H2020-AURORAL
Architecture for Unified Regional and Open digital ecosystems for Smart Communities and wider Rural Areas — Large scale application
Description
AURORAL is a European Union–funded project that develops an open and interoperable digital ecosystem for rural communities. The project developed eight pilot deployments across seven European countries, covering five application domains including smart farming, energy, mobility, health and tourism. The pilots aim to reducing rural–urban digital divides by enabling interoperable digital services and shared data infrastructures in rural areas.
Technology
The initiative is built on a cloud-based and interoperable architecture integrating Internet of things devices, data platforms and artificial intelligence components. A web-based interface allows communities and service providers to deploy, manage and interconnect digital services within a shared digital ecosystem. The project has also activated a public AURORAL Data Catalogue, with datasets and digital resources contributed by regional authorities and local stakeholders, supporting experimentation and innovation, including in agrifood-related contexts.
Target
The project engages farms, SMEs and local businesses, regional authorities and research partners in rural communities to co-deploy services and advisory tools across agriculture-linked domains.
Business model
AURORAL operates with a total budget of approximately EUR 16.29 million, including an EU contribution of around EUR 14.57 million. AURORAL is funded through the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The project delivers value through publicly funded development of open digital infrastructure, with no direct cost to end users during the project implementation period.
Impact
AURORAL focuses on increasing connectivity and delivering a digital environment of smart objects interoperable services platforms able to trigger dynamic rural ecosystems of innovation chains, applications and services. Thus, AURORAL contributes to increase economic growth and create jobs in rural areas and to tackle significant societal challenges, contributes to overcoming digital divide between rural and urban areas and to develop the potential offered by increased connectivity and digitisation of rural areas.
Partners
CCDR Alentejo; SINTEF; Atos; Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH); Bosonit; Bavenir; Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; Unparallel Innovation; Smart Innovation Norway; Hafenstrom; Umeå University; DIGIPOLIS; Europäisches Zentrum für Erneuerbare Energie Güssing (EEE); SüdBurgenland; LuxActive; Environment Park Torino; Cooperativa Tesori Bio; Aiguasol; Cluster Bioenergia Catalunya (CBC); IrRADIARE; University of Deusto; European Digital SME Alliance; FEBEA; University of Oulu; Narvik Kommune.
Four Betters
Better production
Better environment
Better life
