Heritage in Europe (HEPHAESTUS)

Heritage in EuroPe: new tecHnologies in crAft for prEServing and innovaTing fUtureS

The project takes its name from the Greek god Hephaestus, from whom man learned to use fire, technology and crafts. CBS’ Department of Business Humanities and Law is leading the project, known in full as: “Heritage in Europe: New technologies in craft for preserving and innovating futures”. The aim of the project is to research, preserve and, at the same time, innovate craft sectors to deliver a cutting-edge, creative, and sustainable technology-driven economy based on cultural heritage.

The project is collaborating with craftspeople, organizations, and municipalities from the following Craft Ecosystems:

Copenhagen Business School (CBS) Staff

Marta Gasparin, Associate Professor – Principal Investigator

Marius Gudmand-Høyer – Associate Professor

Vishv Priya Kohli – Associate Professor

Rasmus Johnsen – Associate Professor

Lena Olaison – Associate Professor

Enrico Macciò – PhD Student

Andrea Beye – PhD Student

Lea Jacobsen – Project Manager and Research Assistant

Margot Bustamante – Research Assistant

Partners of the Consortium

To achieve these objectives, the consortium brings together leading universities, business schools, and a private organization known for expertise in craft heritage, materials, and digital innovation. 

• Copenhagen Business School (CBS)
• University of Gothenburg
• Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata
• Bornholms Regionskommune / BOFA
• Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia
• Fablab Venezia
• Comune di Bassano del Grappa
• Wit Berry 

See the details of the Consortium here

The HEPHAESTUS project is driven by six objectives and seven work packages

Objective 1: Develop new sustainable business models for the craft sectors.

Objective 2: Combine cutting-edge technologies with craft materials and processes to research and develop new applications and solutions for the digitization and innovation of the craft sector to improve sustainability and social innovation.

Objective 3: Explore visions for the role of craft in the future, integrating emerging technologies and contributing to the circular economy, by engaging craft communities in a participatory ideation process.

Objective 4: Develop a lifelong learning methodology and a set of innovative curricula to equip craft-makers with diverse skillsets for innovation.

Objective 5: Establish a green living lab for testing the HEPHAESTUS innovations.

Objective 6: To design and operationalize a bespoke dissemination, communication, and exploitation strategy. 

Work Packages

The project is structured around seven work packages, each designed to address key aspects of research, development, and outreach in the craft sector:

WP 1: New sustainable business models for the craft sector

WP 2: Innovating craft through digital and cutting-edge technologies

WP 3: Crafting visions for the future of crafts

WP 4: Innovative training curricula for traditional craft-makers of the future

WP 5: Establishing Future Crafts Green Living Lab

WP 6: Communication, dissemination, and impact

WP 7: Management and data protection