The 2nd HIST Award on UNESCO-designated Heritage Sustainable Development: Global Call for Applications

1. Overview

The HIST Award on UNESCO-designated Heritage Sustainable Development, organized by the International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST), aims to recognize the globally most outstanding cases where digital technologies are applied to serve the sustainable development of UNESCO-designated heritage sites, in advancement of the implementation of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. 

In 2026, HIST is inviting heritage management institutions, research organizations, and related entities worldwide to submit exemplary cases of digital technology application. Winners will be awarded during the opening ceremony of the 5th Huangshan Dialogue on UNESCO-designated Heritage and Sustainable Development, to be held in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, China, from May 31 to June 1, 2026.

2. Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation will holistically consider the following five aspects:

Innovation: Creativity in the application of digital or space technology within the case, such as the first-time use of a particular technology or the resolution of challenges that are difficult to address with traditional methods.

Demonstrability: Whether the case produces replicable experiences or tools, such as transferable toolkits, technical solutions, guideline manuals, or the establishment of collaborative networks that can serve as references for other heritage sites.

Contribution: The case’s contribution to advancing of heritage conservation practices, including positive impacts on institutional development, sectoral advancement, relevant policies, among others.

Sustainability: The long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits of the case, including measurable achievements in carbon emission reduction, ecological restoration, community development, among other scopes of sustainability.

International Impact: The global demonstration value of the case or achievement, such as international peer recognition, facilitation of transnational cooperation, or effective response to universal challenges.

*  Note: Only first-time submissions are eligible.

3. Award Mechanism

Winners will receive:

•  A certificate from HIST.

•  Free access to training/academic conferences.

•  A platform to promote their projects.

4. Application Procedure

•  May 20: Case Submission Deadline

•  May 20 – May 25: Expert Review

•  May 25: Announcement of Award Recipients

•  May 31: Award Ceremony

5. Application Materials

Applicants are required to prepare the following materials:

•  Application Form: Please download and accurately complete the English version of the application form (see attachment for details).

•  Third-party Certification (Optional): Such as documentation from partner institutions, media coverage, community or user feedback, etc., to substantiate the social impact of the case.

•  Letter of Recommendation (Optional): Provided by the heritage site management authority, government authorities relevant to heritage management, relevant international organizations, among others, specifying the applicant’s roles and contributions to the project.

All submitted materials must be in electronic format and may be in either Chinese or English. Please ensure that any materials intended for public dissemination have received the necessary authorization and approval.

6. Application Procedure

Applicant organizations or individuals are required to download and complete the application form, and submit the electronic version as specified to the designated email address of the HIST Secretariat ( office@unesco-hist.org ) no later than 24:00 (Beijing Time) on May 20, 2026. 

Please standardize the email subject as: 

Applicant Organization/Individual :Country + City + Case Name

All eligible individuals and institutions are encouraged to proactively apply and jointly advance the innovative protection and Sustainable Development of UNESCO-designated Heritage!

Download links:

Application Form for the 2nd Award on Sustainable Development of UNESCO-designated Sites