UNIVERSITY OF FLORENCE LEADS THE CHEDAR PROJECT AND COORDINATES THE
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The University of Florence, whose origins date back to 1321, is today one of Italy’s leading institutions for research and education quality. With 1,800 faculty members, more than 1,600 researchers, and 21 departments, it ranks among the most productive public research universities in the country, active across all major scientific fields. The University promotes innovation through patents, spin-offs, and partnerships with industry, supported by its Research Enhancement Center.
Strongly oriented toward internationalization, the University of Florence is a member of the EUniWell consortium, has over 500 agreements in around 100 countries, offers numerous courses in English, and runs joint degree programs. Each year, it welcomes more than 4,000 international students and over 1,000 Erasmus students. The University is also home to centers of excellence such as LENS (European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy) and CERM (Magnetic Resonance Center). Since 2018, it has held the HR Excellence in Research Award, reflecting its commitment to high-level research integrated into the European and global landscape.
It leads the CHEDAR project. Directed by Professor Grazia Tucci, the Center serves as an international hub for innovation through the integration of advanced technologies with particular attention to climate and anthropogenic risks in the broader Mediterranean area.
PROJECT PARTNER
CNR is the largest public research body under the Ministry of Education, University and Research, conducts interdisciplinary research and promotes European and international collaboration.
As a key stakeholder in EU projects, CNR has participated in more than 700 H2020-funded initiatives and is an active member of the association of European Heads of the Research Councils (EuroHORCs) , the European Science Foundation (ESF) and Science Europe (SE). Since its reform in 1963, CNR has focused on social sciences, humanities, and cultural heritage. Today, these disciplines are concentrated in the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Cultural Heritage (DSU-CNR).
The Institute of Cultural Heritage Sciences (ISPC), part of DSU-CNR, leads interdisciplinary research and contributes to CHEDAR, promoting heritage-based innovation. With over 180 researchers, ISPC develops innovative approaches to studying, preserving, and enhancing cultural heritage, focusing on three key themes: Human Past, Heritage at risk, and Sustainable Management. ISPC collaborates with universities, research consortia, and national and international programs. It plays a leading role in SSH Research Infrastructures such as E-RIHS and DARIAH, supports higher education, and fosters training initiatives for postdoctoral and doctoral students.
PROJECT PARTNER
The Central Institute for Restoration (ICR) is a technical body of the Ministry of Culture specialized in the restoration and conservation of cultural heritage. Since 2014, it has been part of the General Directorate for Education and Research and is a permanent member of the ICCROM General Council.
It participates in European Commission projects and collaborates with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, acting as a key interlocutor on conservation policies and strategies. ICR hosts the School of Higher Education (SAF), responsible for training future restorers in accordance with the Cultural Heritage and Landscape Code. The Institute maintains the theoretical and methodological approach of Cesare Brandi, while integrating innovative research, training and restoration, ensuring a constant exchange between theory and practice.
The Institute brings together art historians, architects, archaeologists, physicists, chemists, biologists and restorers specializing in various materials, including paintings, textiles, paper, metals, ceramics, stone, wood and leather. Interdisciplinarity is at the heart of the ICR’s philosophy, encouraging collaboration between experts to refine restoration techniques, applying the latest scientific advances, particularly in non-destructive testing and technological innovation, to safeguard cultural heritage for future generations.
The Academy of Fine Arts of Carrara, founded in 1769, is one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious artistic institutions. It has a rich tradition of artistic education, nurturing generations of artists and sculptors who contribute to the nation’s cultural heritage. The Academy offers diverse programs across 10 schools, including Sculpture, Painting, Set Design, Cinema, Photography, Audiovisual, Decoration, Design, Art Education, Comics and Illustration, Art Graphics, and New Art Technologies. Located in Carrara and surrounded by the Apuan Alps, the Academy’s historic building features frescoed halls and inspiring spaces.
It encompasses five campuses equipped with cutting-edge laboratories, fostering a cosmopolitan environment with students from 42 countries. Each program is designed to provide a strong theoretical and practical foundation, emphasizing innovation and artistic experimentation.
The Academy has historically hosted a distinguished faculty, including names like Bartolini, Cybei, Bodini, Desmarais, Prayer, Pelliccia, Gangeri, Baratta, and more recently, Munari, Alviani, Fabro, and Mari. Since its inception, it has also appointed Honorary Academicians, among whom are historical figures like Napoleon Bonaparte, Antonio Canova, and John Flaxman. It maintains a close connection to the region’s marble-working tradition, offering students access to workshops and inspiration from Carrara’s famous marble quarries. Additionally, it was the first institution in Italy to offer a course in New Art Technologies, establishing it as a leader in digital and multimedia arts education.
