Partnership for Resilient Cultural Heritage
As part of its Horizon Europe research programme, launched in 2021, the European Commission (EC) established a new collaboration instrument: the European Partnership. In these partnerships, countries and civil society organisations join forces to strengthen expertise and professional practices in a specific field. The EC also contributes funds, which, in turn, encourages other financiers to make more money available for research, reaching a broader audience as a result.
Many partnerships have sprung up in the meantime, but so far none are in the field of cultural heritage. That is why the JPICH took the initiative to set up a partnership. Its working title is the ‘Partnership for Resilient Cultural Heritage’ (RCH). The objective of this partnership is to strengthen research into the impact that the climate is having on European cultural heritage, as well as research into how heritage can contribute to climate neutrality and resilience to climate phenomena.
Country participation and funding
The preparations for RCH are in full swing. The countries and organisations keen to participate, and their roles, are being identified. The substantive priorities are also being determined. During the course of 2024, the ministers of Education, Culture and Science and Economic Affairs confirmed with the EC that the Netherlands is keen to participate in the partnership, as did over twenty other countries. The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands will be involved on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
It is expected that the countries will jointly raise €130 million to fund research and innovation activities over the entire course of RCH. The EC will contribute another 30% to this amount. At the request of the EC, the final proposal for the partnership will be submitted in the course of 2025. The launch of RCH is expected to be in 2026; it will run until (at least) 2032.
Any updates concerning the partnership will be published on this webpage.