PhD Technology Driven Sciences: Technologies for Cultural Heritage

Project Information

T4C

Grant agreement ID: 754511

DOI

10.3030/754511

Project closed

EC signature date 7 April 2017

Start date 1 January 2018

End date 30 June 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 2 825 280,00

EU contribution

€ 1 412 640,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TORINO
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - T4C (PhD Technology Driven Sciences: Technologies for Cultural Heritage)

Reporting period: 2020-01-01 to 2023-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The PhD Technology Driven Sciences: Technologies for Cultural Heritage (T4C) project created a new and innovative research and training Doctoral Programme in “Heritage Sciences” conceived by the University of Torino, (UNITO) with the financial support of the European Commission (H2020-MSCA-COFUND) and the banking foundation Compagnia di San Paolo (CSP).

The main aim of the programme is to build up the next generation of Cultural Heritage professionals, able to develop technological solutions and services for the restoration, the protection, the diagnostics and the valorisation of cultural heritage and skilled with a complementary scientific training on transferable skills.

T4C target were Early Stage Researchers, in compliance with the MSCA mobility rule. Fellows had been enrolled in the T4C PhD Programme at the University of Torino. They had the opportunity of attending an innovative and interdisciplinary training programme. The Programme offered:
• basic training in knowledge and analytical skills necessary to understand the field of actions and to develop an interdisciplinary approach;
• specific scientific training through individual project implementation;
• short term scientific visits at international academic institution premises;
• secondment periods at non-academic partners;
• additional complementary research training, including Summer schools

The project started on the 1st January 2018 and ended on the 30th June 2023.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Through 2 Call for Applications, the University of Torino recruited 18 fellows, that had been enrolled in the T4C PhD Programme.
• Fellows selected on the First Call, started their Doctoral training on the 1st November 2018;
• Fellows, selected on the Second Call, started their Doctoral training on the 1st November 2019.
The evaluation and selection of applicants was conducted through a transparent procedure entrusted to an independent Scientific Selection Committee.
A Scientific Board were in charge of the scientific supervision of the Programme, the training and supervision of fellows. The Scientific Board reflects the interdisciplinary approach of the project, with members coming from 5 different scientific domains: basic sciences, digital sciences, environmental sciences, physical sciences and humanities.
An Advisory Board of national and international experts monitored the quality of the project implementation and advise on possible adjustments.
T4C had a dedicated Project Management Team in charge of the overall and day-to-day management of the project and of financial and technical reporting.
Support for fellows’ individual project implementation was ensured by the active participation of Scientific Supervisors in Hosting Departments, by the definition of a Personal Career Development Plan and by the mentoring of tutor at non-academic institutions and companies during secondment periods.
At the end date of the project all fellows finished their research projects and were awarded (or were in the process to be awarded) their PhD and have collectively produced 50 publications, beside their dissertation.
On the 23rd of June 2023 a final event of the project took place at the Egyptian Museum premises in Torino. The event was also streamed online. Fellows, the Scientific Board, the Advisory Board and the Management Team presented project results and discussed their work in the Cultural Heritage field and the impact of a MSCA doctoral fellowship on fellows’ career.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Expected results:
The project aimed to bridge the gap among the researchers on hard sciences and the experts of humanities in the Heritage field, teaching the fellows to work in teams composed by experts of different disciplines.
Furthermore, T4C aimed to be an innovative doctoral training meeting the needs of the growing cultural industry and preparing the PhD Candidates to work also in the non-academic field.
T4C created a new Doctoral Programme at the University of Torino that, thanks to its characteristics (independent and transparent evaluation and selection procedure, interdisciplinary approach, involvement of the non-academic sector), had contributed to the implementation of the EU Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training.
Expected impact:
• Enhancing potential and future career perspectives of researchers, both in the academic and non-academic field.
• Aligning practices with the principles set out by the EU for human resources development in research and innovation.
• Setting a best practice for implementing EU Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training.
• Consolidating national and international networks.

The T4C project funded two cohorts of fellows (2018 and 2019 calls). The University of Torino continued to fund the PhD Programme in the following years.
At the end date of the project the Call for the Selections for the six year of the Programme was open.
The complementary training in transferable skills launched by the T4C project has been expanded and it is now part of the training offer of UNITO Doctoral School for all PhD Candidates, establishing a best practice in UniTO and having a long-term, wider impact of the COFUND project.

T4C Logo