A renewed interest for crafts and their role in local development is evident in EU policies as well as national and local public actions. On the one hand, crafts are seen as an important part of the European cultural heritage, and they materialize regional cultures that are distinct and defy the notion of uniformity in our globalized world. On the other, Technological advancements, alternative economies and sustainable ways of living are transforming craft work while at the same time renewing its relevance in contemporary society. The EU Horizon research project HEPHAESTUS focuses on the safeguard and renewal of traditional crafts by cross-pollinating traditional techniques and new technologies, exploring new business and organizational models and innovating in light of circularity and sustainability.

One of the challenges for traditional crafts such as glass blowing, weaving and pottery is that they are unfamiliar or invisible to many in the modern world, even though handcrafted products have qualities which industrialized, mass-produced goods do not always have.