ILUCIDARE is a three and a half year project to promote and leverage heritage-led innovation and international relations through the creation and activation of an international community of heritage practitioners in Europe and beyond, while strongly contributing to the overall objectives of the communication Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations (JOIN/2016/029) and EU international cooperation in research and innovation (COM(2012)497). ILUCIDARE refers to both “elucidare”, aiming to provide a common definition of CH-led innovation and international relations, and “lucidare”, aiming to raise awareness, provide assistance, leverage and upscale CH-led innovation and international relations on a global scale. ILUCIDARE opts to tie its activities to strong established networks rather than just creating a new isolated project with little or no impact. The project will enable the exchanges of best practices, knowledge transfer, skills development and cross-fertilisation within its global network through an extensive use of digital engagement strategies and tools as well as participatory activities including focus groups and co-creation ateliers, 3 high-level international conferences – aka Playgrounds, 5 international competitions (including 4 ILUCIDARE special EU Prizes for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra awards), online training by means of a Youtube Learning Channel with community manager, 2 academic training courses, and onsite capacity buildings in 11 capacity buildings in 10 countries in Europe, the Western Balkans, South America, Middle East and Africa. The strong international component of ILUCIDARE activities will allow to foster intercultural dialogue and effectively improve EU external relations through cultural heritage diplomacy. Based on continuous exchanges facilitated by a special appointed Community Manager, ILUCIDARE will act as an hub for heritage-led innovative solutions and will support spill-overs and sustainable development collaborations to better preserve and promote heritage, especially where it is at risk.

The main ambition of IMPACTOUR project is to create an innovative and easy-to-use methodology and tool to measure and assess the impact of Cultural Tourism (CT) on European economic and social development and to improve Europe’s policies and practices on CT, strengthening its role as a sustainable driving force in the growth and economic development of European regions. CT has been recognized as one of the drivers of growth, jobs and economic development, as well intercultural understanding and social development in Europe regions and urban areas.However, there is still a knowledge gap on methods to measure different types of CT impacts and to assess multilevel and cross-border strategies, policies and practices contribution to sustainable development.IMPACTOUR proposes to bring together CT-related stakeholders and researchers to achieve new approaches taking advantage of the large amounts of information that confront policy-makers. By identifying and comparing quantitative/qualitative pan-European information on CT forms and promotion, and by providing quantifiable evidence of CT strategies and their effect on European regions’ development and Europeanisation, IMPACTOUR will deliver an innovative methodology and tool (combining data analytics algorithms with artificial intelligence and machine learning strategies) providing CT stakeholders with strategic guidance so that policies and practices on CT can be improved. IMPACTOUR will encompass a sustainable ecosystem by engaging Cultural Tourism stakeholders and following a participatory approach. IMPACTOUR tools and methods will lead to reinforcing the commitment with Europe CT, increasing citizens sense of belonging, valorisation of minority cultures, strengthening of identities and Europeanisation. IMPACTOUR Methodology will be completed and tested with data coming from 15 Data Information Pilots and the IMPACTOUR tool will be validated in 5 Validation Pilots, with distinct characteristics spread around Europe.