A substantial increase in the global population is projected by 2050, with significant implications for major urban centers, as approximately 70% of the population is expected to reside in cities. This demographic shift presents structural challenges aimed at reducing rural-to-urban migration by fostering equitable access to employment, education, healthcare, nutrition, and, more broadly, an improved quality of life. From a collaborative, inclusive, and innovation-driven perspective, the social and economic transformation of rural communities is proposed, prioritizing the development of local capacities and strategies for the sustainable use of natural resources to mitigate the effects of climate change. In this context, the automation and digitalization of local economic, environmental management, and educational activities are identified as critical components for the effective implementation of such strategies. Higher education institutions emerge as indispensable actors in this process, facilitating conceptualization, critical analysis, and contextual application of methodologies and tools for territorial transformation. Within this framework, the results of a participatory co-creation process are presented, involving the development of a pilot theoretical model to promote community-based sustainable development. This model is structured around five analytical dimensions, with critical variables and factors identified through participatory workshops, community consultations, direct observation, and systematic analysis in a rural setting. The aim is to contribute to the design of public policies and sustainable development strategies grounded in a social innovation approach. The critical variables identified during this experimental phase are organized in a table according to the proposed dimensions of analysis. The automation and digitalization of local economic and social activities are recognized as transversal factors essential to ensuring the operational viability of the proposed sustainable strategies.