Objectives

To support technological transfer and commercialization of new AR/VR tools aimed at enhancing the access to Mediterranean UNESCO cultural heritage through augmented and immersive experiences, by creating cross-border living labs for research and innovation

What will be improved?

iHERITAGE will foster the creation of innovative AR/VR/MR contents related to some of the world’s most outstanding tangible and intangible cultural heritage, namely 9 involved UNESCO World Heritage List sites: 6 in Italy, 1 in Spain, 1 in Egypt and 1 in Jordan. It will also increase entrepreneurial capacities of young people, public institution staff and researchers through training courses. In the long term, iHERITAGE will lead to the creation of a regional centre dedicated to Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Mediterranean region and of the first ICT Cluster of Mediterranean UNESCO cultural heritage. The project strongly addresses cross-border issues such as the digital gap and uneven level of innovation culture across the ENI CBC Med Program countries

Who will benefit?

• 300 researchers and ICT specialized staff operating on the commercial development of their research ideas
• 300 employees from public authorities who will benefit from special training courses, aimed to new hard and soft skills enabling them to work in an international environment
• 6,000 NEETS, young people and women
• 10 million tourists visiting UNESCO cultural sites involved in the project
• 2 million general end users, who will be able to access UNESCO cultural heritage’s AR/VR multimedia contents online and off site
• Managers and staff of UNESCO sites
• Universities, researchers, SMEs and spin-offs

Expected achievements

• 18 research agreements among universities, researchers and SMEs
• 6 new training programs created
• 76 new innovative products/services to boost the valorisation of the intangible cultural heritage
• Creation of the Regional Centre for Safeguarding and Valorisation of Mediterranean Intangible Cultural Heritage (CRESPIEM)