Key data
| Regulation | Resolución de 17 de marzo de 2026, de la Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación, por la que se publica el Convenio con la Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya para la realización del Programa Campus Rural de prácticas universitarias en el medio rural |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | 25 March 2026 |
| Entry into force | 17 March 2026 |
| Parties to the agreement | Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación and Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Those affected | Companies, self-employed individuals and entities in rural municipalities; UPC university students |
| Category | Grants and Subsidies |
| Direct cost for participating companies | No direct hiring cost |
Since 17 March 2026, rural SMEs and self-employed individuals have had a concrete route to access qualified university technical talent without taking on conventional hiring costs. The Government, through the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación, has signed an agreement with the Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya (UPC) to implement the Programa Campus Rural, published in the BOE on 25 March 2026 (BOE-A-2026-6953).
For many rural businesses, the main obstacle to digitalising or innovating is not a lack of willingness but a shortage of qualified technical profiles. This programme addresses that problem directly.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement formalises UPC's participation in the Programa Campus Rural, a national initiative that connects university students with companies, local councils and entities in rural areas.
The key elements of the programme are:
- UPC students complete their university internships in rural municipalities, not in urban settings or metropolitan companies.
- Host entities can be private companies, self-employed individuals, local councils and other local entities located in rural areas.
- Students bring technical knowledge and the capacity to develop innovation and digitalisation projects tailored to each entity's needs.
- The programme is driven by the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación as a territorial policy tool to halt population loss in rural municipalities.
- The UPC acts as the academic institution that selects, supervises and deploys the participating students.
The underlying objective is twofold: on one hand, to provide rural areas with young talent and technical capacity; on the other, to connect students with rural territories in order to encourage their settlement there, or at least their familiarity with the environment.
Economic and operational impact
For a rural SME or self-employed individual, the most immediate impact is access to a qualified technical resource at no direct hiring cost. This is significant in a context where hiring a technical profile with experience in digitalisation or innovation can involve a salary cost that many rural businesses cannot afford.
The specific operational opportunities opened up by the programme are:
- Process digitalisation: UPC students, with a technical and polytechnic profile, can design or implement digital solutions tailored to the company.
- Innovation projects: development of improvements in product, process or business model with a university technical foundation.
- Long-term talent acquisition: the internship can be the first step in identifying profiles who may join the company as employees in the future.
- Access to up-to-date knowledge: students bring current methodologies and tools that do not always reach rural settings.
For local councils and local entities, the programme makes it possible to tackle technical projects (cartography, data management, territorial planning, etc.) that would otherwise require hiring external services.
Who is affected?
- SMEs located in rural municipalities that need technical support in digitalisation, innovation or engineering.
- Self-employed individuals in rural areas who wish to bring in technical support at no hiring cost.
- Local councils and rural local entities that can host student interns for technical projects.
- Other rural entities (cooperatives, associations, foundations) with technical profile needs.
- UPC university students looking to complete their internships in rural settings.
The programme does not affect companies located in urban settings or universities other than the UPC under this specific agreement.
Practical example
A family-run agri-food company located in a rural municipality in Catalonia needs to digitalise its inventory management and improve its online presence, but does not have the budget to hire an IT technician or a digital consultant.
Through the Programa Campus Rural, it can apply to bring in a UPC student intern. The student, with a technical polytechnic profile, develops a specific project during their internship period: for example, implementing a stock management system or designing a basic online shop.
The outcome for the company: a technical project delivered at no direct hiring cost, with academic supervision from the UPC and the possibility of evaluating the student for future employment. For the student: real experience in a rural setting and direct contact with the territory.
What should companies do now?
- Check whether your company or entity is in an eligible rural municipality for the programme, as access is conditional on being located in a rural area.
- Identify which technical projects you could develop with a student intern: digitalisation, product innovation, process improvement, digital presence.
- Contact the Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya (UPC) or the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación to find out the procedure for joining the programme and the timelines for student placements.
- Prepare a description of the project or task the student would carry out, as university internship programmes require a defined work plan and a company-side supervisor.
- Consult your labour adviser regarding the conditions of the internship agreement to ensure you meet the formal requirements for hosting student interns.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost a rural company to participate in the Campus Rural UPC Programme?
There is no direct hiring cost for participating companies, self-employed individuals and entities. The programme channels UPC university students into rural areas without the company having to take on conventional hiring costs.
What kind of projects can UPC students develop at my rural company?
Students can develop innovation and digitalisation projects tailored to the needs of the participating company or local entity. The profile is technical, as the students come from the Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya.
Which companies and entities can participate in the Campus Rural 2026 Programme?
Companies, self-employed individuals and entities located in rural municipalities can participate, as well as local councils and other rural local entities that need to bring in qualified technical talent.
When does the agreement between the Government and the UPC for Campus Rural come into force?
The agreement came into force on 17 March 2026, the date of its signing. It was published in the BOE on 25 March 2026.
How does the Campus Rural Programme relate to the fight against rural depopulation?
The programme is driven by the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación and seeks to connect the university system with rural territories, bringing young talent and technical knowledge to municipalities that struggle to attract qualified profiles.
Official source
View the full regulation at the official sourceDisclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-6953