EUREKA PROJECT > 2694 EUROCARE2000 

Project Description

The EUROCARE project aims to develop Industrial and other kinds of application and market-oriented products and technologies which are currently not available as well as best practices for conservation and restoration work based on and supported by scientific knowledge. The objective of the project is to support and enable advanced technical standards and European guidelines for the evaluation, analysis and treatment of cultural assets. EUROCARE aims to: - develop new materials and substances - improve the analytical and treatment techniques to be applied in the conservation sector (to cultural assets) - promote the exchange of Information between scientists and Industry in all participating countries - generate a market for advanced applications and high technology products and processes In the field of conservation and related domains, - establish and support information systems which are recognising state of the Information and Communication Technologies (interoperability, modern communication means, etc.) and standards, - build up networks of existing expertise all over Europe (e.g. in terms of Centres of Excellence) and open the communication to non European countries, and - cooperate with other relevant networks and activities at the European (e.g. Framework Programmes of the EUROPEAN UNION) and non-European level. Keywords: material science, conservation, information science.

Technological Development Envisaged

EUROCARE structure: Initial phase: Industry, scientists and users agree that the currently available chemicals, analytical methods and standards for the treatment of deteriorating objects exposed to environmental pollution are inadequate and short-lived and may even contribute to further damage. Therefore, the participating working groups have defined the most urgent and promising fields of R & D. The materials and parameters which are to be examined will be defined before pilot studies are initiated in zones of different climatic and pollution conditions In Europe. In this connection, International cooperation has already started and Interdisciplinary sub-projects and working groups have been set up with a view to treating the topics selected. These working groups are to include partners from Industry as well as from the scientific and users' communities. The operative objective is to organise 'centres of excellence', based on intense international cooperation, exchange and competition. Collaboration with similar 'networks of excellence' (especially within the R & T Framework Programme of the EUROPEAN UNION) will be established. To facilitate and support the operation of this network state of the art Information and Communication facilities will be established. The resulting information infrastructure will also be suitable to host information banks as well as information services related to domain- specific projects of EUROCARE. Execution Phase: The development of Industrial products, methods and techniques is to be achieved by taking the following steps: - scientists, conservators and art historians are to make a general evaluation of material damage by applying traditional and novel criteria as well as to render a visual description with the aid of new techniques. - the development of industrial products based on the results yielded by the initial testing phase is required. These new chemicals and methods are to ensure a more effective conservation of the relevant objects. - studies on conservation materials and techniques are to be carried out using artificial structures, in situ structures, mural paintings and other test surfaces. - plans have been made for the development of instruments for a special - and in particular an advanced, non- destructive analysis (e.g. by means of laser optics, infrared spectroscopy, biosensors, CCD photogrammetry, micro-seismology, micro-climatography and miniaturized gas chromatography equipment for field work). - when carrying out the various sub-projects, appropriate information and documentation systems as well as information services will be established and adapted to the respective sub-project in order to minimize analytical work and at the same time maximize the success of analysis and treatment. In addition, the lasting effect of new materials and methods of conservation is to be checked. - computerised services will be accessed via a service portal which also enables access to knowledge bases and references to relevant experts and best practices (including digitisation of relevant materials and objects) in the field of Cultural Heritage. This portal provides communication facilities for cooperation activities within the 'EUROCARE network of excellence' which can be considered as business-to-business (B2B) processes. - The 'EUROCARE Network of Excellence' will provide an open and competitive structure, based on 'clusters' organised by temporary consortia of participating companies and research institutions, and coordinated by nodes in regions were this is realistic to organise. Final Phase: A) The Information and technology transfer among interested institutions from EUREKA countries, in particular between training centres for conservators and craftsmen, is to be enhanced by pooling the relevant information hosted within different information systems and made accessible by relevant information services. The established networks of excellence will be turned into a professional and possibly self-sustainable operation. B) European standards and guidelines for conservation and restoration are to be established under Interdisciplinary sub-projects with Governmental Institutions taking an active part. This procedure is aimed at bridging the gap which currently separates Industry, scientists and the often sceptical conservators and restorers. Note under Relationship to other EU Programmes: FP5-TP4 Cultural Heritage, COST G7: Conservation of artworks by means of laser. Unspecified links with environmental and material programs of the CEC.

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1. Analysis of the current state of EUREKA collaboration within cultural heritage. 2. Networking and stimulation of partnering. 3. Services for partner search and funding opportunities. 4. Marketing, Public Relations, quality assurance.

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yThe organisation focuses technology management with an emphasis on information and communication technologies. It currently manages Information Technology (IT) research programmes for the Austrian government and projects for a number of research organisations.

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Microbiology, Molecular Ecology, Material Testing, Biocide development and application.

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- Polymer coating materials - Thermal insulation - Cultural monuments.

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Development of new techniques for the detection of biodeteriorative agents.

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