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Investigating Cultural Sustainability is a European research network focused in a multidisciplinary perspective on the relationship between culture and sustainable development. During its four year period (2011-2015) its main objective was to highlight European research across its members’ countries in order to provide policy makers with instruments for integrating culture as a key element of the sustainable development. Action’s network was composed of around 100 researchers from 25 countries within the EU, with participants as well from Israel, New Zealand and Australia. It held a wide variety of disciplines and fields of research, ranging from cultural, humanistic and social sciences, through political and natural sciences to planning. These were organised in three thematic clusters–Concepts, Policies and Assessments–which are broadly reflected in the structure of this document.

The work of the network was supported by the European COST Association (COperation in Science and Technology) and funded within the European Commission’s research programme Horizon 2020. COST Actions are designed to build new knowledge by bringing together researchers to cooperate and coordinate nationally-funded research activities, and to build up new transnational and international research co-operation. The funding provides an opportunity for researchers to develop their competences, share experience and expertise with colleagues in other countries, and improve their research career through workshops, training and exchange programs.