The Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Interreg NEXT Programme is set to enhance cross-border cooperation with the launch of the project “Improving the Visualization of Joint Cultural Heritage through the Carpathian Cultural Route – HICART II.” The project is being implemented by the Maramureș Small and Medium Enterprises Development Center (Romania) in partnership with the Economic Development Association of Ivano-Frankivsk Region (Ukraine) and Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas (Ukraine).
Launching Conference Marks the Beginning of a Promising Initiative
As part of the project’s initiation, a launching conference was held at Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas. The event brought together over 85 participants, including experts, academics, educators, postgraduate students, and university students, who discussed the project’s goals and expected impact on cultural heritage and tourism in the Carpathian Euroregion.
In their opening remarks, Serhiy Zikratyy, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work at the university; Radu Big, Director of the Maramureș Small and Medium Enterprises Development Center and project manager; Oksana Shiychuk, expert of the Joint Secretariat’s representation in Ivano-Frankivsk; and Ludmila Arkhipova, professor at the Department of Ecology and project manager of Partner 2, emphasized the importance of the project for tourism and economic development in the region.
Conference participants had the opportunity to listen to several expert presentations:
- “About the Interreg NEXT Cross-Border Cooperation Programme” by Iryna Kinash, Head of the Department of Management and Administration and project marketing expert.
- “International Cooperation Opportunities within the Interreg VI-A NEXT Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine 2021-2027 Programme” by Yaroslav Adamenko, Professor at the Department of Ecology and project coordinator.
- “HICART II: Improving the Visualization of Joint Cultural Heritage through the Carpathian Cultural Route” by Oleh Mandryk, Professor at the Department of Ecology and project coordination manager.
- “HICART I: The Carpathian Cultural Route” presented by Ludmila Arkhipova, project manager.
During the discussions, speakers highlighted that HICART II supports the preservation and visualization of local culture, promotes regional cooperation, and creates favorable conditions for tourism development. By increasing awareness of the Carpathian Cultural Route, the project is expected to attract more visitors to the region and encourage investment in cultural and historical sites.
The HICART II project, with a total budget of €318,301.20 and an EU contribution of €286,471.08, will run from January 2025 to December 2026. It aims to enhance the visualization of joint cultural heritage along the Carpathian Cultural Route, fostering cross-border cooperation and regional tourism development. Through research, network expansion, training programs, cultural events, and digital promotional tools such as an updated trilingual website and a mobile application, the project will create new opportunities for cultural heritage preservation and economic growth in the region.
With the successful launch, the project partners will now focus on implementing planned activities to bring tangible benefits to the region’s cultural and tourism sectors. Stay updated on our website and social media channels for the latest developments.
