Visby, Sweden, 14 June 2024
The European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science (E-RIHS) and the Joint Programming Initiative on Cultural Heritage and Global Change (JPI CH) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that marks a significant step forward in their collaboration. Respectively supported by the European Commission and several European countries, these initiatives operate in the interdisciplinary and intersectoral domains of research and innovation to enhance the knowledge, intervention, and appreciation of our cultural heritage.
The MoU was officially signed by Pascal Liévaux, Chair of JPI CH, and Vania Virgili, Interim Director General of E-RIHS, during the JPI CH Board Meetings hosted by the Swedish National Heritage Board in Visby. This agreement underscores the commitment of both initiatives to strengthen their collaboration, set the stage for expanded research opportunities, and advance innovation for transmitting our heritage to future generations while addressing the challenges of climate change and ensuring sustainability.
Building on a history of long-standing institutional collaboration, the MoU reflects the joint efforts of E-RIHS and JPI CH at both European and national levels. Notable collaborations include E-RIHS serving as vice-chair in the JPI CH Advisory and Scientific Board (ASB) and the participation of several E-RIHS partner institutions in the Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europe (ARCHE), which paves the way for the European Partnership on Resilient Cultural Heritage.
E-RIHS and JPI CH have defined five key objectives and cooperation axes in the MoU:
- Exploring ways to ease access to state-of-the-art E-RIHS research facilities for researchers and professionals supported by JPI CH joint transnational calls.
- Enhancing capacity-building through the Heritage Science (HS) Academy by offering tailored training programs, including a dedicated webinar series to promote outcomes of JPI CH projects.
- Sustaining collaboration on foresight activities to address future research priorities and challenges in cultural heritage through a joint task force with the participation of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).
- Coordinating their complementary strategies to maximize their efforts in addressing complex cultural heritage challenges.
- Assessing the socio-economic impact of their outcomes by developing common indicators to collect evidence on how research and innovation in cultural heritage contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives of the European Green Deal.
This MoU signifies a shared dedication to promoting interdisciplinary research, facilitating knowledge exchange, and fostering capacity-building initiatives within the European heritage community and beyond.
