Nicosia, Cyprus – 8 July 2025

The Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) proudly announces the official launch of the MNEMOSYNE Research Center on Digital Cultural Heritage, the first research center of its kind in the region, during a high-level event held on July 7th at the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation in Nicosia.

The kickoff meeting marked a historic moment for Cyprus, bringing together leading figures from government, diplomacy, academia, and cultural heritage. The inauguration was held in the presence of:

• Prof. Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou, Deputy Minister of Culture
• Mr. Constantinos Kleovoulou, Director of Research at the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy
• H.E. Martin Hagström, Ambassador of Sweden to Cyprus
• Mr. Chrysanthos Pissarides, Chairman of CY-ICOMOS
• Mr. Constanti Constantinos, Chairman of the Board of the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber
• Dr. Nicolas Tsapatsoulis, Vice Rector of Research and Education at CUT
• Dr. Michalis Sirivianos, Dean of the Engineering Faculty at CUT
• Dr. Kenneth Silver, Curator of the Cypriot Antiquities Collection at the Medelhavsmuseet in Sweden

A Government-Endorsed Milestone for Cultural Research

In her keynote address, Deputy Minister of Culture Prof. Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou emphasized:

“This new and ambitious research unit aims to turn Cyprus into a global reference point for the preservation of cultural memory. MNEMOSYNE is expected to extend the mission of the UNESCO and ERA Chairs and strengthen the shared knowledge of humanity through education, science, culture, and communication.

As the Deputy Ministry of Culture, we welcome this breakthrough step and express our readiness to closely cooperate with the Center. The State will stand by your side as you combine digital heritage, computer science, engineering, and the humanities in innovative ways.”

A Vision Built on a Decade of Global Leadership

MNEMOSYNE is the culmination of over a decade of award-winning research and international leadership by the Digital Heritage Research Lab (DHRLab) at CUT. Established in 2012 amidst Cyprus’s financial crisis and further tested during the COVID-19 pandemic, DHRLab rose to international prominence exclusively through highly competitive European Union research funding.

It has earned global recognition through:

• The UNESCO Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage (awarded in 2018) – The Knowledge Hub of UNESCO in all issues related to Digital Cultural Heritage)
• The EU ERA Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage – making CUT the first institution worldwide to hold both chairs in the same field
• The EU Innovators Award (2018)
• Selection among the Top 5 “Life-Changing Projects” from over 30,000 EU-funded initiatives (2009–2019)
• Leadership of the EU VIGIE2020/654 Study, defining official 3D digitization standards
• The European Cultural Tourism Network Award (2023)

Formally approved by the Government and Parliament of Cyprus, the Center’s establishment was published in the Government Gazette on June 20, 2025.

A Synergistic Ecosystem for Interdisciplinary Innovation

MNEMOSYNE brings together three cutting-edge laboratories under one unified research center:

• Digital Heritage Research Lab (DHRLab) – for digital documentation, modeling, and preservation
• Earth Observation for Cultural Heritage Lab – utilizing satellite, UAV, and ground-based remote sensing to analyze archaeolandscapes
• Mechanical Engineering Design & Additive Manufacturing Lab – advancing precision reconstruction and digital fabrication

The Center also collaborates with the Robotics Control and Decision Systems Lab, integrating AI and autonomous robotics for automated documentation and smart conservation.

From Digital Twin to “Memory Twin”

Among MNEMOSYNE’s major innovations is the “Memory Twin” methodology - an evolution of the Digital Twin that incorporates 3D geometry, metadata, intangible cultural context, and emotional narratives, enabling a holistic digital preservation of both artefacts and their cultural memory.

International Impact and Local Commitment

The Center has already demonstrated significant impact:

• Digitization and digital repatriation of the largest collection of Cypriot antiquities outside Cyprus, housed at the Medelhavsmuseet in Stockholm, in collaboration with curator Dr. Kenneth Silver—a globally recognized achievement in cultural diplomacy and digital heritage.
• Representation of Cyprus in DARIAH and CLARIN, European research infrastructures for digital humanities and language resources
• Over €15 million secured in EU funding
• More than 200 international research partnerships with formal bilateral agreements

Key national projects include:

• The Memory Twin of Fikardou village
• The digitization of Cyprus’ last trawler, Lambousa
• Documentation of medieval castles and towers
• PhD scholarships funded by the Municipality of Limassol and the Patriarchate of Alexandria
• A scholarship program with the Union of Occupied Communities of Famagusta

A Sustainable Future for Cultural Heritage

With secured funding through 2028, the MNEMOSYNE Research Center is set to remain a globally recognized hub of excellence. As a Digital Innovation Hub, it will continue shaping EU policy, advancing education and research, and transforming cultural heritage into a dynamic pillar of scientific advancement and sustainable development.