Project description
Shared heritage turns into a tool for peace
Safe civic spaces, such as community centres, local sports leagues or mixed cooperatives, can help promote daily, positive interactions between previously segregated populations. Conflict and post-conflict regions often struggle with social division. The EU-funded RE-SPHERE project is exploring how shared holy places can become spaces for peace, dialogue and reconciliation rather than sources of division. The project will study more than 150 sites across seven European countries and Ukraine, creating a framework for their management. It will combine research, digital tools, art and community participation to support cooperation between different groups. The project will also develop practical models for sustainable peacebuilding.
Objective
RE-SPHERE redefines the role of cultural heritage in conflict-affected and post-conflict European regions by transforming Shared Holy Places (SHPs) into laboratories of peace, reconciliation, and cultural diplomacy. Rooted in the lived realities of communities across Southeastern Europe (SEE) and Ukraine, the project integrates empirical research, digital innovation, artistic expression, and participatory governance to shift religion from a source of division to a resource for coexistence. RE-SPHERE will deliver concrete results: a new interdisciplinary typology and governance framework for SHPs; the first geo-referenced Atlas documenting 150+ sites across seven countries EL, BiH, UA, RO, BG, NM, and AL; an interactive digital platform and mobile app featuring AR/VR storytelling; community-driven exhibitions and youth-led cultural productions; and a Digital Diplomacy SHP Management Manual and Policy Toolkit for policymakers, heritage custodians, and civil society. Rigorous impact assessments will demonstrate how SHPs contribute to economic recovery, resilience, and social cohesion, providing evidence-based models for sustainable peacebuilding. The consortium brings together leading universities, research centres, cultural institutions, and NGOs. Academic excellence in religious studies, political science, anthropology, law, cultural heritage studies, peace and conflict studies, economics, and digital humanities is anchored by AUTh, UniLu, UNSA, KhNUE, ULBS, UzhNU, and SU, while cultural partners ACM and NIMOH, alongside interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding NGOs such as FCA and WCC, ensure practical depth. Supported by CERTH & VIL’s digital expertise, RE-SPHERE creates a cross-sectoral ecosystem that generates scalable, transferable solutions aligned with EU heritage, cohesion, and enlargement strategies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences sociology governance
- social sciences political sciences political policies civil society civil society organisations nongovernmental organizations
- social sciences sociology anthropology
- humanities philosophy, ethics and religion religions
- social sciences law
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.2 - Culture, creativity and inclusive society
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.2.2 - Cultural Heritage
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL2-2025-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
546 36 THESSALONIKI
Greece
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.