On 8 October 2025, the DIGIS3 project took part in the event “From Challenge to Opportunity: People, Community and Employment in the Face of the Demographic Challenge”, held at the Assembly Hall of Fermoselle Town Council (Zamora). This was a key meeting to reflect on the future of rural areas from an inclusive, innovative and cross-border perspective.
The event was framed within the RETORAYA project, a cooperation initiative between Spain and Portugal aimed at tackling depopulation and population ageing in the territories along the Spanish–Portuguese border. Following the first months of pilot implementation in Zamora, Salamanca and the Douro region, the meeting provided an opportunity to share progress, preliminary results and, above all, real-life experiences of new settlers.
The event brought together representatives from public administrations, social organisations, the business sector, research centres and local communities, creating an open forum for dialogue on how to promote sustainable opportunities that foster settlement, entrepreneurship and territorial cohesion.
The opening keynote was delivered by Juan Andrés Blanco Rodríguez (UNED Zamora Chair) and José Delgado Álvarez, experts in territorial analysis and rural dynamics, who offered an in-depth perspective on the challenges and opportunities of the cross-border territory.
Pilot results and life experiences on the border
One of the central moments of the event was the presentation of the preliminary pilot results by representatives of INTRAS, ASPRODES, CIM Douro and the Castilla y León Social Services Authority. Key lessons learned, identified challenges and next steps were shared.
This was followed by a session on the role of migrant talent as a driver of employment and settlement, with a talk by Jesús Alemán, President of Fundación Talento 58, who highlighted the importance of creating welcoming environments and real opportunities to attract new residents to rural areas.
The round table “Living on the Border” offered first-hand testimonies from new settlers and local residents, showing how coexistence, employment and social support are fundamental pillars for the success of these processes.
DIGIS3 and its commitment to the territory
DIGIS3’s participation in this event reinforces its commitment to innovation applied to territorial development, social cohesion and opportunity generation in rural environments, aligning digital transformation with major demographic challenges.
This meeting has strengthened alliances between projects, organisations and institutions, with the shared goal of turning the demographic challenge into a real opportunity for the future of our territories.