This May marks an important milestone for Europe’s digital cultural heritage community: the grand finale of the “Twin it! 3D for Europe’s Culture” campaign.
Launched to accelerate the digitisation of cultural heritage in 3D, the initiative has mobilised EU Member States to contribute high-quality 3D assets to Europeana, supporting the development of the common European data space for cultural heritage.
A collective European effort
Over the past months, the campaign has showcased the power of collaboration across Europe, with countries contributing remarkable 3D models of cultural heritage objects and sites. These digital twins not only preserve Europe’s rich heritage but also open up new possibilities for:
- Research and education
- Conservation and restoration
- Creative industries and reuse
- Public engagement through immersive experiences
Looking ahead: the Grand Finale
The upcoming finale event will celebrate the campaign’s achievements and highlight the growing importance of 3D digitisation and digital twins in Europe’s cultural and technological landscape.
It will also provide an opportunity to:
- Reflect on key results and success stories
- Discuss future priorities for 3D in cultural heritage
- Strengthen collaboration across initiatives and stakeholders
Why it matters
The “Twin it!” campaign plays a crucial role in advancing Europe’s ambition to scale up high-quality digitisation and make cultural heritage more accessible, interoperable, and reusable.
By contributing to a shared digital infrastructure, it directly supports innovation across sectors from cultural heritage and tourism to research, education, and the creative industries.
As the campaign reaches its final stage, it reinforces a key message: digital twins are not only tools for preservation, but drivers of innovation and connection across Europe.
Picture Credits. Title: Twin it! logo. A composition of Windmolen van Elene by FrDr, CC BY-SA 4.0 and Elene windmill by visualdimension, CC BY-NC-ND.
Creator: Ana Moreno
Institution: Europeana Foundation