From July 7 to 11, 2025, SERIGO project partners participated in the 30th Congress of the European Society for Rural Sociology (ESRS), held at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) in Latvia. Under the theme “Navigating Rural Transitions: Exploring Liveable Futures,” the congress invited participants to reflect on the dynamic transformations occurring in rural areas and to explore pathways toward just, sustainable, and inclusive futures.
The SERIGO project, dedicated to enhancing resilience, social inclusion, and well-being in rural Europe through the lens of the Social Economy (SE), was well represented throughout the event. The congress provided an ideal platform for SERIGO researchers to present their ongoing and planned work, connect with related initiatives, and engage in critical discussions about the role of SE in shaping the future of rural communities.
Highlighted contributions from the SERIGO team
A collaborative session titled “Building Liveable Rural Futures: Social and Solidarity Economy in the Light of Social and Climate Justice in Rural Areas” was co-organided by SERIGO partners Katrin Hofer and Somaye Latifi (BAB) and Marika Gruber (CUAS), together with Márta Kiss and Boldizsár Megyesi (HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences).
Held across two time slots, the session featured ten short presentations followed by World Café-style discussions, focusing on how SE and rural communities can be key drivers of social and climate justice. The session sparked lively and insightful exchanges, highlighting diverse research approaches across Europe.
During this session, the Austrian team presented their planned cross-case study titled “The Potential of the Social and Solidarity Economy to Enhance Social Inclusion: Lessons from Rural Austria.” In parallel, Poonam Pandey from the University of Vigo shared findings from her research on rural SE initiatives across Europe in a presentation titled “Social and Solidarity Economy for Rural Reinvigoration: A Study of Rural Initiatives in Europe.”
In another session titled “Rural Areas as Innovation Ecosystems: Transformative Strategies and Social Innovations,” Triin Kübra (Tallinn University) presented early findings from the Estonian case study under SERIGO project. Her talk, “Libraries as Innovation Hubs: Transforming Rural Communities in Estonia,” explored the evolving role of rural libraries in fostering local innovation and inclusion.
SERIGO is collecting and analysing empirical data from 24 case studies across 12 countries, focusing on social economy solutions implemented in local contexts.
Jolien Klok and Bettina Bock from Wageningen University also participated in the congress. Jolien Klok presented both SERIGO-related work and other research, while Bettina Bock led a session on “Gender Equality and the Liveability of Rural Futures,” contributing to SERIGO’s broader objective of addressing vulnerability and equity in rural development.
Advancing rural research through collaboration
The 30th ESRS Congress offered a valuable opportunity for SERIGO partners to strengthen their collaboration, share findings, and engage with a broader network of scholars and practitioners working on rural transitions. The event reinforced the significance of the Social Economy in creating inclusive, resilient, and sustainable rural futures.