E-RIHS

E-RIHS
Name	E-RIHS
Type	Research infrastructure consortium
Formation	2018
Region served	Europe
Headquarters	Florence

E-RIHS

E-RIHS is a pan-European research infrastructure initiative for cultural heritage science that federates facilities, expertise, and collections across institutions. It connects conservation laboratories, museums, universities, and archives to enable non‑destructive analysis, data sharing, and long‑term preservation of movable and immovable heritage. The infrastructure builds on collaborations among national research councils, cultural institutions, and international projects to provide coordinated access to specialised instruments, digital resources, and expert services.

Overview

E-RIHS brings together archives of material studies, laboratory networks, and analytical platforms from institutions such as the European Commission, CERN, European Space Agency, Getty Conservation Institute, and International Council on Monuments and Sites to support researchers working on artefacts, monuments, and historic sites. Its federated model links major centres like the National Research Council (Italy), French National Centre for Scientific Research, Max Planck Society, British Museum, and Rijksmuseum with university departments at University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Sorbonne University, University of Bologna, and KU Leuven. E-RIHS facilitates access to advanced instruments including those located at synchrotron facilities such as the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, neutron sources like the Institut Laue–Langevin, and electron microscopes at national laboratories.

History and Development

The initiative emerged from European roadmap processes involving the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures, discussions at the European Research Area meetings, and preparatory projects funded under Horizon 2020 and successive frameworks. Early coordination included cooperation with projects led by the Council of Europe, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and national ministries such as the Italian Ministry of Culture and the French Ministry of Culture (France). Founding partners coordinated pilot access schemes with cultural institutions including the Vatican Museums, Louvre Museum, British Library, and Museo Nacional del Prado. Subsequent phases integrated services developed with technology providers like Siemens, instrumentation consortia involving Thermo Fisher Scientific, and digitisation programmes partnered with Europeana.

Mission and Objectives

E-RIHS aims to enable multidisciplinary research on cultural heritage by providing access to expertise, analytical instrumentation, and digital infrastructure. Its objectives include harmonising protocols across institutions such as the European University Association, standardising data formats in collaboration with organisations like the International Council on Archives and the International Committee for Documentation (CIDOC), and supporting capacity building with training delivered alongside universities such as University College London and Politecnico di Milano. It seeks to promote sustainability of heritage research through partnerships with funding bodies including the European Investment Bank and philanthropic organisations like the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Infrastructure and Services

The infrastructure federates laboratories, mobile teams, and digital platforms to offer services such as in situ diagnostics at sites managed by bodies like ICOMOS and the National Trust (United Kingdom), laboratory analyses at centres affiliated with Helmholtz Association, and high‑resolution imaging at facilities associated with the European XFEL. Services include access to synchrotron beamlines, neutron tomography at facilities like ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, hyperspectral imaging at museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and conservation science expertise from institutions including the Smithsonian Institution. Digital services encompass data repositories interoperable with platforms like Zenodo, metadata frameworks aligned with Dublin Core, and training resources delivered through partnerships with networks such as the European Heritage Tribune.

Governance and Funding

Governance is organised through a consortium model involving national nodes represented by organisations such as the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Spanish National Research Council, and Polish Academy of Sciences. A governing board with representatives from major stakeholders including the European Commission, national ministries, and leading universities oversees strategy, while operational management liaises with technical committees composed of experts from institutions like the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz and the Fondazione per la Conservazione e il Restauro. Funding mixes national contributions, competitive grants from programmes such as Horizon Europe, and support from cultural funds like the Prince Claus Fund and corporate partners including Canon Inc..

Participation and Membership

Membership spans national research infrastructures, museums, archives, and university departments, with participating organisations including the National Archaeological Museum (Athens), State Hermitage Museum, Princeton University, and University of Barcelona. Participation models offer access tiers for research groups, conservation practitioners, and industry partners such as private conservation firms and technology providers. Collaborative agreements with international bodies like the International Council of Museums and research networks such as the European Research Council enable mobility fellowships, shared access programs, and joint training initiatives.

Impact and Projects

E-RIHS has supported projects addressing material degradation, provenance studies, and digital conservation, collaborating with initiatives such as the Aegean Archaeology Project, the Pompeii Preservation Project, and the Venice Charter‑inspired conservation programmes. Its activities have underpinned scientific publications in venues like the Journal of Cultural Heritage, influenced policy dialogues at the European Parliament, and contributed to major exhibition research at the National Gallery (London), Museo del Prado, and Hermitage Museum. Pilot studies have combined techniques from synchrotron science, dendrochronology at the University of Bern, and isotopic analysis at facilities linked to the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History to resolve questions of authenticity, trade networks, and conservation strategies. Overall, E-RIHS functions as an enabling platform linking prominent scientific organisations, museums, and universities to advance the preservation and understanding of cultural heritage across Europe.

Category:Research infrastructures Category:Cultural heritage organizations