The European project ‘Genius Loci’, co-financed by the European Commission through the COSME program, aimed to promote the safeguarding, interpretation and presentation to a larger public and tourists of the industrial and technical heritage of SMEs, Small and Medium Size Enterprises. It had partners in Italy, Hungary, Spain, Malta, Belgium.
SMEs always played a fundamental role in the economic development of the European regions, and contributed greatly to social and technical environment. They still do. Many of them were – and still are – pioneers in their sector. Or they produce unique products for a niche market. When we think and talk about ‘industrial heritage’, however we neglect and forget their role too often.
Industrial heritage should not, and certainly not in the first place, have to do with large-scale industries such as coal mines or steelworks, but has to pay attention to the countless and so representative small businesses, active in cities and in the countryside. They determined the lives, habits and behavior of millions of men and women across Europe.
During the project the values and potentials were studied of historic SME sites, collections and museums, but also of enterprises that kept traditions alive. One looked at the interests of public, the tourist and educational market, the USPs, … A special industrial heritage label with QR-code ‘Industriana’ was created and and has been tested in five European regions. In those also thematic routes were set out.
On 21 September, the final session of this project will be organized at the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels.
We would like to invite you, or a representative, to this meeting with the subject: The industrial heritage of SMEs : an asset for tourist and regional development.
The results of the project for all partner countries will be presented. One will also discuss the followup of ‘Genius Loci’. The Industriana label will be rolled out during the European Year of Cultural Heritage. Through the European Federation of Associations of Industrial and Technical Heritage a special effort will be launched to promote cross-border cooperation and networking.
Participation is free.
Due to the strict safety rules, participants must compulsory register before the end of August (see the
registration for)
For information see also: http://www.industriana.eu
Registration form
