Call: Cultural heritage as a driver for sustainable growth

This Subprogramme aims to achieve a resource- and water-efficient economoy and society that is also resilient to climate change. Furthermore, it seeks to promote the protection and sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems. Lastly, the Programme also supports the sustainable supply and use of raw materials, in order to meet the needs of a growing global population within the sustainable limits of the planet's natural resources and eco-systems.

European cities and rural areas are unique cultural landscapes full of character at the core of Europe's identity. They are examples of our living heritage which is continually evolving and being added to. However some of them are facing economic, social and environmental problems, resulting in unemployment, disengagement, depopulation, marginalisation or loss of cultural and biological diversity. These challenges create demand for testing and experimenting with innovative pathways for regeneration. Cultural heritage (both tangible and intangible) can be used as a driver for the sustainable growth of urban and rural areas, as a factor of production and competitiveness and a means for introducing socially and environmentally innovative solutions. The overall challenge is to go far beyond simple conservation, restoration, physical rehabilitation or repurposing of a site and to demonstrate heritage potential as a powerful economic, social and environmental catalyst for regeneration, sustainable development, economic growth and improvement of people’s well-being and living environments.

At least three legal entities. Each of the three must be established in a different EU Member State or Horizon 2020 associated country. All three legal entities must be independent of each other.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to a maximum of 10 million € would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts. Funding rate: 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of 100% applies)