We are honoured to announce that the House of Representatives of Cyprus has officially approved our proposal to establish the MNEMOSYNE Research Centre in Digital Cultural Heritage.
MNEMOSYNE will be the first international research centre in Cyprus dedicated to research, innovation, and education in the cultural heritage domain. Our remit is to transform how the past is documented, understood, and experienced in the digital era through transdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
The new centre will extend the mission of the UNESCO Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage at Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) to strengthen our shared humanity through education, science, culture, and communication. MNEMOSYNE builds on the foundations laid down by the EU-funded Horizon 2020 European Research Area Chair Mnemosyne project, consolidating the efforts of three laboratories at CUT: the Digital Heritage Research Lab, the Earth Observation Cultural Heritage Lab and the Mechanical Engineering Design and Additive Manufacturing Laboratory.
Our initial focus will be on developing the MemoryTwin Methodology – a breakthrough approach for digitally capturing, documenting, and safeguarding tangible and intangible elements of our cultural memory. This methodology will redefine how heritage is preserved: accurately, interactively, and sustainably, for future generations and global audiences.
In support of our mission, MNEMOSYNE will be guided by two dedicated governance bodies:
- An academic board composed of leading scholars and researchers in digital heritage, computer science, engineering, and the humanities.
- An advisory board of top-tier cultural heritage professionals and experts will provide strategic direction and foster international impact.
With the foundation of the MNEMOSYNE Research Centre in Digital Cultural Heritage, Cyprus is poised to become the global reference point for preserving cultural memory through digital technologies, research, innovation and implementation.
We extend our deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks to:
- The Members of the Standing Committee on Education and Culture Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων – House of Representatives Παύλος Μυλωνάς , Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis, Chrysanthos Savvides, Κάρουλλας Γιώργος, Marios Mavrides, Πρόδρομος Αλαμπρίτης – Prodromos Alambritis, Christos Christofias, Ανδρέας Αποστόλου, Alekos Tryfonides – Αλέκος Τρυφωνίδης Βουλευτής Λευκωσίας ΔΗ.ΠΑ., Ανδρέας Χρ. Θεμιστοκλέους
- The Attorney General of the Republic of Cyprus for legal insight and guidance
- The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, for their commitment to research and academic excellence Athena Michaelidou
- The Ministry of Finance for the approval of our feasibility study and for enabling the implementation of this initiative
- The Deputy Ministry of Culture for championing the intersection of heritage and digital innovation Lina Kassianidou Υφυπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Deputy Ministry of Culture, and the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO
- The Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy for fostering the integration of research and technology Nicodemos Damianou Υφυπουργείο Έρευνας, Καινοτομίας & Ψηφιακής Πολιτικής
- The Faculty of Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology / Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου, for being a cornerstone of interdisciplinary research and support Σχολή Μηχανικής και Τεχνολογίας
- Cyprus University of Technology Rector’s Office, the Rector’s Committee, the Senate, and the Council of the University, for their institutional leadership and unwavering endorsement.
- Our dedicated colleagues at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Informatics, whose expertise, passion, and perseverance brought this vision to life
And to all our national and international partners, supporters, staff and friends, this success belongs to you, too.
This initiative marks a bold new era for cultural preservation, and Cyprus is leading the way. Stay connected as we move forward – the journey has just begun!
