EUreka3D (2023-2024) and EUreka3D-XR (2025-2026) are two projects co-funded by the EU under the Digital Europe Programme, as supporting actions for the common European data space for cultural heritage.
EUreka3D and EUreka3D-XR address the main challenges faced by Cultural Heritage institutions regarding the 3D digitisation, the storage and management of 3D assets, the innovative ways and tools for the reuse of 3D collections, and the capacity building needed among CHI professionals. The answers of EUreka3D to support creation and sharing of high-quality 3D cultural collections are based in three pillars:
- Quality matters and must tackle data, metadata and paradata. The VIGIE Study on quality in 3D digitisation of tangible cultural heritage is the asset made available by the EU, and it is outlined and simplified in one of the project publication (3D Digitisation Guidelines: Steps to Success).
- The digital infrastructure based on European cloud providers is needed. The cloud resources of EUreka3D Data Hub are European based, and are protected by the same European federated Authentication and Authorisation service adopted by the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) and the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage (ECCCH).
- There is an urgent demand of competence. The EUreka3D competence centre is already operational and used by Cultural Heritage institutions.
EUreka3D initiative supports the common European data space for cultural heritage led by Europeana Foundation:
- EUreka3D Data Hub participates in the data space.
- EUreka3D-XR tools interoperate with the data space to access 3D digital content and produce XR experiences.
- EUreka3D-XR scenarios promote the data space demonstrating concrete innovative XR applications.
- EUreka3D and EUreka3D-XR provide new contents in the data space, including a rich corpus of open access digital cultural contents and editorials.
- EUreka3D and EUreka3D-XR deliver a programme of capacity building events and activities to share knowledge and build competence on cultural heritage digitisation.