The smart village concept: examples from Poland
In-depth study of smart villages
Description
“The smart village concept: examples from Poland” is an in-depth qualitative study of ten smart villages selected from among those included within the smart village initiative in Poland. The study assesses how digital technologies and innovations have been used in daily life in the village to enhance quality of life, to improve the standard of public services and to make better use of local resources. The study answered the following seven research questions: 1) How is the concept of smart villages understood by different groups of village residents (initiators, beneficiaries and local authorities)? 2) What mechanisms impact the de-marginalization of rural areas? 3) How should support for smart villages in the coming years be programmed? 4) What resources are necessary for the implementation of smart initiatives? 5) What is the impact of smart solutions on the surroundings? 6) What guarantees of sustainability do the solutions hold? 7) Are the concepts of smart villages and smart cities related in terms of meaning?
Technology
Smart villages in Poland make use of various digital technologies in support of, for example, precision farming; e-learning, e-health and e-administration through digital platforms; the economy through biotechnologies, heat recovery systems and renewable energy; the use of drones to protect remote fields against theft or to control crop losses; and everyday communication, both within the community and with external contacts involving the use of social media, websites and YouTube channels for information dissemination. The study states that while smart villages can benefit from modern technologies, their use is not mandatory.
Target
The documented experiences in Poland can support local governments and civil servants, community leaders and civil society organizations in mobilizing their local community. The resource may also be useful for rural residents in helping define the lifestyle and opportunities in the village. Small farmers, cooperatives, the private sector, and local governments and leaders can also benefit from the technologies mentioned in the initiative.
Impact
This in-depth study aims to make the idea of smart villages more understandable, and clarifies the importance of changes and choices for local communities. Smart villages in particular should raise awareness of sustainable development, reduce disparities between urban and rural areas, improve the quality of infrastructure and rural services, establish social ties and collaborations between inhabitants, and promote the digital transformation. Several recommendations are made at the end of the study that highlight the importance of Information and communication technologies (ICT) for digitally poor areas, as well as campaigns to improve local digital skills.
Partners
Polish Rural Network; Rural Development Foundation (FWW); the Union of Rural Municipalities of the Republic of Poland (ZGW RP) and RURBAN
Four Betters
Better production
Better environment
Better life
