Many European rural areas are locked into a “circle of decline” by two mutually reinforcing trends–firstly, a shortage of jobs and sustainable business activity and secondly, inadequate and declining services. Over the last two years the ENRD has carried out work to look at the first of these challenges by organising thematic groups (TGs) on “smart supply chains” and “smart and competitive rural businesses”. From July 2017 to July 2018, the ENRD CP will tackle the second part of the equation by launching a new thematic group on ‘Smart Villages’. This will focus on revitalising rural services through both digital and social innovation, complementing the previous work on supporting business innovation in rural areas. The Thematic Group on Smart Villages will explore how rural services in areas such as health, social services, education, energy, transport, retail and others, can be improved and made more sustainable through a) the deployment of ICT tools and/or b) by supporting community led actions and projects.