Effective public sector action is a cornerstone of spatially balanced and sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region. Especially rural areas need administrative support for compensating lower economic potentials for the benefit of their population. ASAP created innovative solutions to meet the most urgent challenges for rural development in the Baltic Sea Region in an integrated way: Demographic change leads to a new composition of the rural population. Knowledge society calls for well-educated people and knowledge-based businesses. ASAP helped public and private service providers to adapt to new demands, and universities to become partners for developing rural areas.