The GreenHer Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Green Heritage Science officially entered its operational phase on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, with a kick-off meeting of partners held at the City Museum of Ljubljana.

Professor Matija Strlič, Director of the Centre, stated:

“The launch marks the transition from vision to action — into a phase of concrete research and development. We will soon be fully equipped to conduct cutting-edge interdisciplinary research. We will develop environmentally responsible and technologically advanced solutions for the preservation and conservation of cultural heritage, working closely with museums, conservators, other heritage professionals, industry partners, and local communities. Our goal is to contribute to more sustainable and digitally supported management and preservation of cultural heritage.”

This represents a major milestone in the development of Slovenia’s first interdisciplinary centre dedicated to sustainable research and innovation in the field of cultural heritage. It is also a significant step forward in broader European efforts to place cultural heritage at the heart of the green transition.

Over the next six years, the Centre will implement a comprehensive research and innovation programme focused on environmentally responsible conservation methods, sustainable management of built heritage environments, landscapes and archaeological sites, inclusive approaches to heritage and tourism governance, and the development of a cultural heritage data cloud.

Developed in cooperation with international partners, the GreenHer Centre has been established as an autonomous unit within the University of Ljubljana, bringing together a number of leading Slovenian researchers in the field. It operates in close partnership with the National and University Library of Slovenia, the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, the University of Maribor, the University of Primorska, as well as with the Italian National Research Council and University College London (United Kingdom).

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