site.btaInternational Conference on Cultural Heritage in Digital Era Held at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

An international scientific conference on "Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age" was unveiled at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences here on Wednesday. Opening the event, Prof. Roumiana Preshlenova, Director of the Prof. Alexander Fol Institute of Balkan Studies with Centre for Thracology, said that over the centuries, cultural heritage has developed and enriched, and today the challenge is its digitization.

According to her, digitisation makes cultural heritage accessible to a global audience, overcomes physical boundaries and creates equal opportunities, especially for smaller countries such as Bulgaria.

"Today, we would like to emphasise the role of scientists and researchers in this mission. Their participation is not only necessary - it is crucial. With their vision and scientific approach, we can build a future in which cultural heritage is not only preserved but also developed and made accessible to people around the world so that they can explore it, experience it and rediscover the meaning of the past," she added.

According to her, the aim of Wednesday's conference is to create a platform for discussing the current transformations that bring added value. Prof. Preshlenova noted that the digitization of cultural heritage is not an end in itself, but a system of efforts that must be in sync with the priorities of sustainable development – environmental, social and informational. Innovation, environmental protection measures and social responsibility must form a sustainable framework for the development of cultural infrastructure.

The conference sessions were dedicated to cultural heritage as an online resource and to the past, present and future of encyclopaedias. Participants in the discussions included Harry Verwayen, General Director of the Europeana Foundation, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev, who presented the digitization of the BTA archives, scientists from the Institute of Balkan Studies with Centre for Thracology, the Institute of Physical Chemistry, the National Archaeological Institute with Museum, and St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia.

The conference was held in accordance with the National Roadmap for Scientific Infrastructure INFRA MAT, with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science.