RURITAGE establishes a new heritage-led rural regeneration paradigm able to transform rural areas in sustainable development demonstration „laboratories‟, through the enhancement of their unique Cultural and Natural Heritage potential.

Based on past research and experiences, RURITAGE identifies 6 Systemic Innovation Areas (SIAs) (Pilgrimage, Sustainable Local Food Production, Migration, Art and festivals, Resilience, Integrated Landscape management) and 11 Cross-cutting Themes which represent the ways in which cultural heritage acts as driver for regeneration of a rural area and its economic, social and environmental development.

RURITAGE believes that a new heritage-led rural regeneration paradigm is able to transform rural areas in sustainable development demonstration laboratories, through the enhancement of their unique Cultural and Natural Heritage potential. Through the analysis of existing business models, governance and regulatory frameworks in 15 Role models, and thanks to innovative technological, organizational and social solutions developed throughout the project, RURITAGE will demonstrate heritage potential as a powerful economic, social and environmental catalyst for regeneration, sustainable development, economic growth and improvement of people’s well-being and living environment in 6 Replicators. Moreover, through the creation of Rural Heritage Hubs and of the EU Rural Heritage Hubs Network, RURITAGE intends to foster collective management, responsibility and ownership of Cultural and Natural Heritage. Finally, thanks to the replication and the up-scaling of the RURITAGE heritage-led paradigm, RURITAGE also aims at mainstreaming heritage in national and European policies.