Transforming Cultural Heritage: The 3D-4CHProject Unveils Europe’s Online CompetenceCentre in 3D

February 28, 2025

3D-4CH, news

Transforming Cultural Heritage: The 3D-4CHProject Unveils Europe’s Online CompetenceCentre in 3D

The 3D-4CH Online Competence Centre in 3D for Cultural Heritage project, co-funded by the European Union, is set to revolutionize the preservation, digitization, and accessibility of cultural heritage through advanced 3D technologies, artificial intelligence (Al), and extended reality (R). Over the next three years, this initiative will establish a fully online Competence Centre for 3D Cultural Heritage, enabling institutions, researchers, and the public to explore and protect Europe’s rich and diverse heritage like never before.

Funded under the Digital Europe Programme, 3D-4CH directly aligns with key objectives such as enhancing digital skills, strengthening data infrastructures, and accelerating the digital transformation of cultural heritage institutions (CH|s). The project will empower CHIs by providing training, tools, and a collaborative platform, ensuring that cultural treasures are safeguarded, studied, and made accessible for future generations.

Fulgencio Sanmartín, 3D-4CH Project Officer, underscores the vital role of the Digital Europe Programme in advancing 3D upskilling: “The reconstruction and reopening of Notre Dame have shown that 3D technology is not only beneficial but essential. We must systematically safeguard all cultural heritage at risk by digitizing it in 3D – making the process more efficient, accessible, and widely adopted.”

A Vision of Excellence

The 3D-4CH Competence Centre will address critical challenges in cultural heritage digitization through four core pillars:

Training and Capacity Building – Offering interactive online courses, in-person workshops, and seasonal schools, the centre will equip cultural professionals with cutting-edge skills and certifications in 3D digitization and Al applications. Training materials will be made available in six different languages, including Ukrainian, ensuring broad accessibility.
Advanced Tools and Services – Providing access to state-of-the-art technologies, best practices, and digital tools, the centre will support CHIs in preserving and managing digital heritage assets.
3D Deployment and Innovation – Developing high-quality 3D cultural assets, enhancing existing datasets, and ensuring metadata and sustainable archiving standards are upheld.
Research and Development – Driving technological progress through collaborations with leading European and Ukrainian researchers to explore innovative solutions in
3D documentation, Al-enhanced analysis, and immersive storytelling.

Spearheading Digital Transformation in Cultural Heritage Building on the foundations of influential EU-funded projects and leveraging European research infrastructures such as the Common European Data Space for Cultural Heritage, E-RIHS (European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science) and partnerships with leading cultural institutions, the Competence Centre will foster a unified approach to 3D heritage management. Furthermore, a special focus will be placed on supporting Ukraine’s cultural heritage, ensuring the integration of Ukrainian digital assets into the European data space.

“With 3D-4CH, we are establishing a comprehensive Competence Centre that will make high-quality 3D digitization accessible to cultural institutions across Europe. This initiative not only provides training and tools but also builds a sustainable framework for preserving our shared heritage. Bringing innovative 3D technologies, integrated with Artificial Intelligence and eXtended Reality, closer to people, we are ensuring that cultural heritage remains available for study, storytelling, and engagement now and in the future.”

A Sustainable and Inclusive Future

To guarantee long-term impact, the project will establish a Stakeholder Panel and an Advisory Board, comprising experts, CHI representatives, and policy makers. The Competence Centre will also implement a long-term sustainability plan, ensuring open access to resources for at least five years post-project completion.

Kickoff Meeting in Trento (IT): Aligning 3D-4CH with Key European Initiatives

The 3D-4CH project is set to launch with a Kickoff Meeting in Trento (IT) from 18-20

February 2025, bringing together a diverse group of consortium partners, experts, and key stakeholders. This gathering marks not only the beginning of our collaborative efforts but also a significant opportunity to connect and align with crucial European initiatives, including the Common Data Space and the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage.

A highlight of the event will be the public session on 19th February, featuring keynote speeches and a roundtable discussion on the future of 3D cultural heritage preservation. This session will serve as a platform to explore synergies between competence centers, cutting-edge research, and ongoing European strategies that shape the digital transformation of cultural heritage.

Speakers for the public session:

Geert Verhoeven (Dept. of Prehistoric & Historical Archaeology, University of Vienna)
“Mind the Gap”
Antonella Guidazzoli (Head of Visit Lab, HPC Supercomputing Division, CINECA) –
“The Isabella d’Este Virtual Studiolo”

Roundtable discussion: “The Role of Competence Centres in the Cultural Heritage Community” featuring:

Geert Verhoeven (University of Vienna)
Antonella Guidazzoli (CINECA)
Andreas Georgopoulos (NTUA & ICOMOS International Board Member)

Roundtable discussion: “Synergies with CH initiatives” featuring:

Harry Verwayen (EUROPEANA General Director)
Xavier Rodier (CNRS, ECHOES project coordinator)
Roberto Di Giulio (INCEPTION, 4CH Scientific Coordinator)
Members of the 3D-4CH Advisory Board

This Kickoff Meeting will not only set the foundation for 3D-4CH but also strengthen its integration within the broader European cultural heritage ecosystem. By fostering collaboration with initiatives like the Common Data Space and the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage, the 3D-4CH consortium ensures that the project contributes to a larger, cohesive vision for the future of digital heritage preservation in Europe. The 3D-4CH project is more than a technological advancement – it is a step towards making Europe’s cultural heritage more accessible, interactive, and safeguarded for the future.

About 3D-4CH

The 3D-4CH project (Online Competence Centre in 3D for Cultural Heritage) is an initiative co-funded by the European Union designed to enhance the digital preservation and accessibility of cultural heritage through 3D digitization, Al, and XR technologies. Running from February 2025 to January 2028, the project brings together 20+ partners from across Europe and Ukraine to establish a world-leading online Competence Centre for 3D heritage.

Project Partners

1. INCEPTION (Coordinator) (IT)

2. Università degli Studi di Ferrara (IT)

3. EUROPEANA Foundation (NL)

4. Fondazione Bruno Kessler (IT)

5. Connecting Archaeology and Architecture in Europe – CARARE (IR)

6. Time Machine Organisation (AT)

7. IN2 Digital Innovations GmbH – IN2 (DE)

8. The Discovery Programme Centre for Archaeology and Innovation Ireland – DISC (IR)

9. ARCTUR (SI)

10. RDF Ltd. (BG)

11. Pixelated Realities (UA)