Supporting the SMART-RURAL Scientific Communication
Damian Gornik (Communications Officer, Centre for Applied Bioscience Research (CABR)) recently participated in a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) as part of the SMART-RURAL COST...
Dr. Fatjon Cela, Short-Term Scientific Mission (26 April 2026 – 02 May 2026)
We are pleased to highlight the experience of Dr. Fatjon Cela (Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Italy), who completed a...
Beyond Digitalisation: From Industrial Districts to Innovation Ecosystems – BuildingLong-Term Collaboration for Smart Rural Development
Prepared by: Mr Ilija Mugosa, Center for Finance
Between 10 and 18 June 2026, I had the opportunity to undertake a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM)...
Beyond Efficiency: Power, Access and Resilience in Smart Rural Logistics
This SMART-RURAL STSM at UiT The Arctic University of Norway explored how digital coordination in rural logistics can reshape not only efficiency and access, but also power and dependence between actors. Through a systematic evidence review and conceptual analysis of 80 publications, the mission examined who controls critical access points such as platforms, payment systems, data interfaces and allocation mechanisms, and whether affected actors have realistic alternatives or safeguards. The findings highlight that resilient rural digitalisation depends not only on improved performance, but also on usable alternatives, appropriate infrastructure, transparent rules and enforceable governance protections.
Resilience Frameworks and Near Neighbour Countries: Findings from a SMART-RURAL STSM in Moldova and Romania
This SMART-RURAL STSM in Moldova and Romania explored rural resilience from a Near Neighbour Country perspective, examining technology adoption and existing resilience assessment frameworks. The work highlighted key gaps around institutional integration, traditional knowledge, multi-level assessment and the realities of post-socialist rural contexts, helping shape the development of more context-sensitive resilience indicators for SMART-RURAL.
Reconnecting Ethnobiological Research for Crisis and Recovery: My SMART-RURAL STSM at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Scientific collaboration is one of the most valuable ways to address today's complex environmental and societal challenges. Thanks to the support of the SMART-RURAL COST Action, I had the opportunity to undertake a one-week Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, hosted by Professor Renata Sõukand, one of Europe's leading ethnobiologists.
Returning to Ca' Foscari was particularly meaningful for me, as I completed my postdoctoral fellowship there five years ago. This STSM provided an opportunity not only to reconnect with colleagues but also to strengthen long-term collaborations and develop new research ideas addressing the resilience of rural communities in times of crisis.
