International Conference “Digital Technologies, Common European Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development”

The International Conference “Digital Technologies, Common European Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development” was organized by the Ionian University in the context of the Irschen Program (KA2 Action Erasmus+). It took place on March 21, 2023, in the Eva Laskari Hall at the Historical Public Library of Corfu in the Old Fortress of Corfu, Greece. The Conference aimed to stress the necessity of digital tools in highlighting Europe's Cultural Heritage, in strengthening our common European identity, and thus in promoting Sustainable Development.

The Conference was greeted by the Vice-Rector for Research and Development Professor Christina Beneki and the Head of the Department of History Associate Professor Foteini Vaki. In addition the Conference was also greeted by the Mayor of the city of Irschen Mr  Manfred Dullnig and  the visiting professor -archaeologist of the Innsbruck University Barbara Kainrath who presented the Irschen project and referred to the objectives achieved.  

We have had excellent presentations by Greek and European experts (academics and researchers) in the fields of Sustainable Development, Archaeology, History as well as Digital technologies and their applications in History and Culture. Specifically, the keynote speaker Professor Rοido Mitoula of the Department of Economics and Sustainable Development of the Harokopeio University, Athens; Professor of History Roland Steinacher;  Associate Professor of Innsbruck University Dr. Gerald Grabherr; the archaeologist-researcher of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences (ZRC SAZU) Dr Zvezdana Modrijan.

In addition, the Ionian University was represented by Professor Konstantinos Angelakos of The Department of History, Associate Professor Aristotelis Martinis of the Department of Environment, Associate Professor Ioannis Deligiannis of the Department of Audio and Visual Arts, Assistant Professor Andreas Kapetanios of the Department of History, the Member of Specialised and Laboratory Teaching Staff Dr. Charalambos Kourgiantakis and Dr. Efstathios Pouliasis, the Teaching Fellow Dr. Sofia – Maria Poulimenou of the Department of Tourism, and the PhD candidate Mrs Georgia Trakala.

Moreover, Mr. Demis Corvaglia and Mr. Luca De Marco of the 3D Mobile Company contributed to the Intellectual Outputs of the project and presented on the Irschen application that highlights the cultural route and value of the archaeological hilltop settlement of Burgbihl in Irschen.

The Principal Investigators for the Ionian University of the Irschen project were there too, i.e.  the Assistant Professors Dr. Naoum Mylonas of the Department of Tourism and Dr. Olga Eleni Astara of the Department of Regional Development.

All of the above have composed a mosaic that completed the Irschen project in the best possible way by enhancing our common European cultural heritage through the use of new technologies. We are happy to have contributed to the sustainable development of places, to the awareness of our common identity and, consequently, to social and economic cohesion.