The Cultural Heritage (CH) Research and Innovation (R&I) landscape has changed significantly over the past few years. New political, technological and socio-economic parameters put emphasis on improving protection, conservation and restoration efficiency of European CH with green technologies, as well as developing and further exploiting high quality digitisation, open access and curation of digital assets. The need also exists to enhance the innovation potential and competitive edge of the Cultural and Creative Sector (CCS) to drive sustainable growth and job creation against global competition. Responding to these challenges, the project will develop a pan European framework for a holistic approach to CH R&I, by creating the Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europe (ARCHE), a spearheading coordination network of researchers, innovators, heritage professionals, institutional bodies and citizens. The objective is to engage all CH actors in member States / Associated Countries in the co-design of R&I strategies and roadmaps that lead to R&I initiatives requiring multidisciplinary approaches and skills A detailed assessment of R&I gaps and needs for the next decade will be the basis for designing a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for joint programming aiming to increase awareness of heritage and European sense of belonging. A new purpose-built governance structure will be proposed that will effectively involve existing networks and new partners from relevant scientific disciplines and industries. It will also promote intensive and wide-ranging collaboration between cultural heritage, the arts, and the CCS. The SRIA and governance structure will be tested in a pilot operation in the third and final year. ARCHE will be a strong basis for a European Partnership in CH, by pooling, developing and upscaling transnational collaboration on CH R&I and by involving all stakeholders and funding mechanisms related to CH R&I policy and action.

This Start-up plan is about creating the EIT Culture & Creativity. Starting by building its legal and operational readiness, and leading on to the design of long-term strategies for partnership growth and ecosystem engagement. All activities carried out during the start-up phase are aimed at enabling this EIT Innovation Community to unlock the latent value of its stakeholders. The focus will be on: Creating the new legal entities, good governance structures, and internal initiatives that foster long-term financial sustainability plans while maintaining the public service mission. Endowing the KIC with appropriate management and operational teams, with attributes and roles that can grow with the KIC; and ensuring the best candidates are recruited to the roles to assume all necessary functions, including supervisory ones. Developing the KIC’s programmatic structures based upon knowledge generated and contributed by the partners, and in alignment with the Strategic Agenda 23-27, and launch the first Call for Proposals for BP 24-25. To raise awareness of the EIT Culture & Creativity, and to develop specific measures to engage and nurture a vibrant community of innovators, from all corners of Europe, and especially from RIS countries. The SUGA is built on 30 partners, and one affiliated entity. The rest of the founding organisations will contribute pro-bono to many of the activities by volunteering staff to the participatory work groups. All these contributions are fundamental to achieving legal and operational readiness, and to building a shared vision for EIT Culture & Creativity.