Greek Digital Culture Plus-Smart Cities and Communities

Objective Action

Acting within the framework of their social responsibility and a desire to serve human culture—and Greek culture in particular—to the fullest extent, the "Perraivia" Network and its partner universities (the University of West Attica and the Cyprus University of Technology) took the initiative to establish the renowned Panhellenic Conferences on the Digitization of Cultural Heritage. These events are held under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, as well as various ministries and global scientific organizations. Furthermore, the organizers make this wealth of rare and valuable knowledge available to anyone wishing to utilize it for shaping development policy and, naturally, for the preservation and promotion of Greek culture.

To date, six (6) conferences have been held, involving 3,584 highly specialized scientists from diverse fields; 615 papers—prepared by 1,797 scientists—were presented, and conference proceedings totaling 5,309 pages were published. The proceedings of all Digitization Conferences are available free of charge to any interested party via the official conference website, www.euromed-dch.eu (https://www.euromed-dch.eu/conference-proceedings/).

The latest initiative concerning Greek culture in its entirety (both intangible and tangible) culminated in the publication of the proceedings of the 6th Panhellenic Conference on the Digitization of Cultural Heritage (EuroMed 2025). Held at the "House of Cyprus" in Athens from November 19 to 22, 2025, with the participation of 400 delegates from around the globe, the proceedings comprise 798 pages of condensed scientific research and knowledge contributed by hundreds of Greek and Cypriot scientists. The work addresses the recording, study, conservation, digitization, preservation, protection, and promotion of human cultural heritage—and, above all, Greek culture, which is universally regarded as the supreme cornerstone of Hellenism's journey into the future. These conferences—significant for Greek culture—were organized under the auspices of the ‘PERRAIVIA’ Network (President: Mr. Kostas Skriapas), in collaboration with the Cyprus University of Technology (Research Centre / UNESCO/EU-ERA Chair; Director: Dr. Marinos Ioannides) and the University of West Attica (Professor Theodoros Gkanetsos). They were held in the presence of numerous government officials from Greece and Cyprus, representatives of local and regional government, and members of the scientific and academic communities from universities across Greece and Cyprus, with the participation of delegates from Greece, Cyprus, and abroad. Furthermore, these significant conferences:

1. represent a historical necessity for the digitization of cultural heritage—particularly of monuments that must be documented and preserved (in accordance with the Greek Ministry of Culture)

2. bring together top-tier, highly specialized scientists from around the world working in the field of digitization research

3. foster connections among Greek and Cypriot scientists by establishing collaborations and partnerships

4. showcase the latest global developments in new technologies, as well as all ongoing European programs related to culture

Target Audience

The free availability of the proceedings—which make the accumulated knowledge of the highly specialized global scientific community accessible to all regarding major issues concerning human cultural heritage (Artificial Intelligence/AI, Climate Change, Smart Cities, Tourism, New Technologies, Innovation, etc.)—is of particular interest to the following groups of scientists and state bodies involved in policymaking:

Academic and research personnel from universities, institutions, and research centers across all levels, specializing in fields such as Archaeology, History, Geology, Biology, Anthropology, Chemistry, Informatics, Physics, Mathematics, Cultural Informatics, Engineering (Electrical Engineers, Civil Engineers, Architects, etc.), the conservation of excavation finds and artworks, graphic arts, and others—specifically, disciplines involved in any way in the major subject of Cultural Heritage Digitization. Staff from the Ministries of: Climate Crisis and Civil Protection; Digital Governance; Development; Environment and Energy; Culture; Foreign Affairs; and Education, Religious Affairs and Sports;

Ephorates of Antiquities; ICOMOS (Greece and Cyprus); museums; General State Archives; public and private libraries; Holy Metropolises of the Church of Greece and other Churches; federations; scientific associations; Union of Greek Conservators; Hellenic Society for Archaeometry; Association of Archaeologists; Association of Architects; ICOM (Greece and Cyprus); collectives; consultancy firms; bodies implementing national and European programs; non-governmental organizations, etc.; as well as the corresponding bodies in Cyprus. Officials from other ministries

Officials from first- and second-tier local government authorities

Greek and Cypriot professionals working at Greek and foreign universities and research centers specializing in culture

Greek and Cypriot students from Greek and foreign universities

Independent scholars and researchers in Greece, Cyprus, and worldwide

Anyone interested in the digitization of cultural heritage

Duration

This major initiative—recognized by all (the Presidency of the Republic, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Ministries of Culture of Greece and Cyprus, and other policymakers) as being of national importance—began in 2013 with a roundtable discussion in Larissa (held on August 23, 2013, and attended by representatives from the Ministry of Culture, universities, the Church, and local government); to date, six conferences have been held, yielding impressive results.

