A sincere thank you to Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus, our distinguished Keynote Speaker, for honouring the EuroMed2026 Digital Heritage Summit at the Cyprus University of Technology with his presence, support, and patronage of the TwinIt4EU Policy Roundtable.
Held under the auspices of the CY2026EU Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the Deputy Ministry Culture of Cyprus, and in cooperation with Heritage Malta, Europeana, and the DIGITALEUROPE European Commission, the TwinIt! Policy Roundtable formed the policy component of three interlinked Pan-European events marking the culmination of the Twin it! Part II campaign on 3D TwinIT4EU which ran from the Swedish Presidency (Jan – June 2023) to Belgian Presidency (Jan – June 2024) and finally to the Cypriot Presidency (Jan – June 2026).
In line with the latest EU priorities, the Roundtable focused on the convergence of 3D digitisation and Artificial Intelligence for Cultural Heritage, exploring how AI can enhance and accelerate the digitisation, documentation, and publication of Europe’s digital cultural assets, while supporting the EU Commission’s vision for a common European data space for cultural heritage and the ambitions of the EU Apply AI Strategy.
Skourides’ strong message was clear: even in a country as culturally rich and heritage-intensive as Cyprus, the pioneering work being carried out in digital documentation & preservation is setting new European benchmarks. In particular, the newly developed #MemoryTwin methodology was recognised as a unique and innovative contribution to the future of Cultural Heritage.
As Europe moves towards a new era where 3D, AI, and digital knowledge infrastructures converge, such recognition reinforces our commitment to transforming the invisible into visible & preserving our shared heritage for future generations. It belongs to a more holistic, intelligent, & authentic documentation of the past: one built upon the processing of high-quality, trustworthy, and authentic information and data. Ultimately, it is about documenting Identity & safeguarding the knowledge, memory, values, & stories of our past so they can be understood, experienced, and transmitted to generations to come. This vision strongly resonates with the historic Joint Declaration on Culture signed by the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union & the European Commission – the first declaration of its kind at the highest political level. As highlighted in the Declaration, “Cultural Heritage connects our Past with our Future. It is a symbol of unity in diversity and a cornerstone of our identity, democracy & resilience.”
Demetris Skourides’ speech is in line with this declaration and sends a powerful message: Culture is not only the foundation of Europe’s identity & values, but also a strategic pillar for its future. Learning from the Past to Improve the Future: A key moment for our Culture, for Digital Heritage & Europe’s collective memory.
⦿ Read Mr Skourides’ Keynote address to EuroMed2026 Digital Heritage Summit HERE (local PDF)
⦿ Watch Mr Skourides’ Keynote address to EuroMed2026 Digital Heritage Summit 26 May 2026 HERE
⦿ Watch the officially released video showcasing generative AI in cultural heritage HERE
