Innovation in Cultural Heritage: BIP Participants Gather at the University of Genoa

Genoa, 26 June 2025 – From 16 to 20 June 2025, the University of Genoa hosted the in-person week of the Blended Intensive Programme – BIP “Business Models and Digital Innovation for Cultural Heritage” organised by the Tourism and Heritage Innovation Hub UniGe/Ulysseus, welcoming over 30 participants, including students, PhD candidates and academic staff, from the University of Seville (Spain), Université Côte d’Azur (France), Technical University of Košice (Slovakia), Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), University of Montenegro (Montenegro) and from Beijing University of Chemical Technology (China).

An interdisciplinary and participative approach

The Blendend Intensive Programme (1st online session: 9-13 June; in-person at Genoa – Italy: 16-20 June; 2nd online session: 23 June-11 July) developed knowledge and improves managerial skills to graduates and students interested in attending an innovative training in the cultural heritage field, focused on business models and entrepreurship, with particular reference to digital innovation.

With the participation of experts from the University of Genoa and Partner Universities, it increased synergies and network to enhance professional competences and skills, promoting interaction, dialogue and knowledge exchange.

The participants had the opportunity to enhance interdisciplinary skills applied to cultural heritage, focusing on:

o         Business models and entrepreneuship

o         Digital innovation processes, tools and technologies

o         Communication strategies and audience engagement

Six teams to develop the Project worked through a participatory approach, the participants developed a project work activity: six teams, that integrated different backgrounds, training and experience, had identyfied projects of valorisation for Cultural Heritage throughtinnovative strategies, tools and methodologies and presented the first intermediate collective review of Friday 20 June. They are now developing the projects, to prepare the final presentation of Friday 11 July

Discovering UNESCO Heritage: educational visits

During the onsite week, the participants had also the opportunity to discover the historic center of Genoa, one of the most extended of Europe, where rich merchants and noble Genoese built for centuries their residences, enriched by many works of art. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the context of the Strade Nuove and the Palazzi dei Rolli. Some of these magnificent palaces become Museums; some others, are nowadays the University of Genoa’s premises in Via Balbi.

About Ulysseus

Ulysseus is one of the 64 European Universities selected by the European Commission to become the universities of the future. Led by the University of Seville, the Alliance encompasses other seven universities in Europe: the University of Genoa, Italy; Université Côte d’Azur, France; the Technical University of Košice, Slovakia; MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®, Austria; Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Finland, the University of Münster, Germany, and the University of Montenegro, Montenegro.