Rural areas across the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) face persistent challenges such as population decline, limited economic diversification, changes in business models, the rapid development and diversity of digital solutions. The mobility of work forms and due to the rise of remote work has increased interest in rural living. Enhancing resilience in these communities is crucial, and innovative solutions are needed to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas.

The primary challenge addressed by the eRural Resilience project is the underdevelopment of bio-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas around the Baltic Sea Region. These businesses often lack the competence how to convert renewable biological resources into higher valued products, but the limited local market is not big enough in clients. So, this new bio-businesses promotion has to be linked to digitalization, with the focus of covering urban or international markets.

The eRural Resilience project offers a solution - a comprehensive approach to support the development of e-bio-businesses in rural areas. It provides local authorities and business support organizations with tools and methodologies to enhance digital competences, digitalization development and e-bio-product launching among SMEs. We develop the following tools:

• Competence Profile for Business Support Organisations. It describes the required skills and competences that the institutions must gather to cover the required knowledge to support the businesses in their transition to bio-businesses and e-businesses. Four main competences (with 15 sub-competencies) defined: Business and Management, Digital Know-How, Biological Production and Sustainability, Networking.
• Methodology for Assessment of e-Bio-Business Supporters with online tool based on the competence profile. The Methodology covers the process to follow in the evaluation of institutions current resources, the identification of necessities, and the proposal of resources to be invested in terms of competences, staff, equipment etc.
• Methodology for Supporting e-Bio-Business Launching. The methodology covers the itinerary /roadmap to facilitate local businesses into e-bio-businesses and development process.
• Transnational Knowledge Hubs – Bio-Knowledge Hub and Digitalization Hub. Hubs offer expert guidance and resources to foster innovation and digital transformation in the bioeconomy sector and consist of partner’s field experts.

The project engages stakeholders through the establishment of regional Community Support Groups, comprising local authorities, business support centres, universities, and other relevant entities. These groups collaborate to assess the readiness of local organizations to support e-bio-businesses and to implement tailored support mechanisms.

Initial results  from the project indicate positive outcomes. In the first stage, we validate and test the Methodology for Assessment of e-bio-business supporters. The methodology provides, after the baseline analysis, tools to identify the gaps of the organization, which requires to be filled to advance into the supporting of e-bio-businesses. Link for online assessment is here: https://shorturl.at/dduNi

We pre-test and assess the Methodology for Supporting e-bio-Business Launching. And in the second stage (summer – autumn 2025), we pilot assessment tools and a supporting roadmap. Partners involve the analysis of 200 companies and provide support to sixty businesses in transitioning to e-bio-businesses.

The long-term vision of the eRural Resilience project is to empower rural communities in the BSR to become leaders in sustainable bio-based economies. By enhancing digital competencies and supporting the growth of e-bio-businesses, the project aims to contribute to the EU Green Deal's objectives, promote economic diversification, and improve the quality of life in rural areas. Through continued collaboration and innovation, the project envisions a future where rural communities are resilient, economically vibrant, and integral to the region's sustainable development.