systematic approach to information gathering within the Living Lab, based on:

• a preliminary study of the scientific literature as well as the planning and strategic documents relating to the development of the study area;
• qualitative data on the development problem of the FRA under study and its potential solution, provided directly by all Living Lab participants;
• qualitative, quantitative and spatial data on the scale of the problem and the conditions for implementing the proposed solutions, obtained via the methods of social studies, carried out using various networks of local informal relations, ;
• data processed to obtain synthetic information, using statistical methods and a cartographic method of research.

In the paper, the authors address, inter alia, the difference between the terms of data, information and knowledge, the concept of methodological triangulation and, the definition of FRA.

Living Lab Zaječar District aims to contribute to the socio-economic transition of the region by promoting short food supply chains (SFSCs) that connect local farmers with the growing demand for food in the tourism sector. This policy experiment is driven by the recognition that, despite the rapid growth in food consumption fueled by tourism, local food producers remain underrepresented in the offerings of local restaurants and accommodation facilities due to a fragmented and poorly organized supply chain.

The policy experiment seeks to provide empirical evidence for designing and implementing place-based, cross-sectoral strategies for the municipalities involved and beyond. By doing so, it aims to build local partnerships, create new employment opportunities across sectors such as agriculture, logistics, retail, and manufacturing, and foster the development of innovative tourism offerings. This initiative will enhance the region’s visibility on the tourism map, allowing local farmers to benefit from the process.

The research approach combines web scraping with survey data collected from restaurant operators (hotels, restaurants, and households offering bed-and-breakfast services), farmers, and small and medium enterprises in food processing via the Maptionnaire platform, as well as Social Network Analysis (SNA). Each questionnaire contained a consistent set of questions, enabling cross-group comparisons of attitudes among food chain actors regarding cooperation drivers, challenges, and needs. This multifaceted approach enables an in-depth understanding of key SFSC features, such as the spatial distribution of producers and suppliers, product flows, and the interconnections among actors. SNA was used to identify key nodes - actors most integrated into the local food system and critical to facilitating interactions between sellers and buyers.

The results suggest that with its adaptable framework, this approach can extend beyond the food sector, offering a valuable model for analyzing supply chains in other industries. It has the potential to be further enriched with additional variables, such as sustainability metrics, seasonal demand patterns, or consumer feedback mechanisms. Incorporating these elements would provide municipalities with deeper, more comprehensive insights across various economic sectors, enabling them to design nuanced, sector-specific interventions.