Innovation Hub of Tourism & Heritage

The Tourism & Heritage Innovation Hub fosters a territorial cultural ecosystem by strengthening collaboration among universities, research institutions, cultural organizations, and businesses. It promotes innovation in cultural management, tourism and cultural heritage (CH) business models, entrepreneurship in creative industries, museum strategy, communication, advanced technologies, conservation, and culture-driven development.

Innovation Hub of Tourism & Heritage

About this hub

The Heritage Innovation Hub is based at the University of Genoa (Italy).

Thematic areas

  • Cultural Heritage;
  • Tourism; Culture
  • Innovation Strategies;
  • Sustainability;
  • Cultural Management;
  • Competences;
  • Digital tools;
  • Territorial development;
  • Local, national and international synergies;
  • Entrepreneurship;
  • Innovation management;
  • Business models.

Objectives

The Tourism & Heritage Innovation Hub develops a territorial cultural ecosystem, with the aim of consolidating synergies between universities, research institutions, cultural institutions, and companies, with a focus on innovating methodologies and tools.

Among the topics:

  • Cultural Management
  • Business Models for CH and Tourism
  • Entrepreneurship in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) and Tourism field
  • Museums and cultural institutions strategic plan
  • Cultural Communication Strategies
  • Advanced Technologies in CH and Tourism
  • CH restoration and conservation
  • Culture-driven territorial and social development
  • ICT tools for Tourism, CH, restoration and architectural innovation

The IH enhances innovation in the Tourism and Cultural Heritage fields, promoting and developing:

  • Research (e.g. Joint R&I groups; European Projects; Doctoral Symposium; Call for proposals; Collaboration opportunities; Academic Staff /PhD exchanges)
  • Educational activity (e.g. Joint Degree; Blended Intensive Programmes; Call for proposals)
  • Communication and Events (e.g. Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, Open Classes and other events)
  • Supporting CCIs/Startups (e.g. Start Cup, Business angels, coworking, entrepreneurship training)

Existing facilities & resources

The main office is located at the Department of Economics and Business of the University of Genoa, and it is also supported by a training and event room, hosting seminars, workshops, open classes and other events located at “UniGe World”.

It is in connection with UniGe IRCultLab, a research infrastructure that offers an integrated network of scientific and technical expertise that provides highly qualified support for analysis, diagnostics, conservation, and management of cultural, archaeological, and landscape Heritage, involving several departments of the University of Genoa.

Events

Ulysseus Entre Camp 2026

Ulysseus Entre Camp 2026

The Ulysseus Entre Camp is a 5-days intensive training programme to improve students’ knowledge in the field of entrepreneurship through agile methodologies such as Design Thinking while incorporating a challenge-based learning approach
BIP: Business Models and Digital Innovation for Cultural Heritage (2025)

BIP: Business Models and Digital Innovation for Cultural Heritage (2025)

This BIP develops knowledge to understand and manage innovative business models and digital innovation processes for cultural heritage. It increases synergies and network to enhance professional competences and skills, promoting interaction, dialogue and knowledge exchange among students, professionals and companies.

Webinar: How to transfer interdisciplinary competences in heritage studies

Webinar: How to transfer interdisciplinary competences in heritage studies

Studies, research and training need to converge methods and analytical frameworks from multiple disciplines, integrating human sciences with scientific experiences and competences. In this context, what are the main educational gaps in interdisciplinary instruction? And which supports would be favourable at national and/or international level? Through some good practices and hands-on experiences, the interdisciplinary approach will be analysed and promoted widely.
Webinar: Introducing new solutions for boosting accessibility and inclusiveness in cultural heritage webinar

Webinar: Introducing new solutions for boosting accessibility and inclusiveness in cultural heritage webinar

he boost of digitalisation and technological solutions are the ultimate responses to an increasing demand for both audience development and activities of monitoring. Then, what are the more feasible options, and which are the side effects of this development? The webinar will address these topics reflecting on the different meanings of ‘accessibility’ and ‘inclusiveness’ in different contexts, opening a dialogue on their challenges and opportunities.

News

Satellites Projects

CORES

CORES

Joint Master Degree in COnservation and REstoration Sciences As European countries are characterized by a huge concentration of Cultural Heritage (CH) – from the smallest objects to the architectural monuments, from ancient paintings to modern art – where the roots of modern civilizations have their origin and which are the shrine of unmaterial culture and knowledge, this Joint Master Degree to be co-designed will train specialists with the highest sensitivity to the CH materials to preserve their existence from degradation and enhance their readability in particular with safe exhibitions of such delicate CH-related matters.

Associated Partners

Associated Partners are regional and local authorities, businesses, and citizens who participate and contribute to both the Ulysseus long-term mission and to our regional development and to shape the future of the European Higher Education. They are involved in the co-creation and design thinking processes, in the plans and structures and in the programs of activities of Ulysseus.

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Contact & Location