WelcomingSpaces · Project

Proven Playbook to Revitalize Shrinking Towns Through Managed Migrant Integration

otherTestedTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Across Europe, small towns and villages are slowly emptying out — young people leave, shops close, schools shut down. Meanwhile, non-EU migrants need places to settle but usually crowd into big cities. This project studied real examples in 5 countries where declining communities successfully attracted and integrated migrants, turning things around. They packaged what actually worked into a ready-to-use toolkit and online knowledge base so other towns can copy the recipe instead of starting from scratch.

By the numbers

consortium partner organizations

European countries covered (DE, ES, IT, NL, PL)

total project deliverables

demo deliverables (toolbox + online knowledge system)

The business problem

What needed solving

Hundreds of European towns are losing population, tax revenue, and public services — while cities overflow with migrants who need housing and opportunities. Municipalities and regional agencies lack proven, transferable methods to attract and integrate new residents into declining communities, often starting from scratch with trial-and-error approaches.

The solution

What was built

The project produced a toolbox of successful methodologies for migrant integration in shrinking regions, addressing identified bottlenecks and preconditions for success. They also built an online knowledge management system containing reusable best practices and lessons learned from cases across 5 European countries, totaling 25 deliverables.

Audience

Who needs this

Regional development consultancies advising depopulating municipalitiesMunicipal governments and local authorities in shrinking European regionsHousing associations and property managers with rising vacancy rates in declining areasNGOs and social enterprises providing migrant integration servicesEU policy consultancies working on migration and cohesion policy

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Regional Development Consulting

SME

Target: Consulting firms advising municipalities on demographic decline and regional revitalization strategies

If you are a regional development consultancy advising shrinking municipalities on how to reverse population decline — this project developed a tested toolbox of successful integration methodologies drawn from real cases across 5 European countries. You can license or adapt this toolkit to offer evidence-based advisory services instead of reinventing the wheel for every client.

Real Estate & Property Management

mid-size

Target: Property developers or housing associations operating in depopulating regions

If you are a property developer or housing association watching vacancy rates climb in shrinking towns — this project mapped the preconditions that make communities attractive to new residents, including non-EU migrants. Their online knowledge management system documents what 10 partner organizations learned about turning declining areas into welcoming destinations that attract and retain new populations.

Social Impact & Integration Services

any

Target: NGOs, social enterprises, or staffing agencies providing migrant settlement and workforce integration services

If you are an organization delivering migrant integration or workforce placement services — this project identified the bottlenecks that block successful integration in rural and shrinking areas and built a toolbox addressing each one. With 25 deliverables covering best practices across Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, and Poland, you get field-tested methods for expanding your services beyond major cities.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access the toolbox and knowledge system?

The project was publicly funded as a Research and Innovation Action, and the online knowledge management system is designed to contain reusable best practices. Based on available project data, these outputs are likely accessible through the project website (welcomingspaces.eu) at no direct cost, though implementation consulting would be separate.

Can these methods work at scale across different countries?

The consortium tested approaches across 5 countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland) with 10 partner organizations, which provides a reasonable cross-European evidence base. The toolbox was specifically designed to address transferability by identifying preconditions for success in different local contexts.

Is there any intellectual property or licensing involved?

As a publicly funded RIA project, research outputs are typically open access. The toolbox and online knowledge management system appear designed for broad dissemination. Based on available project data, no commercial patents or restrictive licenses are indicated.

How mature are these integration methods for real-world deployment?

The project ran for over 4 years (2020-2024) and studied existing real-world examples of successful welcoming communities, not just theoretical models. The toolbox was built from evaluated best practices and lessons learned, meaning it reflects what actually worked on the ground across multiple countries.

What regulatory context should I be aware of?

Migration policy varies significantly across EU member states, which the project addressed by working across 5 different national contexts. Any municipality or organization applying these methods would need to align with local immigration and integration regulations. The project's multi-country approach helps identify what works despite regulatory differences.

Can this integrate with existing municipal planning processes?

The toolbox specifically addresses government-citizen-migrant relations and multi-party collaboration models. Based on the project objectives, these methods were designed to complement existing local governance structures rather than replace them, with a focus on collective action and institutional adjustments.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium of 10 partners across 5 countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland) is entirely research-oriented: 5 universities, 1 research organization, and 4 other entities — with zero industry partners and zero SMEs. This is a classic academic research consortium led by Universiteit Utrecht. For a business buyer, this means the outputs are rigorous and evidence-based but were not designed with commercial deployment in mind. There is no built-in industry channel to market, so any business application would require a commercial intermediary to package and deliver the toolbox and knowledge system.

UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHTCoordinator · NL
UNIVERSITAET SIEGENparticipant · DE
SZKOLA GLOWNA HANDLOWA W WARSZAWIEparticipant · PL
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNAparticipant · IT
UNIVERSIDADE DA CORUNAparticipant · ES
FORUM INTERNAZIONALE ED EUROPEO DI RICERCHE SULL'IMMIGRAZIONEparticipant · IT

How to reach the team

Universiteit Utrecht (Netherlands) — contact via project website or university directory

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to use these tested integration methods for your municipality or consulting practice? SciTransfer can connect you with the research team and help translate their toolbox into an actionable implementation plan for your specific region.

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