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 beWarrant – Tinexta Innovation Hub in collaboration with AVVALE, Center for Colloid and Surface Science and BMI network, 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
| 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 | |
| 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) |
| 11:35 – 13:00 | Blockchain applications Matias Torres Diaz (AVVALE), Francesco Meloni (AVVALE), Taras Maksymyuk (Lviv Polytechnic National University) |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch break |
| 14:00 – 14:55 | Beyond restoration: the expanding role of the cultural heritage conservator Antonio Mirabile (AM) |
| 14:55 – 15:50 | 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 |
| TIME (CET) |
Cluster Synergies |
| 8:45 – 9:15 | Registration |
| 9:15 – 9:30 | Introduction to Day 3 |
| 9:30 – 10:25 | 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 AURORA’s sister projects ANCHISE and ENIGMA on policy recommendations Domenico Romano (AVVALE), Charalampos Georgiadis (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Marco Fiore (Michael Culture Association) |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch break |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | ANCHISE project: innovative and interdisciplinary solutions for the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural goods Marco Fiore (Michael Culture Association) |
| Social activity | |
| 20:00 | Social dinner |
| TIME (CET) |
Conclusion |
| 9:45 – 10:00 | Registration |
| 10:00 – 10:15 | Introduction to Day 4 |
| 10:15 – 11:10 | 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) |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Wrap up and conclusion Closing ceremony Stefania Melandri (beWarrant – Tinexta Innovation Hub) |
Speakers
Gallery
