How are digital technologies transforming the way we understand, preserve and transmit industrial heritage?
The Centre national de la culture industrielle (CNCI) and the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH) at the University of Luxembourg are organising the international conference Digital Future for Industrial Heritage? on Friday, 20 November 2026, at the Black Box on Campus Belval.
The day will open with a keynote lecture by Marinos Ioannides, Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage at the Cyprus University of Technology. A pioneer in this field, he will introduce the concept of the Memory Twin, which brings together digital representations, knowledge and cultural memory.
From data collection and 3D modelling to artificial intelligence and artistic creation, three thematic panels and a roundtable discussion will bring together international experts to explore the opportunities and challenges of digital technologies for industrial heritage.
Programme
Overall moderation: Jessika Maria Rauch, Communication and Public Relations
09:00–09:15 | Welcome and Opening Remarks
Anne-Catherine Richard, Director of the CNCI
Stefan Krebs, C²DH, University of Luxembourg
09:15–10:00 | Keynote Lecture
Marinos Ioannides, Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage – Cyprus University of Technology (Cyprus) · EN
10:00–11:00 | Panel 1: Collecting and Using Digital Data on Industrial Heritage
Citizen science, LiDAR data, artificial intelligence and 3D technologies: this panel will explore new methods for collecting, analysing and using digital heritage data.
Moderator: Dr Dominique Santana, Postdoctoral Researcher in Public and Digital History – C²DH, University of Luxembourg
Paulina Jolanta Pluta, Bachelor’s student in Prehistoric and Early Historic Archaeology – Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz / Heritage Quest Luxembourg (Germany) · EN
Iris Hendrickx, researcher and Assistant Professor in Language Technology and Artificial Intelligence at Radboud University (Netherlands), member of the European HAICu (Heritage and Artificial Intelligence for Cultural Understanding) project. EN
Hervé Verloes, CEO – Poolpio (Belgium) · FR
Progress update presented by Kirill Mitsurov (C²DH, University of Luxembourg) on the digitisation of the historic Junglinster antennas.
11:00–11:30 | Coffee Break
11:30–12:30 | Panel 2: Visualising (Industrial) Heritage
From modelling historical machines to digitising heritage buildings, this panel will explore the applications of 3D technologies for research, conservation and heritage interpretation.
Moderator: Marten During – C²DH, University of Luxembourg
Clarissa Kopanitsak, Research Assistant – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) (Germany) · EN
Valentino Tignanelli, Architect, Designer and Project Manager – AaltoSiilo Ry / Factum Foundation (Finland) · EN
Morgane Estavoyer, Project Manager, “CMN Numériques” – Centre des monuments nationaux (France) · FR
12:30–14:00 | Lunch
Opportunity to discover Calculating Empires, an artwork by Kate Crawford and Vladan Joler, awarded the Silver Lion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale and presented by Elektron at Socle C in Belval.
14:00–15:00 | Roundtable: Artificial Intelligence and (Industrial) Heritage
How can artificial intelligence contribute to the preservation and study of industrial heritage? This roundtable will explore its potential and limitations, as well as challenges relating to data, skills and European cooperation.
Moderator: Annick Goerens, Journalist and Presenter – RTL Radio Lëtzebuerg
Lorena Aldana, Head of External Relations and Advocacy – Europeana Foundation (the Netherlands, online participation) · EN
Alessandra Luciano, Coordinator of the National Strategy for Digital Cultural Heritage – Ministry of Culture (Luxembourg)
Iris Hendrickx, Researcher and Assistant Professor in Computational Linguistics and Language Technology – Radboud University / HAICu (the Netherlands) · EN
Fulgencio Sanmartin, Policy Officer – Digital Cultural Heritage – DG CONNECT, European Commission (Luxembourg) · EN
Sarah Oberbichler, Assistant Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Data Mining for Digital History – C²DH, University of Luxembourg (Luxembourg) · EN
Tugce Karatas, Researcher and Head of the Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) – C²DH, University of Luxembourg (Luxembourg) · EN
15:00–15:30 | Coffee Break
15:30–16:30 | Panel 3: Digital Interpretation of (Industrial) Heritage
How can digital arts transform the way we interpret and communicate industrial heritage? This panel will explore the connections between artistic creation, contemporary technologies and industrial memory.
Moderator: Jessika Maria Rauch, Communication and Public Relations
Françoise Poos, Artistic and Scientific Director – Elektron (Luxembourg) · FR
Guy Wolff, Director – SPEKTRUM (Luxembourg), together with the artist Judith Röder · FR / EN
Delphine Jenart, Creative Greater Region Ecosystem Coordinator – KIKK (Belgium) · FR
16:30 | Closing Remarks and Reception
Friday, 20 November 2026
09:00–16:30
Black Box – Maison des Sciences Humaines
University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval
11, porte des Sciences, L-4366 Esch-sur-Alzette
The conference will be held in French and English.
Register now:
