About HI-EURECA-PRO
Our Mission
The HI-EURECA-PRO Project, funded by the European Union, builds on the potential of heritage-based innovation aiming to drive sustainable economic and social development in rural and urban areas of Poland, Greece, and Romania.
Leveraging the strengths of the EURECA-PRO Alliance, the project unites eight universities across Europe to develop innovative tools and measurable methods for material sustainability, showcasing industrial, cultural, and mining heritage innovations.
Led by the Technical University of Crete (Greece) and supported by University partners from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Romania and Spain, HI-EURECA-PRO exemplifies collaboration among European Higher Education Institutions. It bridges academia with industry and governance structures to achieve research excellence and knowledge valorisation, through heritage-based innovations and practical solutions.
Sustainable growth while preserving heritage tapestry
Preserving cultural heritage is crucial to safeguarding European values and fostering a sense of shared identity. However, many regions struggle to capitalise on their heritage for economic and social development, particularly in rural and urban areas of Greece, Poland, and Romania. In this context, the EU-funded HI-EURECA-PRO project aims to harness heritage for sustainable development in these areas. Specifically, universities from widening and non-widening countries collaborate to develop innovative methods for heritage-based innovation. By integrating industrial, cultural, and mining heritage, the project fosters regional innovation ecosystems and upskills knowledge for societal benefit. This initiative strengthens research excellence and bridges academia with industry and government, paving the way for a greener and more digitally adept future.
Goals
The main goal of the HI-EURECA-PRO team is to reach research excellence based on the heritage of selected regions in the EU widening countries of Greece, Poland and Romania. To achieve this, a range of innovative and sustainable demonstration activities are planned in the context of cultural, industrial and mining heritage sites, supported by EURECA-PRO Alliance partners.
Building a Regional Innovation Ecosystem on Heritage
Creating a robust regional innovation ecosystem including all parameters of the heritage innovation quintuple helix: environmental, social, economic, political and academic
Strengthening HEI-Heritage Collaboration for Sustainability
Opening new roads for collaboration between the HEI and the heritage sector in the testing and application of sustainable materials, tools and methods
Advancing Knowledge for the Green and Digital Transition
Supporting knowledge creation and transfer in the green and digital transition by advancing the educational tools and methods in the green transition era
Foster new research careers in HE
Contribute to new research careers on heritage sustainability in HE with hands-on experience in involving the industry, the society and the government
Provide new and upskilled knowledge accessible to all heritage stakeholders.
Introduce new and upskilled knowledge, which will be available to all interested parties.
Our Team
GREECE 
POLAND 
ROMANIA 
AUSTRIA 
GERMANY
SPAIN 
BELGIUM