The operation Regional identity and culture, strengths development & environment action (RISE) focuses on the development of urbanized" rural spaces. The three participating regions Deggendorf (DE), Upper Styria West (AT), and Espace Mittelland (CH) exhibit similar structural conditions of densely populated rural spaces and associated development challenges. All three regions are located in the vicinity of larger central urban agglomerations that tend to drain off mobile population, purchasing power and entrepreneurial potential from the rural areas. As a result, the populations of the partner regions are shrinking and regional identities are undermined. The regions now join efforts to address existing structural problems and outline suitable development strategies. Objectives The operation aims at exchanging information and experience and implementing specific regional development actions in densely populated rural spaces. Specific emphasis is placed on innovative measures based on regional identity and culture, economic development and environmental action. Furthermore, the participating regions see themselves as a "test laboratory" for possible approaches and solutions and will strive to produce results that are transferable to other regions within the framework of EU-wide information networks. Results The operation supports regional learning processes and provides a stimulus for sustainable development of the participating regions. The mutual exchange of experience among the partner regions on the basis of concrete examples creates added value for administrative bodies, economic actors, and the regional population. The establishment of an interregional network supports the exchange of information and helps overcome barriers created by professional fields and geographic locations (e.g., topic-specific and location-specific knowledge). Activities include regional analyses, the development of databases on regional potentials as well as benchmarking and identification of best practice for general and sector-specific regional development strategies. Networking, exchange of know-how as well as the establishment of regional clusters combining the competences of private and public actors are supported through interregional convents and regional workshops. Pilot projects related to the field of identity and culture involve political and economic actors as well as the general public.