Evolution of smart village models in Hungarian Abaúj micro-region

Abstract

Within the framework of this study, dealing with the situation of the Abaúj micro-region, the authors would like to answer the question regarding a multiply disadvantaged area with low levels of economic and scientific innovation: whether social innovation can help in solving the problems and could it be the engine of change. To answer this question, the literature of the topic has been reviewed as a first step, and the „smart models”, too, the ones that may be significant or could provide support during the developmental process. In this part, a consequent distinguishing among smart models that can be applied in villages and in larger cities has been applied. Based on the models and field research, the authors formulated a possible smart region model and prepared a network analysis model by the Gephi method, which gives a complete overview of the spatial availability of retail stores. The development and spatial distribution of networks opens up new possibilities. An important question in this new situation: how urban smartness affects the smartness of the region and its villages in their development, whether the multiplicative effect of the cities’ smartness significantly improves the quality of life of those living in the surrounding settlements. The change of the urban-rural relationship creates the conditions for a more liveable city for the cities’ inhabitants and a better quality of life for the residents of the villages; the authors aim to overview this issue within the framework of the study