Smart Villages support in Hungary
The SR21 Country Page
contains more
information on Smart Villages in Hungary

How is the concept of Smart Villages defined?
No formal definition of ‘Smart Villages’ in Hungary.
Is digital a key feature of Smart Villages?
Digital innovation is highlighted as one of the key features of the concept.
Is social innovation a key feature of Smart Villages?
Social innovation is highlighted as one of the key features of the concept.

How is the CAP supporting Smart Villages?
Ministry of Agriculture
CAP Managing Authority
Miklós Maácz, Chief Counsellor
Attila Nagy, Head of Department
CAP 2014-2022

Indirectly, no specific Smart Villages intervention.

LEADER/CLLD
to a limited extent
CAP 2023-2027

Yes, specific Smart Village intervention is planned.
Specific intervention
In the Hungarian CAP Strategic Plan, an intervention has been introduced under the Cooperation Measure to help digital transition of small settlements and prepare Smart Village strategies. The strategies need to focus on different aims at the same time, such as digital and social issues, specified in the Strategic Plan.

LEADER/CLLD
The Smart Villages topic might be supported through LEADER Local Action Groups under their Local Development Strategies.
Hungarian National Rural Network
Rita Szekely,Secretary General
CAP Network support

No specific network activities on Smart Villages have been identified.
However, the CAP network has been set up and is mapping the possible actions that might support the preparation of Smart Village strategies and the creation of Smart Villages.

How are other policies supporting Smart Villages?
Digital Wellbeing Nonprofit Ltd.
Attila Balla,
Interindustria Knowledge Center Foundation
E: info@interindustria.hu
Digital Wellbeing Programme and as part of this, the Digital Village Programme will be supported under multiple EU and national funds, and are expected to support larger infrastructural projects at the central/national level (e.g. national digital portals, etc.).
EU – Interreg: the transnational approach makes it possible to bring new ideas and new tools for the implementation of a Smart Village strategy. The Hungarian-Slovakian ’Smart Communities – Virtual Education and Research and Development and Innovation Network in the Slovakian – Hungarian border region’ and the ‘Smart Communities 2.0 – How to be smart in the countryside?’ projects are examples that support the smartness of rural settlements through the development of specific cross-border services.

Smart Rural 27 – Smart Villages Taskforce
No taskforce is set up yet

Smart Villages in Hungary

Alsómocsolád is a village of 320 inhabitants, located in the Northern part of Baranya County, in the south of Hungary, the gateway of the Baranya Ridge, one of the pearls of our closer environment thanks to its outstanding natural values.
The municipality has all public utilities, modern telecommunications, and IT connections. The village has primary health care, day and residential care for the elderly, a tourist complex and a number of community scenes.
We in Mocsolád are proud of our past; we are endeavouring to build our future on our talents and values, while honouring our traditions.
We do it together. We have developed a new type of local government model with the involvement of all the actors of the municipality – citizens, economic organisations, NGOs – which focuses on the institutionalisation of strategic management and a jointly defined vision.
Our vision is: “Alsómocsolád is a 21st century, liveable, friendly, innovative village, preserving and renewing its values, growing from the local economy and increasing its population.”
Our mission: “To create a liveable settlement, protected, valued, and loved by its citizens, which retains its population and attracts its former inhabitants back. It responds to the challenges of our times. It seeks and finds its breakthrough points. It develops on a human scale. It is constantly renewing itself. It makes itself open, interesting, and attractive to the world. It seeks out opportunities that can serve local, regional, and wider needs in an economically viable way.”
The planned vision is embodied in the economic programmes, cycle programmes, sub-strategies, and development plans approved by the Body of Representatives and its realisation is continuous through the application of the instrument system developed, as a result of which, during the past 32 years, Alsómocsolád has become a municipality with a developed infrastructure and active citizens, open to the challenges of the times. The following directions institutionalised during our work:
≠ strategic management,
≠ local economic development,
≠ social development,
≠ the role of a regional development engine, and
≠ network organisation/network development

Uppony is a small village of 280 inhabitants in Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, one of the most lagging behind counties of Hungary. The beautiful natural environment of the village is in sharp contrast with its current socio-economic status. The micro-region of Ózd, where Uppony is located, is situated in north-east Hungary and is one of the most disadvantaged and poorest areas in Hungary. The region is mostly characterised by small-size villages. Population is decreasing and ageing, while the unemployment rate is high.
Our main motivation to become a ‘smart village’ is to demonstrate that even marginalised and disadvantaged communities like ours have a ‘way out’ if the right solutions are identified and implemented.
Want to get involved or know more on what Smart Rural 27 is doing in Hungary? Contact us!
Last update: November 9, 2022