Digital RURAL in Poland
Last week, the Digital RURAL partners gathered in Rzeszów, Poland, for two days of interregional learning, hosted by the Rzeszów Regional Development Agency (RARR) on 20–21 October 2026.
Digital RURAL brings together regions from across Europe to share how digitalisation can strengthen rural communities, economies and public services. Alongside the formal partner meeting, the Polish hosts showed us first-hand how the Podkarpackie region is using technology, traditional culture and smart thinking to bring new life to rural areas.
Day 1: Taking stock and looking ahead
The meeting opened at Rzeszów’s Urban Lab with a welcome from Marek Duda, Director of International Projects at RARR. In sessions coordinated by MAICh, each country shared its Semester 5 progress before looking ahead to Semester 6.
After meeting local stakeholders, partners took part in workshop sessions focused on completing/monitoring policy improvements and defining action plans. This included peer reviews to maximise the interregional engagement aimed at turning project learning into practical change in each region.
The first afternoon focused on Polish experience in rural development:
- Astronomical Observatory in Tymce: Wiesław Kapel, Head of Lubaczów Municipality, and Anna Olchowy shared how a small rural municipality has built a unique attraction around astronomy — a topic of particular interest to a number of interregional partners and stakeholders, inspiring potential future engagement and collaborations.
- Smart Villages: Dr Łukasz Komorowski of the Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development, Polish Academy of Sciences, presented Smart Villages as a concept for rural development, focusing on some practical examples from the local area.
- Regional Support: Dr Paweł Stokłosa of the Marshal’s Office of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship outlined the support programmes available for rural development in the region.
The day finished with a tour of the University of Rzeszów’s Faculty of Exact and Technical Sciences, hosted by Prof. Grzegorz Wisz, covering its work in energy technologies and conceptual ideas of rural living spaces of the future.
Day 2: Digital heritage in the Bieszczady Mountains
Day 2 took partners out of the city and into the Bieszczady region to see digitalisation at work in rural communities.
The first stop was the FANTO Bieszczady Cultural Heritage Centre in Ustrzyki Dolne. More than a museum, FANTO offers an interactive journey through the region’s history and wild landscapes, using modern technology to tell its cultural story in new and interactive ways.
After lunch in Zagórz, the group visited the Monastery and Foresterium Cultural Centre. This former monastery guesthouse has been transformed into a modern cultural centre that blends tradition with technology. It is a strong example of how digital tools can help revitalise a rural area, serving both the local community and visitors.
The visits in Podkarpackie showed that rural places can use technology to protect their heritage, attract visitors and create new opportunities. From an observatory in a small municipality to a monastery reborn as a digital cultural hub, the common thread was local leadership backed by smart regional support.
With Semester 6 now under way, partners will continue monitoring policy improvements and shaping their regional action plans. A big thank you to RARR and all our Polish hosts for a well-organised and inspiring two days.
