SHERPA

Short description of the project:

SHERPA is four-year project (2019-2023) funded by the EU programme for research and innovation Horizon 2020. The project aims to gather knowledge that contributes to the formulation of recommendations for future policies relevant to EU rural areas, by creating a science-society-policy interface which provides a hub for knowledge and policy. SHERPA will contribute to policy development in three main areas: (i) Provision of inputs for the design of future research policies, with a focus on the preparation of work programmes under Horizon Europe, (ii) Support for implementation of policies relevant to rural areas in the programming period 2021-2027; and (iii) Supporting for setting the direction of rural policy in the next programming period.

To achieve this, the project will: (i) Map the main drivers of future trends and dynamics of EU rural areas; (ii) Establish Multi-Actor Platforms (MAPs) as effective and sustainable Science-Society-Policy interfaces; (iii) Create a shared knowledge base relevant to EU rural policy by taking stock of results of past and ongoing research projects; (iv) Engage in a dialogue between citizens, researchers and policy-makers across EU territories; (v) Formulate recommendations linked to different scenarios for the development of modern rural policies at European, national and regional levels, as well as for the future rural research agenda.

Liaison with RURITAGE:

RURITAGE has a presentation at the SHERPA Annual conference on 30 November 2020 during the session on “Diversification of the rural economy” on the topic of ‘Rural regeneration through systemic heritage-led strategies’. More information about the event and the RURITAGE presentation is available at: https://rural-interfaces.eu/news-or-events/sherpa-annual-conference/

RURITAGE and SHERPA exchanged social media accounts to be regularly updated about new project results and upcoming activities of mutual interest.

Further networking activities will be developed.