ROBUST commenced with the development of a conceptual framework and methodological approach by reviewing literature on rural-urban interactions and the development of key concepts, including smart development and network governance. The conceptual framework has been developed into an accessible, jargon-free and easy-to-read guide for practitioners and policy makers. A second step in the project included a rapid appraisal of: a) existing studies and data sets about rural-urban relations and b) governance arrangements and planning instruments. On the basis of these rapid appraisals, a synthesis report has been written that provides a compilation of key information on interactions and dependencies between rural, peri-urban and urban areas. This report also contains overviews on: a) the key features, strengths and weaknesses of contemporary governance, planning and management approaches, and b) indicators and criteria related to interactions and dependencies between rural, peri-urban and urban areas.
The third phase of the project focused on the exploration and analysis of rural-urban relations and synergies in five thematic Communities of Practice (CoPs) and across 11 Living Labs (LLs). This works is guided by a methodological framework, which provides: a case study approach and a clear set of research phases that operationalise the LL approach to examine rural-urban relations in specific localities; the CoP approach to examine rural-urban relations in specific thematic domains; a toolkit of co-production methods and approaches that LLs and CoPs can use to develop their innovation plans and subsequent work; and a description of an evaluation and monitoring approach. Within the empirical work specific attention is paid to two aspect:
1) Cross-sectoral interactions and their role in enhancing rural-urban synergies.
2) Effective governance arrangement for fostering rural-urban synergies.
The link between ROBUST and EU-level policies is being managed through the ROBUST “Policy Hub” (
https://www.purple-eu.org/home/robust/policy-hub/(opens in new window)) which is basically an ongoing, iterative exercise over the lifetime of the project, of amassing and collating relevant policy documents. Furthermore policy and governance topic papers based on the five Communities of Practice have been produced as well as a policy manifesto, summarizing the main findings of ROBUST and its relevance for EU policies, in particular the Long Term Vision on Rural Areas (LTRVA) and the Territorial Agenda 2030.
A variety of dissemination and communication activities have supported the ROBUST project including a dissemination strategy, website with Live Cases, social media channels, E-newsletter, project branding concept and a rural-urban learning hub, most of which can be found on the ROBUST website (www.rural-urban.eu).
One of the main conclusion of ROBUST is that through the innovations achieved in the 11 living labs and associated CoP research outputs, it is necessary to rethink the way economic development achieves well-being, particularly with a view to strengthening rural-urban linkages. Analysis sets out five foundational dimensions of such a well-being approach to socio-economic and spatial development:
• Services, which focus on availability, access to and quality of (social) services.
• Proximity, which focuses on reducing the social and / or spatial distance between providers/producers of services / goods and the customers / consumers of these services / goods.
• Circularity, which focuses on closing loops / cycles and enhancing the circular economy.
• Ecosystems, which focuses on services such as biodiversity preservation, water management, landscape maintenance, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Culture, which focuses on the role of culture and heritage in strengthening rural-urban relations.
The different dimensions are all important, but services are the basic essential foundation, given the intention to put well-being and welfare at the heart of socio-economic and socio-spatial development. This is why rural-urban linkages are important, as this can ensure basic services are accessible in rural places (and ‘liveable’ places) in exchange for contributing to the foundation of urban areas through other dimensions (ecosystems, circularity, etc.).