These conferences span four days and take place biennially in various cities across Greece

Description

Eleven years ago, the "Perraivia" Network and its partner universities—the University of West Attica and the Cyprus University of Technology—took the initiative to establish these renowned conferences dedicated to Greece. Driven by a sense of social responsibility and a commitment to serving Greece, as well as human culture—and Greek culture in particular—to the fullest extent possible, they organized these events under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, various government ministries (such as the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Digital Governance, and the Ministry of Tourism), and global scientific organizations. Furthermore, they make this valuable and rare knowledge available to anyone wishing to utilize it for shaping development policy and, naturally, for preserving and promoting Greek culture—a culture that can serve as a springboard for regional development and the creation of "smart cities" and entrepreneurial activity. The proceedings of all the conferences held to date—six (6) in total (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024, and 2025)—are hereby presented; these documents capture the collective knowledge and research of the global scientific community regarding the digitization of humanity's cultural heritage.

The six (6) conferences held so far involved the participation of 3,584 highly specialized scientists across various disciplines; 615 papers were presented—prepared by 1,797 scientists—and the resulting proceedings span 5,309 pages.

Specifically, the 6th and final conference took place over four (4) days at the "House of Cyprus" in Athens (November 19–22, 2025), attracting the interest of more than four hundred (400) Greek and Cypriot scientists from around the world, who participated either in person or online. It should be emphasized that these unique conferences—characterized by all as being of national significance due to their subject matter—attract the interest of the entire Hellenic world (both within and outside Greece). They are held under the auspices of numerous state and ecclesiastical institutions as well as global scientific organizations (including the Presidency of the Hellenic Republic, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Ministry of Culture, the Deputy Ministry of Culture of Cyprus, the Ministry of Digital Governance, and the Ministry of Tourism, among others), while also enjoying the support of the Embassy of Cyprus in Athens, the "House of Cyprus," the Municipality of Athens, and the European Institute of Culture, Environment, and Sciences, among others.

Mr. Kostas Skriapas (President of the "Perraivia" Network), the general coordinator of the digitization conferences and the scientific lead for the publication of the conference proceedings, stated:

"The conference has been characterized by the relevant ministries—and, above all, by the scientific community—as innovative and pioneering for Greece. Since 2015, it has established itself as an institution of national significance, as it showcases not only the immense body of work..." ...carried out by highly specialized Greek and Cypriot scientists—both in Greece and abroad—and because it showcases cutting-edge global developments in the field of the digitization of humanity's cultural heritage as a whole. The 6th Panhellenic Conference on the Digitization of Cultural Heritage (2025) goes down in history as a unique event of global significance; it has now become an established institution in Greece, serving as the major biennial gathering for Greek and Cypriot scientists from across the globe. The next major event—the 7th Panhellenic Conference—is scheduled for 2027 in a hospitable region of Greece, the location of which will be announced soon.

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Impact on Society

To date, the six conferences held have involved 3,584 highly specialized scientists across various disciplines; 615 papers—prepared by 1,797 scientists—were presented; and conference proceedings totaling 5,309 pages were published.

