Sustainable Tourism Concepts from VERNE: Making Local Heritage Accessible to All Our VERNE project works closely with key actors and local communities in 10 European countries to support the transition of local and regional tourist destinations toward sustainable and circular models. To test promising solutions on the ground, five pilots have been launched in representatives locations across Europe. In one of them, a new micro-museum concept is introducing an innovative approach to cultural heritage and circular economy. A unique museum in a unique region Sønderjylland–Schleswig is a cross-border region between Denmark and Germany known for its dramatic coastal landscapes along the North and Baltic Seas. The region brings together communities on both sides of the Danish-German border, serving as a hub for cross-border cooperation between the Danish municipalities of Tønder, Aabenraa, Haderslev and Sønderborg, the Regional Council of Southern Denmark, the German districts of Schleswig-Flensburg and Nordfriesland, and the city of Flensburg. For the pilot in Sønderjylland–Schleswig, the VERNE project has come together with Syddansk Universitet (SDU) to launch the Corporate Museums Sønderjylland–Schleswig, an innovative and sustainable approach to cultural heritage tourism. What is the museum about? At its core is the corporate micro-museum concept, which offers local and regional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a low-threshold way to employ and communicate their corporate history, organisational identity, and stakeholder relations as cultural attractions, while at the same time promoting circular economy through the use of reused, recycled, and upcycled resources. Key elements include: The app prototype Corporate Museums Sønderjylland–Schleswig, where users can explore corporate museums via an interactive map. It provides visitors with the information needed to experience local heritage in Sønderjylland–Schleswig and to plan their routes effectively, thus help reduce their CO2 emissions. The Corporate Heritage Network, which brings together relevant stakeholder from public administrations, tourism organisations, private businesses, and local communities. Through the Community of Practice (CoP) meetings, led by the CSCP, participants are engaged with a wider ecosystem and cross-border collaboration, with opportunities to exchange ideas, best-practices and solutions for circularity and sustainable tourism. “Our pilot design brings both elements together by connecting the digital and physical layers. It links corporate museum owners, interests, and stakeholders across sectors, creating a shared space to exchange perspectives, knowledge, and best practices, with the common aim of making local heritage accessible to all.”, says Henri Haase, International Project Manager and Pilot Coordinator Designed as a space for collaboration The Corporate Museums Sønderjylland–Schleswig is characterized by strong collaboration and active stakeholder engagement. Five Community of Practice events have been held at different corporate museum sites, where participants could gain practical insights through guided tours led by site owners and continue the exchange in workshops, jointly exploring solutions and implementation approaches. For further questions, please contact Kartika Anggraeni.