This paper is designed to introduce the session's overall topic, and should therefore be programmed as the first presentation of this session within the congress program. I will give an overview on the broad variety of aspects that are covered by the different session's participants. The focus is on the connecting points between all of them; I will also moderate the session from this viewpoint and in addition introduce the idea of the round table on "Sharing industrial heritage glocally", which will take place two days after the session and count with the participation of max. six people from this session, covering different disciplines and world regions. Based on the diversity of topics and approaches presented in this session, the round table will deepen some main aspects and open up a scientific debate around them.