Deadline: 7-May-25
The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is now accepting applications to the PEACEPLUS Programme, Investment Area 2.4 – Smart Towns and Villages (Second Call).
The Smart Towns and Villages Programme will provide greater access to and awareness of telecommunications. An area-based approach will be adopted to the creation of Smart Towns and Villages. This proven model utilises a social innovation-led approach to maximise the potential of ICT to deliver improved and sustainable social, economic and environmental outcomes in target areas; particularly those of a rural nature.
The PEACEPLUS Smart Towns and Villages Development Programme will:
- Create a more competitive, inclusive and balanced economy in the Programme Area;
- Enable more rural people to access current and future broadband infrastructure;
- Enable people living in rural communities to compete for higher value employment;
- Introduce more innovative solutions to service delivery through the creative use of ICT, particularly within rural areas where access to core services can be reduced;
- Create opportunities for rural innovation-led businesses to establish a more creative society where people can fulfil their potential; and
- Create more citizen friendly towns/villages centres through the transformation of existing capital assets; and increase cross-community and cross-border collaboration within target areas, in a manner that contributes to enhanced peace and reconciliation and the creation of a more cohesive society.
- Create rural communities where people want to live, work and be active in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way.
Theme
- Delivering Socio-Economic Regeneration and Transformation – Investment Area 2.4 Smart Towns and Villages
Objectives
- EU Specific Objective: Promoting the socioeconomic inclusion of marginalised communities, low-income households and disadvantaged groups, including people with special needs, through integrated actions, including housing and social services
- This objective will support economic and social development using Information Communication Technology (ICT) to deliver outcomes in target areas, particularly those of a rural nature, leading to the creation of a more cohesive, sustainable and environmentally responsible community.
- It will result in more citizens and communities accessing and utilising Information Communications Technology (ICT) to enhance social service delivery and economic development; and as such contribute to the creation of more a resilient, vibrant and prosperous Programme area.
Funding Information
- A total value of €17.1 million is available under this call.
Actions
- It is anticipated that the Programme will fund the following types of actions:
- Mobile digital hubs: The design and development of advanced mobile digital hubs, to ensure the widest possible opportunities for digital access for rural citizens and enterprises in particular;
- Mentoring programmes: The design and delivery of digital mentoring programmes to be delivered through the proposed mobile digital hubs in rural communities and businesses;
- Digital clusters: The development of digital clusters that can then develop opportunities to increase remote working and by so doing reduce the need for rural citizens to leave their communities and commute long distances to work; and
- Social enterprise/innovation-led projects: The development of social enterprise / innovation-led projects designed to apply advanced ICT to create new models of social service and economic development;
- Static digital hubs through the renovation of existing assets: The development of projects which will help transform existing assets within towns / village centres for citizen recreational, social and enterprise usage.
What does the Investment Area “Smart Towns and Villages” seek to achieve?
- The Smart Towns and Villages Programme will provide greater access to and awareness of telecommunications. An area-based approach will be adopted to the creation of Smart Towns and Villages. This proven model utilises a social innovation-led approach to maximise the potential of ICT to deliver improved and sustainable social, economic and environmental outcomes in target areas; particularly those of a rural nature.
- For the purposes of this call the definition of a Smart Town or Village is: A town, village or rural community where technology is used to enable, accelerate or support strategic goals such as economic growth, wellbeing, sustainability, environmental solutions, social inclusion and cross-border relationships.
- The programme will also incorporate measures for the transformation of vacant spaces and facilities within town and village centres in a sustainable and environmentally sensitive way for communal recreational and social usage.
Eligibility Criteria
- The following are eligible to apply:
- National, regional and local authorities;
- Regional and local development agencies, chambers of commerce;
- Universities, colleges, higher education, research institutions;
- Non-governmental organisations (NGOs);
- Sectoral agencies and business support organisations;
- Voluntary sector organisations;
- Other relevant public-like organisations contributing to the development of the programme area;
- Private sector – specifically micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies.
For more information, visit SEUPB.