HUB-IN Project | Working Paper: European Historic Areas – State of Play

What is HUB-IN?

The HUB-IN 2020 project (Hub of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the Transformation of Historical Urban Areas) aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Historic Urban Areas (HUA), while preserving the unique identity of the historic sites regarding their natural, cultural and social values.

Led by University of Lisbon, HUB-IN adopts the innovation and entrepreneurship as the main drivers of urban regeneration in HUAs and it is fully aligned with the International agendas for Cultural Sustainable Development (UNESCO) and Cultural Heritage Strategy (Council Europe).

As indispensable partners, CrowdfundingHub and the Municipality of Utrecht together contribute substantially to the HUB-IN project thanks to our expertise on entrepreneurship and alternative finance. Together we provide alternative solutions and consulting service to help with the HUB-IN project.

What’s new about the latest HUB-IN working paper?

The working paper aims to provide an overview of the current context within which the HUB–IN Mission and Vision will be developed and delivered. It explores the current state of play of heritage–led regeneration across Historic Urban Areas throughout Europe, and highlights the role that innovation and entrepreneurship play in the realisation of their sustainable transformation.

Findings in this working paper are based on an analysis of 40 historic urban area restoration cases across 17 European countries.

Our data confirm that innovative and/or entrepreneurial initiatives have the potential to contribute to heritage–led regeneration in a historic urban setting… We conclude that establishing connections between actors and conditions of the entrepreneurial ecosystem is an important way forward in creating inclusive and sustainable regeneration of HUAs. This aligns with the focus of HUB–IN on creating hubs of innovation and/or entrepreneurship as focal points that connect individual projects, stakeholders, resources and ideas, and it reaffirms that this is a useful approach in the pursuit of heritage–led regeneration of Historic Urban Areas.

――――― HUB-IN Team

Conclusion

Establishing connections between actors and conditions of the ecosystem is an important way forward in creating inclusive and sustainable regeneration of Historic Urban Areas. This reaffirms that the focus of HUB–IN on the creation of hubs of innovation and/or entrepreneurship, as focal points that connect individual projects, stakeholders, resources and ideas, is a useful approach in the pursuit of heritage–led regeneration of Historic Urban Areas.

Thereby, the findings presented in this working paper reinforce the belief that HUB–IN presents a timely and strategic opportunity. In guiding the development of inclusive and sustainable practices that support the emergence and permanence of hubs of innovation and/or entrepreneurship, a contribution can be made to create Historic Urban Areas that embody a spirited culture, a vibrant and inclusive social life, and a flourishing local economy while being environmentally sustainable.

 

Download the HUB-IN Working Paper HERE