In a world grappling with rapid technological advancements and pressing environmental challenges, preserving and leveraging cultural heritage is paramount. The “Innovation through Heritage” conference, hosted by the Time Machine Organisation (TMO) and organized by the Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europe (ARCHE), brought together key stakeholders to address this crucial issue. The conference served as a significant step towards establishing a European Partnership Framework for strengthening cultural heritage resilience. This event saw the important presentation of SD-WISHEES, an initiative vital for ensuring the long-term sustainability of cultural heritage facing hydroclimatic extremes.

The “Innovation through Heritage” conference, 3–5 March 2025, focused on how national and European research and funding policies can unite to build resilience in cultural heritage. The event brought together policymakers, thought leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to shape the future of this vital sector. Key themes included digitization, technology, climate adaptation, and resilience, with a long-term vision extending to 2040 and beyond. The conference aimed to forge a sustainable roadmap for cultural heritage research and innovation, highlighting its transformative potential for societal benefit and economic growth.

Roger Street Presents SD-WISHEES:

Within this context, Dr. Roger Street’s presentation of SD-WISHEES (Supporting and Developing Widening Strategies to tackle Hydroclimatic Extreme Events) resonated strongly with the conference’s themes. His presentation emphasized the initiative’s proactive approach to safeguarding cultural heritage from the growing threats posed by hydroclimatic extremes.

Key takeaways from Dr. Street’s presentation included:

• The urgent need for innovative tools and collaborative strategies to mitigate the impact of hydroclimatic events on cultural heritage.
• The importance of fostering inclusive partnerships across various stakeholder groups throughout Europe and beyond.
• SD-WISHEES’ commitment to creating a roadmap to prioritize research and innovation in this critical area.
• The initiative’s dedication to co-designing and co-evaluating effective strategies for ensuring wider adoption and impact of research findings.

SD-WISHEES’ mission aligns directly with the “Innovation through Heritage” conference’s objectives. The initiative is dedicated to developing innovative tools and strategies to enable collaboration, ensuring the sustainable management of cultural heritage under threat from hydroclimatic extremes. It embraces a comprehensive approach, encompassing the understanding of cascading hazards, the analysis of socio-economic impacts, the building of resilience, and the promotion of smart, systemic adaptation, and mitigation actions.

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