On 29 August, 2025, the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences (LCSS) and the Druskininkai Local Action Group (LAG) jointly organized a rural lab titled “Social Economy Initiatives in Druskininkai.” The event brought together representatives from all ten local communities, Druskininkai municipality, local policymakers, NGOs, and various stakeholders committed to advancing rural development in the region.
The rural lab functioned as a participatory, place-based platform aimed at fostering innovation, experimentation, and co-creation of sustainable solutions in rural areas. Aligned with the principles of community engagement and collaborative governance, rural labs serve as dynamic living laboratories in which stakeholders, including residents, entrepreneurs, researchers, and decision-makers, collectively identify challenges and test context-sensitive responses. Characterized by iterative learning and strong local ownership, these platforms promote social, economic, and environmental resilience through locally grounded innovation.
Participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to engage in the ESIRA project. The event provided a valuable forum for sharing knowledge, exchanging experiences, and acquiring new skills relevant to social innovation and rural transformation.
The rural lab concluded with a series of community-building activities, including sports competitions, the cooking of ostrich eggs, and a shared dinner, fostering informal exchange and social cohesion among participants.
Keywords: Social Economy, Social Innovation, Rural Development, Place-based Innovation, Rural Pact.
Project start date: 1 January 2024
Duration: 4 years
Budget: 4 499 840,00 EUR
Coordinator: University of Burgos (Spain)
15 partners from 8 countries, piloting 9 regions.
More information about the project: www.esira.eu
The project is implemented by:
Dr. Živilė Gedminaitė-Raudonė (project manager in Lithuania), tel. (+370 5) 2617 978, e-mail zivile.gedminaite@ekvi.lt;
Dr. Rasa Melnikienė, e-mail rasa.melnikiene@ekvi.lt
Dr. Dalia Vidickienė, e-mail dalia.vidickiene@ekvi.lt
Dr. Rita Lankauskienė, e-mail rita.lankauskiene@ekvi.lt;
Dr. Vitalija Simonaitytė, e-mail vitalija.simonaityte@ekvi.lt.
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