Societal impact of cultural heritage

The EU initiative "Societal impact of cultural heritage" within the framework of Horizon Europe aims to support research projects that investigate cultural heritage as a driver for social participation, social cohesion, and democratic engagement. Funded are cooperative projects involving companies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, start-ups, and public bodies based in EU member states or associated countries. With a funding amount of up to €3,000,000 per project and a funding rate of 100%, resources are available over a project duration of 36 months for personnel, travel expenses, equipment, and subcontractor services. Applicants must meet the Horizon Europe participation requirements and submit an ethics self-assessment. Evaluation criteria include excellence, impact, as well as the quality and efficiency of implementation. The submission deadline is 23 September 2027.

The focus is on three thematic priorities: first, improving access to cultural heritage and promoting youth participation; second, analyzing gender roles and identities in narratives and collections; third, the significance of shared cultural roots for cohesion and security, taking into account disinformation and instrumentalization. Using interdisciplinary methods, best practices are to be documented, policy and practice recommendations developed, and policy toolkits created. The goal is to support decision-makers in the public and private sectors in establishing innovative instruments for intercultural dialogue and political participation, thereby harnessing cultural heritage as a resource for social resilience and democratic values.