The SIRR project is sought and led by Sotenäs Symbioscentrum.

Urbanisation forces rural areas to re-think in order to remain attractive for settlement and job-creation. There is a need to support local
companies, organisations and enthusiasts to ensure that they - along with municipalities, regions and knowledge actors - are given the
best opportunities to create rural sustainability, resilience and innovation.
The objective is Stronger, more resilient & sustainable rural areas with higher capacity of local innovation and smart specialisation. Local
cohesion is stronger & acts as alternative to urbanisation. Local hubs connect companies, associations and citizens to the regional
innovation eco-systems and green transition
SIRR will strengthen rural areas linkage to the regional innovation eco-systems and work with local cohesion to promote sustainability,
innovation and resilience - by using the Multi-Helix model. Local partners will use existing strategic platforms/development programmes as
hubs for innovation and carriers of identified local smart specialisation.
SIRR will challenge rural brain drain and develop strategies and networks to retain talent, entrepreneurial skills and increase rural
competitiveness. Target groups are SME:s, interest groups, local public authorities and larger enterprises. They will gain better access to
innovation support and increased innovation capacity by including more actors and human capital to local innovations.
Transnational cooperation is needed to achieve skilled development of sustainable rural areas. There will be a transnational perspective
around shared smart specialisations and models for rural growth.
SIRR will bring novel solutions to the hubs on the transfer to Multi-Helix model. Initiatives fostered at the hubs will be aided by knowledge
partners with skills regarding e.g. sustainability & circular economy. That, along with better innovation support, will connect rural partner
areas to EU:s Green deal with green transition, sustainable development and no place nor person left behind