On September 25th and 26th, various members of ECHOES and its partners gathered at the University of Antwerp for the workshop “Value Chain and Cost-Benefit Analysis of Digital Services for Cultural Heritage.”
Approximately forty participants from across Europe joined to discuss the central questions surrounding the Heritage Cloud: how to generate value, how to ensure its financial sustainability, and how to develop it as a long-term collaborative tool. The programme featured keynote presentations, expert debates, round tables, and interactive group discussions.
The workshop opened with an introduction by Xavier Rodier, ECHOES Project Coordinator as well as Vania Virgili, Director General of E-RIHS, who underlined the importance of connecting economic models with the social and cultural dimensions of the Heritage Cloud. Subsequent sessions explored case studies, methodologies for value assessment, and policy frameworks supporting the sustainability of digital heritage services. E-RIHS’s participation was instrumental in linking the discussions on business models to the broader vision of sustainable research infrastructures and their role in supporting the Cloud’s implementation and governance.
The two days concluded with group reflections aimed at identifying priorities for the upcoming Business Plan of ECHOES. These outcomes will inform the next phase of work within and the broader ECHOES consortium, ensuring that economic and governance models are firmly grounded in real-world needs and opportunities.
Thanks to Annick Schramme, Laura D’hoore, and Leonie Delaey of the University of Antwerp, as well as Lluís Bonet of the University of Barcelona and all participants, the event was a great success. It was marked by a vibrant exchange of ideas and the strengthening of bonds across the European heritage community.
A clear consensus emerged: the future Heritage Cloud must be a collaborative, value-driven ecosystem, not merely a storage solution. Its success will depend on developing sustainable, multi-level business models that balance open access with financial viability, leverage existing initiatives, and respond to the real needs of its diverse users, from institutions to volunteers.
