AURORA Training School - AURORA Project

Training School on digital identity, novel chemical markers, and tracking systems to counteract illicit trafficking of artworks

21-24 October 2025

Sarajevo, National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Registration deadline: 3rd October

The AURORA Training School is scheduled for October 21-24, 2025, at the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. This four-day program is designed for Early-Stage Researchers, including postgraduates, PhD candidates, and young post-doctoral scholars from both within and outside the AURORA project. The school aims to provide specialized training in conservation science, information and communication technology (ICT), and related disciplines, with a particular emphasis on green chemistry, materials science, and advanced digital solutions for cultural heritage preservation.

Participants will engage in a combination of lectures and hands-on sessions, exploring innovative methods to assign unique digital identities to artifacts, track the movement of artworks, and counteract illicit trafficking. The curriculum also delves into the application of chemical markers and blockchain technology to verify provenance and prevent counterfeiting.

Organized by Center for Colloid and Surface Science and BeWarrant, the AURORA Training School seeks to equip young researchers with practical skills and knowledge essential for the protection and conservation of cultural heritage. Further details, including the specific venue, will be announced in due course.

Chemical markers

Digital identity and tracking

Cutting-edge technologies

Museums equipments

AGENDA

DAY 1 | 21 October

TIME (CET)	Chemical marker

13:30 – 14:00	Arrival and registrations
14:00 – 14:40	Welcome to AURORA School and project presentation Domenico Romano (AVVALE), Martina Vivarelli (beWarrant – Tinexta Innovation Hub)
14:40 – 15:40	Participants presentation
15:40 – 15:55	Time-Break
15:55 – 16:50	Chemical marker based on photoluminescent pigments Daniela Iacopino (Tyndall Institute-University College of Cork), Rodorico Giorgi (CSGI)
16:50 – 17:15	Interdisciplinary by nature: conservators in cultural heritage science Antonio Mirabile
17:15 – 18:30	Workshop on the AURORA chemical marker “Application of photoluminescent inks on cultural heritage items” Rodorico Giorgi, Themis Krasoudaki, Andrea Louise Matulac, Francesca Battaglia (CSGI), Daniela Iacopino, Martina Piletti (Tyndall Institute-University College of Cork), Antonio Mirabile (AM)
20:00	Welcome dinner
	Closing of the first day

DAY 2 | 22 October

TIME (CET)	Artwork tracking and blockchain

8:45 – 9:15	Registration
9:15 – 9:30	Introduction to Day 2
09:30 – 10:25	Digital fingerprint and cultural heritage. A solution through XRF mapping Lorenzo Bellucci (1trueid)
10:25 – 10:40	Time-Break
10:40 – 11:35	The Future of Heritage Management: How AI and Blockchain Transform the Art World Taras Maksymyuk (Lviv Polytechnic National University)
10:40 – 11:35	Blockchain and UWB-based Indoor Localization Matias Torres Diaz (AVVALE), Francesco Meloni (AVVALE), Taras Maksymyuk (Lviv Polytechnic National University)
13:00 – 14:00	Lunch break
10:40 – 11:35	Beyond restoration: the expanding role of the cultural heritage conservator Antonio Mirabile (AM)
10:40 – 11:35	Development of a low power consumption embedded system for indoor precision tracking of cultural artifacts in museum environment Martina Piletti, Sanjeev Kumar (Tyndall Institute-University College of Cork)
15:50 – 16:05	Time-Break
16:05 – 16:35	Workshop “End to end system operation of AURORA localization technologies” Martina Piletti, Sanjeev Kumar, Zahra Soltani (Tyndall Institute-University College of Cork), Matias Torres Diaz (AVVALE)
16:35 – 17:05	Workshop “Creation of a Digital Identity through XRF mapping. An application case” Lorenzo Bellucci (1trueid)
17:30 – 19:30	Social Activity
20:00	Closing of the second day

DAY 3 | 23 October

TIME (CET)	Cluster Synergies

8:45 – 9:15	Registration
9:15 – 9:30	Introduction to Day 3
10:40 – 11:35	The OSCE-led Heritage Crime Task Force: Coordinated Global Law Enforcement Responses to Combat Trafficking of the World’s Cultural Heritage Cameron Walter (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)
10:25 – 10:40	Time-Break
10:40 – 11:35	Building a Network to Fight Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Artefacts in Hungary Lujza Varga (Hungarian National Museum)
11:35 – 13:00	Roundtable with sister projects ANCHISE and ENIGMA on policy recommendations Charalampos Georgiadis (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Marco Fiore (Michael Culture Association)
13:00 – 14:00	Lunch break
10:40 – 11:35	ANCHISE project: innovative and interdisciplinary solutions for the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural goods Marco Fiore (Michael Culture Association)
15:00 – 16:00	Lecture from other EU funded projects
	Social activity
20:00	Social dinner

DAY 4 | 24 October

TIME (CET)	Conclusion

9:45 – 10:00	Registration
10:00 – 10:15	Introduction to Day 4
10:40 – 11:35	Equipping museums to fight illicit trafficking Aida Vežić, Jove Pargovski, Azra Bečević Šarenkapa (Balkan Museum Network)
11:10 – 11:25	Time-Break
11:25 – 12:00	Practical activity “Do the scanning process!” Francesco Meloni (AVVALE), Matias Torres Diaz (AVVALE), Daniela Iacopino (Tyndall Institute-University College of Cork)
12:00 – 12:30	Wrap up and conclusion Closing ceremony Martina Vivarelli (beWarrant – Tinexta Innovation Hub), Domenico Romano (AVVALE)