The landuni project, funded by the state of Lower Austria (2022–2024) and implemented by TU Wien’s Faculty of Architecture and Spatial Planning, has already been recognized as a best-practice model. The follow-up project, landuni 2.0, will run for three years and aims to strengthen Austria’s rural areas as spaces for innovation and quality of life. It does so by identifying and closing research gaps while bringing hands-on research and teaching directly to local communities.

Around 56% of Austria’s population lives in rural areas. Despite their importance for residents, the economy, and tourism, these regions receive comparatively little attention in academic research. Funding for research and planning is often limited, and local administrations frequently lack expertise—particularly in planning and construction. landuni 2.0 seeks to change this perspective: it reimagines rural areas as hubs of innovation. By connecting science, practice, local communities, businesses, and administrations, the project fosters practical, scalable solutions to pressing challenges. A key element is the use of "Living Labs" and participatory Citizen Science methods, allowing local and regional stakeholders to actively engage in shaping their future.

landuni 2.0 is built around four main pillars: (1) Researching on, with and in rural areas, (2) Teaching and learning in rural contexts, (3) Developing the landuni network and its locations, (4) Public outreach and dissemination

A major opportunity lies in expanding collaborations with national and international research partners and integrating new fields of study. The project’s anchor is the educational center in Drosendorf, which was at risk of vacancy in 2021, along with the municipality of Drosendorf-Zissersdorf. Moving forward, the initiative aims to expand its regional presence even further.