Overview
NICRE and the Centre for Rural Economy (CRE) at Newcastle University were involved in a major European project that aims to empower rural women.
GRASS CEILING, a €2.8m project funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme, planned to increase the number of socio-ecological innovations led by women in agriculture, the rural economy and rural communities.
NICRE and CRE led the UK ‘Living Lab’ in Scotland, aimed at rural women innovators, which is one of nine being set up in countries across Europe.
In partnership with the Scottish Crofting Federation, the Lab explored attitudes to innovation in the Highlands and Islands area, providing women with a set of tools to support their ideas and driving future innovations across a three-year programme.
The Lab was launched at the 2023 Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh where it was supported by George Burgess, the Scottish Government's Interim Director of Agriculture and Rural Economy.
The first Lab took place in Ullapool in June 2023 - see Kick-starting journey of rural innovation in Scotland - and the second in October - see Progress from the GRASS CEILING Scotland Living Lab. Two more have been held in 2024, and a further three in 2025. To find out more, contact Melanie Thompson-Glen.
