This targeted analysis aims to deliver high quality research on strategic planning for shrinking rural areas, with a particular focus on Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Within this research, ESPON sets out to produce evidence on how strategic planning in rural areas should best respond to the multi-faceted phenomena of shrinking.

It is expected to work out evidence-based recommendations as well as a model to support strategic planning processes in European shrinking areas that may reveal and open new and alternative development paths for rural areas and citizens living there.

Innlandet County Authority (NO) is the Lead Stakeholder together with the: 

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (CH), 

County of Dalarna (SE) 

Euromontana (EU)

A call for tenders for this project is expected to be launched in 2023.