Cowocat_Rural

Good Practice

Efficiency

Cowocat_Rural is a LEADER cooperation project implemented in Catalonia that promotes the creation and consolidation of coworking spaces as a tool for social, economic, and territorial development in rural areas. It is a collaborative project between the Catalan government and the Inter-District Consortium for Promotion of Socioeconomic Initiative. Promoting institutions include Local Action Group (LAG) Inter-District Consortium for the Promotion of Socioeconomic Initiatives (CIS), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food (DARPA) of the Catalan Government.

Catalan Government

Spain

Regional policy

POLICY OBJECTIVE

Promote coworking as a new way of working through ICT in rural areas.
Encourage the creation of coworking networks in rural areas.
Facilitate teleworking and business activity without the need to move to cities.
Contribute to population retention and the reduction of rural depopulation.
Improve work-life balance by bringing homes and workplaces closer together.
Promote territorial cooperation and knowledge exchange between workers, entrepreneurs, and companies.
Contribute to improving the management and professionalisation of coworking spaces.
Encourage and facilitate the mobility of coworkers and entrepreneurs between different coworking spaces in rural Catalonia.

CONTEXT

The creation of a project such as Cowocat_Rural responds to the urgent need to stop depopulation and the loss of talent in Catalonia’s rural areas. For years, these territories have witnessed the migration of young people to cities in search of educational and employment opportunities that are scarce locally, leaving behind a fragile economic fabric heavily dependent on traditional sectors such as agriculture or seasonal tourism. This situation exacerbated territorial inequalities and threatened the social and economic sustainability of inland municipalities. However, the expansion of high-speed internet and the rise of remote work began to open new avenues for economic development.

In this context, Cowocat_Rural emerged as a strategic response, providing villages with resources and collaborative spaces to attract professionals, foster networking. stimulate entrepreneurship, and promote social innovation.

POLICY DESCRIPTION

Cowocat_Rural is a LEADER cooperation project led by the Consorci Intercomarcal d’Iniciatives Socioeconòmiques (Local Action Group Ribera d’Ebre – Terra Alta). It originated from the opportunity to transfer the pilot rural coworking experience initiated in 2014 in Riba-roja d’Ebre (Zona Líquida) to other rural areas of Catalonia, promoting entrepreneurial activity linked to the use of information and communication technologies.

Building on this experience, 11 Catalan Local Action Groups (LAGs) launched an interterritorial cooperation project to create and expand a network of coworking spaces. The initiative aims to enhance the attraction and retention of talent, stimulate job creation and economic activity in rural areas, and disseminate the values of coworking and remote work across participating territories.

Coworking is a way of working that allows independent professionals, entrepreneurs, and SMEs from various sectors to share the same physical or virtual workspace, developing professional projects independently while fostering collaborative initiatives. This new way of working represents an opportunity for professionals who wish to operate in a collaborative environment without leaving a rural setting. Indirectly, rural coworking spaces generate local economic activation and help retain the active population.

In summary, Cowocat_Rural seeks to attract and retain qualified human capital in rural areas—a key factor for territorial development. Its promoters recognised that rural coworking spaces could stimulate economic activity and help maintain populations in areas threatened by depopulation, offering opportunities to professionals who want to work collaboratively without leaving the countryside.

KEY ASPECTS

Cowocat_Rural works to stimulate economic activity, attract young, qualified professionals to rural areas, and combat depopulation by promoting the values of coworking. Its concept is based on the need to foster entrepreneurship through information and communication technologies. The project has developed a methodology for creating and supporting a network of coworking spaces and actively promotes this practice among professionals and local stakeholders interested in joining the network.
Key criteria for a coworking space to become part of the Cowocat_Rural network Include the existence of a dedicated workspace, professional diversity, a community with a strong sense of belonging, proactive knowledge-sharing, and the appointment of a community facilitator responsible for promoting activities and managing the community.
In terms of innovation, Cowocat_Rural introduces novel approaches to rural coworking, having developed a working methodology that previously did not exist In these territories.

RESULTS

Between 2014 and 2025, 49 coworking spaces joined the Cowocat_Rural network, engaging over 300 professionals.
During this period, more than 30 training and networking activities were conducted, alongside the development of a website, social media channels, and audiovisual content.
Four editions of Coworkfest, the annual rural coworking festival, were organised, featuring 15 spaces, 25 activities, and 400 participants in the 2024 edition.
Additionally, the RuralPass, a mobility passport for coworking spaces, and the Rural Coworking Observatory, a biennial report capturing coworker feedback, were launched.
At the international level, we participate in the “CoLabora: European cooperation project on coworking spaces in rural areas” in collaboration with partners from Ireland, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and Germany. This initiative aims to stimulate economic development, retain residents, attract new ones, and foster a European network of coworking spaces.

Policy's Website

Begoña

García Barco

Manager and Director

info@cowocatrural.cat