From 17 to 20 November 2025, the fifth consortium meeting of the EU Horizon project RUSTIK took place in Cheltenham, UK. RUSTIK aims to improve the understanding of rural transformation across Europe and to identify new pathways toward more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive rural regions. BAB was represented on site by Ingrid Machold, Karin Schroll, and Daria Ernst
At the heart of the project meeting were two intensive days during which four thematic workshops took place, all of which were prepared and led by BAB. These workshops are part of RUSTIK’s synthesis phase, where insights from the Living Labs are brought together, discussed, and further developed. The topics included socio-economic vitality with a focus on strengthening rural businesses, environmental and institutional transition with an emphasis on data tools, sustainable food and forestry systems, and social cohesion and inclusion. Each workshop provided space for in-depth exchanges between the Living Labs and contributed to developing practical outcomes for rural regions across Europe.
In addition to the workshops, coordination meetings of the work packages were held to align the next steps of the project synthesis. Another highlight of the programme was an excursion through Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire, two of the UK Living Lab regions. On the final day of the project meeting, a regional workshop in Gloucester with stakeholders from the UK concluded the event, bringing together perspectives from administration, practice, and civil society.
photos: © Morse, Aimee (CCRI)