The Istituto Superiore per le Industrie Artistiche di Firenze (ISIA) is a public university institute within the AFAM sector, dedicated to education, research, and experimentation in Design. Founded in 1975, its educational offerings include three-year courses, specialized two-year programs, master’s degrees, and post-diploma courses aimed at training designers who can tackle contemporary challenges. To maximize direct interaction between students and faculty, access to courses is regulated through admission tests.
With a well-established teaching model, ISIA offers a theoretical-practical approach characterized by laboratory experiences and instruction from industry experts. Classes are supplemented by lectures and workshops led by recognized professionals. A distinctive feature of ISIA is the development of applied research projects through its labs, where students and faculty collaborate on social and economic issues.
Currently active labs include Urban Lab, Health, Mars, AI, and Hyde. ISIA Florence also participates in the “Joint Doctorate in Service Design for the Public Sector” in collaboration with various Italian universities. It is a founding member of the Politecnico delle Arti e del Design di Firenze, a new interdisciplinary educational hub that brings together ISIA, the Music Conservatory “Luigi Cherubini”, and the Florence Academy of Fine Arts. Through established partnerships with companies and institutions, the hub aims to pave the way for innovative and highly multidisciplinary training in the national artistic landscape.
PROJECT PARTNER
Forty-three years after its foundation, the University of Tuscia remains one of the youngest, most dynamic and flexible institutions on the national academic scene.
Despite its relative youth, it has continuously grown and evolved, standing out for its capacity for innovation, adaptability, and excellence. The commitment of its administrative, technical, and scientific community has ensured a steady balance of successful initiatives and tangible achievements.
The University of Viterbo integrates its core functions—scientific research, teaching, and training—with third mission activities, ensuring a strong connection with society, industry, and institutions. These objectives are pursued through six departments, restructured under Law 240/2010 for greater efficiency and interdisciplinarity. The administrative framework is constantly being refined to streamline bureaucratic processes, and improve both research output and user experience for students and faculty engaging with university services.
In recent years, the university has grown, expanding academic programs, increasing high-impact research publications, and launching national and international R&D projects. At the same time, recruitment efforts have focused on attracting highly qualified young researchers and administrators, strengthening the university’s ability to tackle contemporary challenges and maintain its position as a key player in the global academic landscape.
PROJECT PARTNER
The University of Cassino and Lazio Meridionale, founded in 1979, currently has about 250 faculty members and 250 administrative staff, serving approximately 7,500 students. Its small size fosters direct and continuous interaction between faculty and students throughout their academic journey, encouraging active participation in laboratories, libraries, and teaching facilities, and promoting a highly personalized learning experience.
Institutional activities—teaching, research, and the “third mission”—are structured within five departments, covering a broad and interconnected range of scientific and interdisciplinary fields. The university offers 30 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, three PhD programs, and several specialized master’s degrees, ensuring a diverse and comprehensive educational experience that meets both academic and professional demands.
Research is supported by nearly 60 highly specialized laboratories, enabling the development of cutting-edge projects in collaboration with national and international partners. These facilities also provide technological consulting and applied research solutions for institutions and industries. University plays a pivotal role in the regional industrial, cultural, and socio-economic landscape, fostering knowledge transfer and innovation through numerous research collaborations, third-party agreements, patents, and spin-offs.
PROJECT PARTNER
Roma Tre University was established in 1992 and has since become a key reference point in the national and international academic landscape, thanks to its high-quality teaching programmes and research excellence. The University has 13 departments, including Architecture, Business Economics, Civil, Computer Science and Aeronautical Technologies Engineering, Economics, Education Science, Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Humanities, Industrial, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Law, Mathematics and Physics, Philosophy, Communication and Performing Arts, Political Science, and Science.
Additionally, Roma Tre boasts a vibrant academic community with 996 faculty members and 751 non-academic staff, supporting a student body of over 35.000 students. Roma Tre has cultivated a reputation as a dynamic and forward-thinking institution, offering a broad spectrum of academic programmes. It provides 113 degree courses, including 33 Bachelor’s programmes (first cycle), 53 Master’s and single-cycle programmes (second cycle), and 27 PhD programmes (third cycle).
This has led, step by step, to the successful recognition of Roma Tre at the international level as well. The University is a member of, among others: UNICA Network (Universities of European Capitals) ; UNISCAPE (European Network of Universities for the Implementation of the European Landscape Convention) ; EUA (European University Association).
