The 3^rd R-Map Project Meeting successfully brought together partners for a dynamic day of collaboration and forward-looking planning in Surrey, United Kingdom. Hosted by the University of Surrey, the meeting marked a significant milestone in the R-Map Project, offering a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to review progress, share insights, and outline the path ahead.

Key highlights of the meeting:

• Large scale survey: Key results were presented from our large-scale survey generating more than 20,000 responses from more than 30 countries capturing perceptions, intentions and needs of remote workers.
• R-Map Model: The R-Map model assessing the effects of remote work on the spatial, economic and social facets of the urban-rural divide in EU has been successfully developed. The co-design process involved technical workshops with regional and domain experts as well as Advisory Board members. The model employs Bayesian Belief Networks, incorporating key indicators and causal chains to offer a robust, data-driven approach.
• R-MAP Visualisation Platform: Progress on the development of the R-Map visualisation platform was presented, including desk research, partner workshops, and validation activities with Advisory Board members, which led to the development of the R-Map platform architecture. Ongoing efforts include setting up the backend infrastructure, coordinating data collection through a shared repository, and initiating the integration of the R-Map model with the visualisation platform.
• Synergies and Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging discussions explored effective strategies for stakeholder engagement and cross-sector synergies, with a strong emphasis on long-term collaboration to enhance the project’s real-world impact.
• Valuable insights on Policy Recommendations: Participants exchanged valuable perspectives that shaped the project’s first Policy Brief. Advisory Board insights enriched these discussions and will help frame actionable, evidence-based recommendations.

We extend our sincere thanks to all partners for their active participation and valuable contributions. A special thank you goes to our hosts at the University of Surrey for their warm welcome and generous hospitality!

Stay connected for more updates as the R-Map Project enters its next exciting phase!