Digitization has become a priority for the EU and its Member States, especially in the cultural heritage and tourism sectors. For this reason, an international European consortium of 10 full partners and 5 associates has launched the MetaHeritage project, a pioneering initiative to create new interregional networks.
The main objective of the project, funded by the European Innovation Council and the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EISMEA), is to transform interregional development, innovation and economic growth across Europe. To this end, it combines cutting-edge technologies such as the metaverse with cultural heritage to create new business models, strengthen regional innovation ecosystems and promote sustainable tourism.
In addition, MetaHeritage capitalizes on this momentum given by the interest in prioritizing digital innovation in cultural heritage and tourism by aligning with new EU funding policies and leveraging the network of European Digital Innovation Centers, created in 2023, to help small and medium-sized enterprises adopt digital innovations.
The basis of this initiative is the principles of smart specialization, through which it empowers less developed regions by creating interregional networks and coordinated investment strategies. Building on this, it focuses on heritage, cultural routes and metaversal applications, leading to the promotion of innovative and targeted solutions that address the unique challenges and opportunities of each region.
A holistic approach to regional innovation
MetaHeritage promises a comprehensive and global approach to innovation. To do so, it will connect different regions and stages of the value creation process to achieve an innovative outcome everywhere.
At the territorial level, the project focuses on one less developed region (Northern Portugal), one outermost region (Azores), three transition regions (Thuringia, Saxony and Galicia) and three more developed regions (Emilia Romagna, Brussels and Vienna).
This pioneering initiative will enable equitable participation and tailored interventions, promote sustainable tourism, especially in rural areas, and, in turn, advance the digitization and competitiveness of Europe.
Key objectives of the project include:
- Promote sustainable growth, i.e., integrate digital and sustainable innovation with heritage tourism and entrepreneurship.
- Enhance regional collaboration based on connecting businesses, academia, government agencies and civil society to foster inter-regional and cross-sector collaboration.
- Address regional disparities. Central to this will be providing tools and resources for underrepresented regions to access EU innovation networks and funding opportunities.
MetaHeritage is the rallying point for a wide range of stakeholders: European clusters, heritage companies, destination management organizations, digital providers, research institutions, GLAM organizations (galleries, libraries, archives and museums), civil society groups and public administrations. All in all, it is a collaboration that ensures strong capacity building, innovative business case development and consultancy services.
The future of sustainable innovation in the hands of MetaHeritage
By integrating entrepreneurial and cultural heritage with advanced technologies, MetaHeritage seeks to create a dynamic, cross-regional ecosystem that fosters sustainable growth, innovation and economic resilience.
The project will provide a framework that will enable less developed regions to generate innovative entrepreneurial initiatives by combining heritage trails with metaverse technologies to deliver immersive experiences.
On January 30, the project consortium will hold an official kick-off meeting at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro in Vila Real, Portugal. This will not just be a simple meeting, but will include discussions, inspiring talks and team activities to lay the groundwork for the project’s success over the next two years.
Project partners:
- Universidade de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro.
- Universidad Friedrich-Schiller de Jena.
- Associazione Clust-ER Turismo.
- European Historic Houses.
- Conference of Rectors of Southwest European Universities.
- Clust-ER Innovatzione nei servizi.
- European Cluster Alliance.
- Universidade dos Açores.
- Technische Universität Dresden.
- Time Machine Organisation.
