Funded projects must:

• Develop and deploy practical, place-based digital applications aligned with PoliRuralPlus pilot-specific objectives
• Translate promising concepts into action, moving from ideation to implementation by funding pilot activities that apply advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), geographic information systems (GIS), or data-driven decision tools.
• Be designed to be interoperable with the PoliRuralPlus digital tools (Chapter 4) and technical frameworks, allowing for smooth integration and exchange of data if required, including licensing and communication compatibility.
• Demonstrate replicability and scalability, showing how proposed solutions could be adapted and applied across other regions or contexts in the EU.
• Support the principles and values of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) by promoting sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics in the development of rural-urban solutions.
• Ensure that all data collected during implementation is incorporated into PoliRuralPlus tools, including the JackDaw platform and related AI components, to enhance decision-making capabilities and generate stronger project-wide results.

Projects funded under the Develop Call are expected to deliver the following results:

• Operational digital applications tailored to pilot-specific rural-urban challenges, deployed and tested in real or near-real conditions within one or more PoliRuralPlus pilot regions.
• Demonstrated integration of advanced technologies (e.g. AI, ML, GIS, IoT, or data analytics) that provide tangible added value to rural-urban development processes.
• Interoperability with PoliRuralPlus digital tools (as described in Chapter 4), including successful data integration with the Jackdaw GeoAI Chatbot.
• Transferable methodologies or documentation outlining how the application can be replicated or scaled in other contexts or regions, ideally in the form of user guides, APIs, or open standards.
• Structured contribution of collected data into the PoliRuralPlus data ecosystem, enhancing the AI components and decision-support functionalities of the project.
• Evidence of stakeholder engagement, showing how end users (e.g. local authorities, SMEs, NGOs) contributed to and benefited from the application’s development and deployment.
• Visible alignment with New European Bauhaus (NEB) values, illustrated through design, accessibility, and inclusive stakeholder involvement.

In line with the overarching objectives of the PoliRuralPlus project, 9 distinct pilot areas have been identified to validate methodologies, enhance tools, and unearth practical policy innovations. These pilots serve as crucial testing grounds, where the project’s outcomes can be applied and refined to address diverse regional challenges and opportunities. Applicants are expected to align their proposals with the goals of the selected pilot area and must demonstrate how their activities contribute to at least one specific objective defined for that pilot.

• Pilot 1, situated in Ireland’s Monaghan County,
• Pilot 2, Slovakia’s pilot, covering the entire country
• Pilot 3, located in the region of Central Greece
• Pilot 4, Italian pilot situated in Apulia
• Pilot 5, in Finland, situated in the Mallusjoki rural district
• Pilot 6, the Bavaria-Czechia rural innovation network, defined by the Bohemian Forest (Šumava and Bayerischer Wald) and surrounding areas
• Pilot 7, Spanish pilot situated in the region of Sierra & Mancha Conquense
• Pilot 8 in Latvia’s Vidzeme Planning Region
• Pilot 9 in Malta