More than one million SEK for research on cultural heritage

What part does cultural heritage play in urban and rural development? Two researchers have received funds to find out.

Pia Nilsson, PhD in Economics at JIBS, is leading the project "The importance of cultural heritage in urban and rural development," which has received just over 1.1 million SEK from the Swedish National Heritage Board. Professor Hans Westlund from KTH is also involved in the project.

“We will analyse the significance of cultural heritage as an attractiveness factor and as a driver of economic development in different regions. Our focus will be on the differences in development between urban and rural areas”, says Pia Nilsson.

Cultural heritage includes traditions, language, artistic works, historical monuments, archives and collections as well as cultural sites and cultural landscapes.

Every year the Swedish National Heritage Board funds research and projects at universities and cultural institutions throughout the country. The aim is to strengthen, broaden and further develop knowledge in the cultural area. A total of approximately 13 million SEK was granted for 2015.