
The depopulation of many regions, especially in rural areas, is a growing and complex problem that requires innovative solutions.
One of the most promising and effective solutions to this challenge is entrepreneurship. By promoting and attracting local business development, it is possible to revitalise stagnant economies, generate jobs and, consequently, attract and retain population.
Depopulation is one of today’s great challenges, with profound impacts on the economy, culture and quality of life of the communities affected. Entrepreneurship is a powerful tool in combating this phenomenon, boosting sustainable development in less densely populated regions.
By encouraging the creation of new companies and businesses, entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in revitalising regions affected by depopulation. By creating jobs, it helps to retain the local population and attract new inhabitants. In addition, by identifying the needs and opportunities of their communities, entrepreneurs can develop innovative products and services that contribute to improving the quality of life and enhancing the value of the territory.
To combat depopulation through entrepreneurship, it is essential that governments, municipalities and public bodies strengthen their support for local entities to promote policies and programmes that encourage the creation of companies and businesses. These should provide financial, technical and legal support, training and capacity-building programmes for entrepreneurs, facilitating the development of new initiatives.
Improving infrastructure is another important aspect to take into account, such as access to the internet, energy and transport, and is essential to facilitate the attraction of entrepreneurs, the setting up of companies and investments.
Various entrepreneurial initiatives around the world demonstrate the potential of entrepreneurship to combat depopulation. From small family businesses to innovative start-ups, entrepreneurs are revitalising their communities and creating new business models. The main areas of activity include agriculture, tourism, renewable energies and the circular economy.
Entrepreneurship is a powerful lever for combating depopulation and revitalising regions. Entrepreneurs play a crucial role in promoting more sustainable and balanced development. However, for entrepreneurship to have a truly significant impact, coordinated action between all the actors involved is indispensable, from governments and local organisations to the entrepreneurs themselves.