This case report seeks evidence of how strategic planning in rural areas may respond to complex demographic changes that would not have happened without the successful cooperation of three interested and relevant parties. The Albula region in the Graubünden Canton of Switzerland, Malung-Sälen Municipality in Dalarna County in Sweden, and Os Municipality in Innlandet County in Norway have proved to be the best cases we could hope for in a fast-moving project like this. We are thankful for their cooperation, and we thank all participants in the three cases for their willingness to contribute to the testing of the Rural Planning and Innovation Lab, RUPIL.

The three pilot cases have all embraced the framework for planning, strategies, and policymaking, where development is considered possible without (population) growth. As facilitators and researchers, we first and foremost have learned how actors in rural communities facing demographic challenges are eager to participate in co-developing new strategies and innovative solutions and inspiring collaboration with untraditional actors to meet the challenges.

As the reader will discover, the pilots have brought forward empirical data in abundance. On this basis, we have revised and adjusted the RUPIL model to facilitate and develop democratic and participatory strategic planning processes. It can be utilised in European regions experiencing demographic challenges such as shrinking.