3D-4CH in Poznań: Mid-Project Reflections and a Shared Vision for Europe’s 3D Cultural Heritage Future

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17. 7. 2026

On 1 July 2026, the 3D-4CH – Online Competence Centre in 3D for Cultural Heritage project joined the hybrid forum “From 3D Data to XR Experiences: Forum on the Future of Cultural Heritage Technologies” in Poznań, Poland, organised as the final public showcase of the 3DBigDataSpace project.

For 3D-4CH, the event provided an important opportunity to contribute to a broader European discussion on the future of digital cultural heritage, particularly at a moment when the project has now reached its halfway point. The forum brought together more than 100 participants from cultural heritage institutions, research organisations, technology providers, and XR innovators to explore how 3D data, artificial intelligence, and immersive technologies can work together within sustainable European infrastructures.

 

A Shared Roadmap for Europe’s Digital Heritage Ecosystem

 

The highlight of the forum for 3D-4CH was the closing podium discussion, “Beyond the Horizon: A Unified Roadmap for Europe’s 3D Cultural Heritage”, which brought together representatives from Europeana Foundation, 3DBigDataSpace, XRculture, and 3D-4CH.

 

Representing 3D-4CH, Michał Lorek joined the discussion on how European initiatives can collectively support the complete lifecycle of digital cultural heritage—from 3D data creation and management to immersive experiences and long-term sustainable reuse.

 

The panel focused on several key questions:

 

  • How can projects avoid fragmentation and build complementary infrastructures?

  • What storage and computing capacities will future 3D heritage ecosystems require?

  • How can interoperability between platforms and services be ensured?

  • What role should competence centres play in supporting cultural heritage institutions?

  • How can European projects collaborate beyond their individual funding cycles?

 

A central message emerging from the discussion was that Europe’s digital heritage future will depend not only on advanced technologies, but also on shared standards, coordinated infrastructures, and long-term knowledge exchange. The panel highlighted the importance of connecting data spaces, AI-driven workflows, XR applications, and competence-building initiatives into a coherent ecosystem that supports cultural heritage organisations of all sizes.

 

3D-4CH Consortium Meeting and Visit to PCSS

 

The public forum was followed on 2 July 2026 by the 3D-4CH consortium meeting, hosted by the Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center (PCSS).

 

The meeting allowed partners to review progress across work packages, coordinate upcoming activities, and discuss priorities for the second half of the project. As 3D-4CH has now reached the midpoint of its implementation, discussions focused on strengthening the project’s role as a European competence centre for 3D cultural heritage.

 

A special highlight of the day was a guided visit to the PCSS premises, where consortium members explored the centre’s advanced digital infrastructure and facilities supporting large-scale data processing, storage, visualisation, and research collaboration. The visit provided valuable insight into the technological foundations that enable many of the services and innovations being developed across the European digital heritage ecosystem.

 

Looking Ahead

 

Participating in both the public forum and the consortium meeting reinforced the importance of collaboration between initiatives such as 3DBigDataSpace, XRculture, and 3D-4CH.

 

As 3D-4CH enters the second half of the project, the discussions in Poznań confirmed that competence building, interoperability, and sustainable infrastructure will remain essential for enabling cultural heritage institutions to benefit from the rapid advances in 3D technologies, artificial intelligence, and extended reality.

 

We thank PCSS for hosting the meetings and all speakers, partners, and participants for contributing to an inspiring exchange on the future of Europe’s digital cultural heritage landscape.

 

Watch the full public event recording

 

Discover the discussions shaping the future of 3D cultural heritage technologies.


From 3D Data to XR Experiences Forum on the Future of Cultural Heritage Technologies 1 July 2026