PROJECT PARTNER
THE SAPIENZA UNIVERSITY COORDINATES THE WORK PACKAGE 3
Founded in 1303, Sapienza is the oldest university in Rome, the largest in Europe, with over 120,000 students and Italian University number 1 in world rankings. Its mission is to contribute to the development of the knowledge society through research, excellence and quality education and international cooperation. The main world university rankings place the University at the top in Italy for the quality of its research and teaching and for its international dimension.
Sapienza’s educational offering include 300 bachelor’s and master’s programs, over 60 in English, 200 master’s degrees, more than 90 doctoral programs, and 80 graduate schools. Sapienza is organized into 11 faculties, a school of advanced studies, a postgraduate school of aerospace engineering, 58 departments, as well as numerous research and service centers, 48 libraries, the Sapienza Museum Complex with its 18 museums, the Sapienza Sport Center, the Sapienza Music orchestras and choirs, the Theatron project, and RadioSapienza web radio.
The student body includes more than 30 thousand out-of-state students, 10,000 international students and more than 2,200 students per year on international mobility. Sapienza is a founding promoting partner of the Lazio Cultural Technology District Center of Excellence DTC Lazio and a promoting entity within the PNRR of the Extended Partnership on Humanistic Culture and Cultural Heritage CHANGES and the innovation ecosystem Rome Technopole.
PROJECT PARTNER
University institute dedicated to undergraduate and postgraduate education and advanced research. Established in 1992, today the university operates the School of Medicine and Surgery, the School of Engineering, the School of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, and 4 doctoral programs. In Italy, UCBM has been systematically ranked at the top for the quality of education provided to a selected group of students. In addition, the University hosts 50 multidisciplinary Research Units.
Annual scientific production is constantly and rapidly increasing, exceeding 900 articles and 6,000 ISI cumulative impact factors in 2023, along with a growing amount of research funding raised from competitive sources in Italy, Europe, and worldwide. The current UCBM has more than 80 active projects and a high success rate of projects carried out in collaboration with companies.
Technology transfer activities are rapidly growing with approx. 30 ongoing research projects with large companies and SMEs, 21 patent families (of which 12 co-owned) in areas like rehabilitation engineering, microengineering, regenerative medicine, biomedical instrumentation, oncology diagnostics, and food analysis, and 8 spin-off companies accredited by the University since 2015. An outstanding network of key national and international scientific and academic partners, with over 200 collaborations, has been continuously developed and strengthened over the years through specific cooperation agreements.
AFFILIATED PARTNER
CIPA Heritage Documentation is one of the oldest International Scientific Committees of ICOMOS (International Council of Monuments and Sites), established in 1968 in collaboration with ISPRS (International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing). Since its foundation, CIPA’s mission has been to foster a fruitful dialogue between measurement sciences and the disciplines dedicated to the documentation, survey, and conservation of cultural heritage.
The original name, Comité International de la Photogrammétrie Architecturale (English: International Committee of Architectural Photogrammetry), reflects the historical roots of the organization. However, to better represent the breadth and evolution of its activities, the committee now operates under the name CIPA Heritage Documentation.
As a joint ICOMOS/ISPRS Committee, CIPA is an international non-profit organization committed to transferring cutting-edge technologies from the fields of measurement and digital visualization to the practices of documenting, managing, and enhancing cultural heritage. CIPA serves as a bridge between those who produce heritage documentation and those who use it to preserve, study, and communicate cultural assets across generations.
CIPA’s mission is built upon two key pillars:
- Promoting the development of principles, methodologies, and best practices for the survey, documentation, and information management of all aspects of cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible.
- Supporting the adoption of advanced tools and specialized technologies, encouraging innovation and the dissemination of knowledge among experts, institutions, and communities.
AFFILIATED PARTNER
ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, is a globally recognised non-governmental organization officially associated with UNESCO. Its mission is to promote the conservation, protection, enhancement, and sustainable use of monuments, architectural ensembles, and historic sites, contributing to the development of shared policies and tools for the safeguarding of cultural heritage
Founded in 1965 following the adoption of the Venice Charter (1964), ICOMOS emerged from the collaboration between architects, historians, archaeologists, and heritage professionals who, since the early 20th century, had been engaged in international dialogue on the need for a common vision for heritage conservation.
ICOMOS is structured as an extensive network of National Committees, active in over 100 countries, including Italy. These work in close cooperation with the organization’s International Scientific Committees, which form the operational backbone of ICOMOS and are involved in:
- Scientific research, through conferences, symposia, and international projects;
- Doctrinal development, contributing to the formulation of shared principles and international charters;
- Advocacy and capacity building, promoting awareness and professional training within the heritage field.
Through the combined efforts of these committees, ICOMOS has progressively established a philosophical and regulatory framework that guides cultural heritage conservation on a global scale, influencing both international policy and local practices.