The practice begins where Australian sector knowledge is deepest: cultural heritage, craft, cultural and creative industries, provenance, fashion, textiles and place-based production.
A defined Horizon Europe field
The European Commission places innovative research on European cultural heritage and the cultural and creative industries inside Cluster 2, “Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society”. Culture and CCIs contribute to sustainable growth, social cohesion, resilience and competitiveness.
Cluster 2 already treats craft, culture and creative production as research and innovation.
The themes match Australian capability
Commission priorities include green and digital transition in CCIs, traditional knowledge and new technology in craft, circular design and manufacturing, sustainable business models, digitisation, conservation and access. Projects such as CRAFT‑IT4SD, HEPHAESTUS, Tracks4Crafts and CRAEFT show how those themes become funded consortium structures.
Specialisation creates a broader network
Strong projects connect cultural knowledge with researchers, technology partners, policy bodies, regional authorities, SMEs, manufacturers and end users. The specialist contribution is knowing how cultural and craft capability belongs inside that larger architecture.
Official starting points
European Commission: Cultural heritage and CCIs ↗
CORDIS: Traditional crafts for the future projects ↗