Jobs are rare, the shops are closed and the bus only runs once a day. What solutions does digitalisation offer for the problems of rural regions? The Fraunhofer Institute IESE and Rhineland-Palatinate are testing this in their Digitale Dörfer (Digital Villages) project. At its heart is a platform that enables access to various digital services: local retailers can sell their goods via an online marketplace, for example, while a village wireless app promotes exchange, and the village news broadcasts news from the region. Neighbourly delivery services and ride-shares can also be organised by app. In this way, digital technology strengthens solidarity in the village and helps people overcome challenges, together.