The beneficiaries include thousands of scientists, all government ministries (particularly Culture, Tourism, Digital Governance, Interior, Employment, etc.), and all local government authorities at both the first and second tiers—specifically the following:

Academic and research personnel from universities, institutions, and research centers—at all levels—specializing in fields such as Archaeology, History, Geology, Biology, Anthropology, Chemistry, Informatics, Physics, Mathematics, and Cultural Informatics; professionals from polytechnic disciplines (Electrical Engineers, Civil Engineers, Architects, etc.); conservators of excavation finds and artworks; graphic designers; and others—that is, specialists involved in any capacity with the major undertaking of digitizing cultural heritage. Staff from the Ministries of: Climate Crisis and Civil Protection; Digital Governance; Development; Environment and Energy; Culture; Foreign Affairs; and Education, Religious Affairs and Sports;

Officials from first- and second-tier local government authorities

Greek and Cypriot professionals working at Greek and foreign universities and research centers specializing in culture

Greek and Cypriot students from Greek and foreign universities

Independent scientists and researchers in Greece, Cyprus, and worldwide

Anyone interested in the digitization of cultural heritage

For instance, to understand the topics addressed by these conferences, one need only look at the agenda of the most recent conference held in Athens (at the Embassy of Cyprus) on November 19–22, 2026. By way of example, the conferences address significant global challenges—updated biennially—such as:

Artificial Intelligence in Cultural Management; advanced digitization techniques for cultural heritage conservation (including museum collections and contemporary art); digitization and interactivity as tools for educational programs and initiatives; digital transformation of public cultural organizations and bodies; cultural and religious tourism; climate change and cultural heritage; Europeana; local government and cultural heritage; the creation of smart and creative cities; the creative industries; cultural heritage and metadata; environmental sustainability in the digitization of culture; digital risk management and cultural heritage; ethics and bioethics in cultural heritage digitization; cultural heritage (security, authenticity, and digital rights); augmented and virtual reality in cultural heritage; and many other topics—aiming for the conference, beyond its deeply scientific nature... ...role, to possess a developmental character, and to contribute to shaping the Greece of the future through culture and the growth it can generate, by transferring knowledge and best practices from universities to decision-makers and policymakers.

Initiative Location

To date, these conferences have been held in Volos (2015 and 2017), Athens (2017, 2019, and 2025), and Larissa (2024), mobilizing the local regions and municipalities that host them.

Dozens of professionals and university professors are already working on organizing the 7th conference, scheduled to take place in Greece in 2027.

Furthermore, there is widespread mobilization among scientists across Greece, Cyprus, and the globe—spanning universities, public services, municipalities, and regions—to participate in this biennial scientific gathering. The event addresses issues of concern to the global community, seeking answers grounded in science and research. Through our collective cooperation, we will shape the Greece and the scientists of the future.

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Working with Organization

The "PERRAIVIA Network" Cultural Organization—a civil society organization and member of the renowned European network Europa Nostra (operating under the auspices of the European Commission)—is collaborating on this major initiative with:

1. the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) – specifically the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Centre (hosting the UNESCO Chair and the EU-ERA Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage); and

2. the University of West Attica – specifically the Non-Destructive Testing and System Diagnosis Methodologies Laboratory (NDT-SD Lab) of the Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering (Faculty of Engineering).

Furthermore, the organization collaborates with universities across Greece—such as the University of Thessaly, the University of the Aegean, the University of the Peloponnese, and the University of Piraeus, among others—and maintains a Scientific Committee comprising the country's leading experts in the fields addressed by these conferences, including Artificial Intelligence, new technologies, culture, climate change, smart cities, tourism, and innovation.

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Workers Participation

Voluntary and unpaid work was contributed by:

KONSTANTINOS SKRIAPAS – Economist – Development Consultant – President of the "PERRAIVIA" Network – Greece

MARINOS IOANNIDES – Cyprus University of Technology – Director of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Centre / UNESCO / EU-ERA Chair

THEODOROS GANETSOS – Professor, University of West Attica

IOANNIS VARALIS – Associate Professor, University of Thessaly

ILIAS NOMPILAKIS – Former Associate Professor, University of West Attica

...while dozens of scientists from voluntary organizations and universities worked to produce the impressive outcome achieved through these renowned conferences. It is worth noting that thousands of scientists—Greeks and Cypriots, as well as other Europeans—have contributed to these conferences by presenting their research on the major issues addressed by the Panhellenic Conferences on Cultural Heritage Digitization (six conferences have been held to date, spanning the period from 2015 to 2025), and our organization is already preparing the 7th Conference, scheduled for 2027, in collaboration with its partners.

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