About Convivium

About Convivium

Programme

CONVIVIUM is a coalition of public and private European partners that brings a cultural dimension to the European Green Deal by harnessing the material and symbolic power of food. Recognizing food as a “living heritage,” the programme sees it as a shared, transformative experience that reflects societal change and supports local well-being. Rooted in the spirit of the New European Bauhaus, CONVIVIUM promotes sustainable, culture-based solutions through design prototypes, cultural events, new organizational models, and digital tools. These initiatives aim to support farmers, engage communities, and reshape the relationship between food, people, and place. The programme is guided by strong scientific, managerial, and collaborative structures, ensuring solutions are community-driven and forward-thinking. At its core, CONVIVIUM connects tradition with innovation to foster sustainability and inclusion.

Methodologies

CONVIVIUM’s methodologies are rooted in collaboration, shared heritage, and conviviality, where individuals become a collective “we” through co-labor. They draw on the “ontological turn,” a perspective that sees research and practice as relational and performative—shaping the world rather than just describing it. This includes more-than-human thinking, which recognizes humans as part of an interdependent ecological community, central to the Zoöp model from Nieuwe Instituut. The approach is supported by design thinking and participative deliberation through workshops, mapping sessions, and hybrid forums. To overcome dominant norms, the project relies on the consortium’s strengths in empathy, critical thinking, and collaborative innovation.

Locations

europe-outline-map-seeklogo The Lofoten Islands (NO) The city of Coimbra (PT) Flanders (BE) Rotterdam (NL) Gdańsk (PL) Basque Regions (FR, SP)

Objectives

SO1. To redefine food heritage (and cultural heritage at large)

CONVIVIUM aims to ensure lasting impact by anchoring its food heritage solutions in cultural initiatives and the food and tourism industries. This involves engaging target groups early, involving stakeholders in development, and applying strategies to attract interest during implementation and market launch.

SO2. To revitalize traditional, sustainable food practices

CONVIVIUM ensures long-term impact by embedding its food heritage solutions in cultural and economic activities. It engages key groups early, involves stakeholders in development, and uses targeted strategies to build interest at launch and implementation.

SO3. To establish food heritage as an important asset for culture, identity and inclusion, economy, tourism and territorial economic competitiveness

CONVIVIUM aims for lasting change by connecting its food heritage solutions with cultural and economic activities. It identifies target groups, co-develops with stakeholders, and applies strategies to drive engagement during rollout and beyond.

SO4. To position citizens as food heritage stakeholders by promoting the reconnection of people to their local ecosystems

CONVIVIUM sees the ecological crisis as a cultural one, rooted in broken relationships with nature. Its solutions promote reciprocity, care, and connection through food. By combining arts, crafts, technology, and immersive experiences, CONVIVIUM fosters ecological awareness and a shared sense of belonging.

Work Plan

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. Following the Multiannual Financial Framework Midterm Review (MTR) decision, the indicative funding amount for Horizon Europe for the period 2021-2027 is EUR 93.5 billion.

It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges. It supports creating and better dispersing of excellent knowledge and technologies.

It creates jobs, fully engages the EU’s talent pool, boosts economic growth, promotes industrial competitiveness and optimizes investment impact within a strengthened European Research Area.

Legal entities from the EU and associated countries can participate.