Empowering Rural Areas through European Innovation
Coopera is the technical partner of choice for EU-funded projects (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Creative Europe, CERV) focused on regenerating places by improving the wellbeing of the people who live there. Healthy communities create resilient destinations.
Our Value Proposition
Why Partner with Coopera?
Coopera is an italian social cooperative supporting sustainable territorial development through integrated community-based approaches. Coopera offers:
- Access to local communities and stakeholders
- Pilot testing and real-life project implementation
- Training and educational activities
- Dissemination and multiplier events
- Community-based social innovation
Our multidisciplinary team enables us to translate European project objectives into practical actions with measurable local impact.
Proven field expertise
Over 13 years of experience in 35+ Italian villages, engaging more than 2,700 active citizens.
Multidisciplinary approach
Coopera brings together professionals with complementary expertise, including:
- Destination Managers
- Project Manager
- Conflict Management and Facilitation Experts
- Expert in community based tourism and Third Sector integration
- Archaeologists and Heritage Interpreters
- Licensed Tourist Guides
- Mental Coaches and Wellbeing Facilitators
This multidisciplinary approach enables CoopERA to work across social, cultural and economic dimensions within complex European projects.
Scalable Models
We have successfully prototyped "Smart Village" frameworks, "Cycling Hubs," and "Community Conciergerie" models ready to be piloted or replicated across Europe.
EU Policy Pillars
Our thematic areas
We align our local actions with the European Commission’s priorities:
Green & Sustainable Tourism
Developing low-impact itineraries and "Albergo Diffuso" (scattered hotel) hospitality models. Ideal for: Single Market/SME, LIFE, and Interreg.
Social Innovation & Inclusion
Combatting rural depopulation through "Community Businesses" and youth empowerment. Ideal for: Erasmus+, CERV, and ESF+.
Cultural Heritage & Creativity
Valorizing archaeological sites through experimental archaeology and participatory management. Ideal for: Horizon Europe (Cluster 2) and Creative Europe.
Training programme
Coopera supports the development of entrepreneurial skills, community-led innovation and new economic opportunities for rural areas through workshops, field activities, participatory methods and hands-on experimentation. Ideal for Erasmus+
Digital Transformation (Smart Villages)
Implementing remote working solutions and digital ecosystems for rural resilience. Ideal for: Digital Europe and Horizon Europe.
Work Packages
Strategic Roles within a Consortium
Coopera operates in authentic italian villages where innovative solutions can be tested in real-life contexts.
1. Living labs
Design and implementation of real-life experimentation in villages and rural communities.
Some area of intervention
- Healthcare
- Loneliness
- Abandoned buildings
- Local food
- Digital services
- Cultural activities
- Tourism pressure
2. A real-life testing environment in Italy
Coopera operates within a dynamic local ecosystem involving community organisations, cultural actors, educational institutions and citizens.
Through our local networks we provide:
- access to diverse target groups
- opportunities for pilot implementation
- spaces for workshops and training activities
- strong community engagement
This allows European projects to test solutions in real-life environments.
3. Stakeholder Engagement
We excel in "Bottom-up" methodologies, ensuring high participation from local communities.
Facilitating collaboration among:
- Municipalities
- Local businesses
- Associations
- Citizens
- Tourism operators
4. Dissemination & Exploitation
Organizing high-impact
- Educational Tours;
- Workshops for policy-makers and territorial branding strategies;
- Multiplier events;
- Community festivals;
- Public engagement activities
- Study visits
5. Capacity Building
Training programmes for:
- Local administrations
- Community organisations
- Tourism operators
- Residents
6. Community co-design
Participatory processes involving local communities in decision-making.
our numbers
Impact by the Numbers
Years of territorial regeneration
Municipalities involved in our network
Visitors managed through our sustainable tourism projects
Academic and institutional partnerships (including the University of Florence)
Case studies
From Local to Global
The "Borghi" Integrated Product
A model of territorial coordination that turned fragmented local assets into a unified tourism destination.
Reinterpreting attractions through design: new tourist activities as sources of new experiences
The study applies the innovation-of-meaning paradigm to tourism for the first time, linking it to the psy-
chophysical dynamics of tourist experiences and explaining how the perception of newness emerges.
Educational Tours
Expert-led training for international delegations on how to revive "ghost towns" through social economy.
contacts
Let’s build a winning proposal together
Are you a Project Coordinator or a Lead Partner building a consortium? Coopera provides the local expertise and technical reliability needed to ensure project sustainability and impact.
Contact for partnership
- Email: info@coop-era.it
- Location: Tuscany/Umbria/Lazio, Italy (Central Italy Hub)
- LinkedIn: CoopEra