The AGATE project deals with the question of the structuring of the rural areas of the Atlantic Area, linking them coherently with the territories around them, and notably with urban networks. It is a question of participating in the structuring of the territory by means of the concerting of actors, the setting up of partnerships and the emergence of projects. The project accords great importance to the involvement of local actors, who participate on a daily basis in the development of their territory and who can therefore bring pertinent insights to the debate. AGATE plans to create some twenty think-tank groups made up of different local actors, supposed in particular to reflect on themes like ‘the links among urban and rural zones’ or ‘the development of rural territories in the Atlantic Area’.