Butnariu, AndreeaIspas, Geta-MirelaFehér, LeventeBejenaru, Alexandru-EmilCoca, OanaȘtefan, Gavril2026-09-152026-09-152026-05-15https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/16/10/1081https://repository.iuls.ro/handle/20.500.12811/6980Emerging technologies offer significant opportunities for sustainable rural development; however, their applications have not been systematically mapped across all dimensions of sustainability. This scoping review aims to identify, classify, and synthesize the literature on emerging technologies in rural development, structured around four pillars: economic, social, environmental, and governance. Eligible studies included English-language scientific articles published between 2015 and 2025 that propose solutions based on emerging technologies in rural contexts, identified in the Web of Science Core Collection database, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Data extracted from the 129 eligible articles were synthesized in thematic tables and comparatively analyzed for each pillar. Results indicate an accelerated growth in publications after 2020, with machine learning, deep learning, and the Internet of Things dominating applications such as precision agriculture, telemedicine, and water management. Critical gaps persist in biodiversity monitoring, climate adaptation, elderly care services, and rural circular economy, with the governance pillar remaining the least represented. This study proposes an integrated framework and a knowledge map to guide future research and public policies toward balanced and sustainable rural transformation.enCC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/rural developmentemerging technologiessustainable development goalsemerging futuredevelopment perspectivesReview2077-0472https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16101081