The "Smart Villages" initiative was launched in the European Parliament in 2017 with the aim of halting the depopulation and migration of young and educated residents from rural areas to urban centers. It was formalized in April 2017 with the adoption of the EU Action Plan for Smart Villages. This paper provides an overview of the concept of developing and becoming a smart village in the context of addressing the economic, infrastructural, and social lag of rural areas in the EU and presents solutions derived from the European project "Smart Rural 21." As part of the study, a survey was conducted among the residents of the Municipality of Kalnik to determine which components of the "Smart Villages" concept they consider important for addressing their specific problems and needs. The survey results show that residents are moderately satisfied with their current quality of life and wish to improve local infrastructure and quality of life through the use of digital technologies. They recognize the potential of their community as an example of a smart village, highlighting that energy renovation of households, the establishment of smart LED public lighting, and the development of activities and facilities for elderly citizens and people with disabilities will primarily contribute to this process.