Urban–Rural Partnership Perspectives in the Conceptualization of Innovative Activities in Rural Development: On Example of Three-Case Study Analysis

The idea of smart villages, though arising from the smart cities concept, seems to influence the rural reality as well, and this may, among others, be the effect of urban–rural partnerships. The smartness of villages, as it is significantly related to the innovative concepts in rural regions, refers to the innovative solutions which, in order to be implemented, need to go beyond the rural authorities and engagement of rural stakeholders. The main objective of the manuscript is to assess the role of partners from urban centers in the concepts of local development of rural areas in order to find the potential for future cooperation. As such, the evidence is based on the initiatives from three different agricultural regions located in Southern Poland, where engaged local stakeholders have commenced innovative activities. The research has been conducted based on an explanatory multi–case study method. These research findings reveal that despite direct lack of urban participation in the innovative developmental idea’s conceptualization, the need for and presence of urban partners exists, especially when the implementation is concerned. Additionally, the presence of urban support seems to be indirectly perceived by rural leaders, especially as the phenomenon of adaptation to the rural environment for the urban newcomer is recognized by the rural residents. The need for support from cities is first of all recognized in the following areas: content, obtaining financial resources for the implementation of projects developed by them, and choosing an appropriate organizational and legal form of implemented initiatives