Published on 27 May 2025

Press Release #1 - Project announcement

Press release
Press Release #1 - Project announcement

XRculture: Transforming Cultural Heritage with AI and Extended Reality


In a Nutshell

The XRculture project is set to revolutionize the European Data Space for Cultural Heritage (DSCH) by integrating AI-based 3D digitization and Extended Reality (XR). Running for 18 months from February 2025, this project will create high-quality 3D models, innovative XR applications, and a framework for the management and visualization of digital cultural assets. Through cutting-edge technology, XRculture will enhance cultural preservation, education, and tourism across Europe.

Key Objectives

XRculture is driven by six key objectives:

  1. AI-Powered 3D Digitization: Employing advanced Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) and Gaussian Splatting techniques to generate and enhance 3D cultural heritage assets.
  2. Open-Access 3D Visualization: Developing an open 3D web framework that allows cultural institutions to easily manage and display digitized heritage.
  3. Immersive XR Applications: Deploying Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality to bring historical artifacts and sites to life, including lost and at-risk heritage.
  4. Capacity Building & Training: Equipping cultural heritage professionals with digital skills through structured training programs and resources.
  5. Integration with European Heritage Initiatives: Ensuring full compatibility with Europeana, the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage (ECCCH), and other EU projects.
  6. Sustainable Dissemination: Engaging stakeholders and the public through interactive experiences, digital platforms, and community engagement initiatives.

Consortium Contributions

XRculture brings together 10 partners from 7 European countries, combining expertise in AI, 3D digitization, XR technology, and cultural heritage preservation. Key contributors include:

  • INCEPTION Srl (Coordinator, Italy): Leading the project’s management and technical coordination.
  • Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Italy): Providing AI-based solutions for 3D digitization.
  • Europeana Foundation (Netherlands): Ensuring seamless integration with the European Data Space for Cultural Heritage.
  • IN2 Digital Innovations (Germany): Developing sustainability strategies and dissemination activities.
  • Arctur (Slovenia): Advancing XR and 3D visualization tools.
  • University Politecnica delle Marche (Italy): Researching XR applications for education and tourism.
  • Pixelated Realities (Ukraine): Digitizing at-risk heritage from conflict zones.
  • Italian Ministry of Culture (Italy): Providing extensive access to museum collections.
  • RDF (Bulgaria) & Talent SA (Greece): Developing technological solutions for data integration and processing.

Looking Ahead

As XRculture unfolds, it will pave the way for the future of cultural heritage preservation, making 3D and XR technologies more accessible, interactive, and engaging. By leveraging AI-driven 3D digitization, immersive experiences, and training programs, the project aims to transform how European cultural heritage is preserved, shared, and experienced.

For further details, visit: https://xrculture.eu/
Press Contact: Alexandru Stan | as@in-two.com

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