European funds worth 45 million euros will be used for digitization in the cultural sector, from everything that means approval, authorization, certification of interventions in the construction works on heritage buildings, of immovable heritage, the Minister of Culture, Raluca Turcan said on Saturday in Alba Iulia.

"No less important is the call we will use to invest 45 million euros for digitization in the cultural sector. There are two projects for which we have already launched the implementation documentation on European funds, through which we will digitize everything that means the part of approval, authorization, certification of interventions in the construction works on heritage buildings and at the same time the digitization of the immovable heritage in Romania, so that we can have a map of cultural objectives, heritage buildings with a QR code so that anyone interested in the history of Romania can find out in a modern way," the Culture minister told a press conference.

The programme titled E-patrimony is a continuation at another level of the E-culture digitization project, started in 2018.

European funding totalling 45 million euros is available through two new European projects for the 2021-2027 financial year.

"The first good news is that the other day, on January 31, we have already opened the call for funding for one of the two projects, and the second good news is that the contract for the preparation of the feasibility study and the necessary technical project has been signed. Both European projects will actually start in the second half of this year and will last about two years," wrote Raluca Turcan on Facebook.

Specifically, a common national platform for digital public services in the field of cultural heritage will be created through E-patrimony.

"Basically, we will provide and store online all the services such as the issuance of intervention permits, archaeological research permits, expert accreditation certificates, etc.",,explained the minister.

Romania's immovable cultural heritage will also be inventoried and documented.

"We are thus increasing the visibility of the heritage through a tourist map with monuments and labels placed on monuments with QR codes, which will direct the visitor to the platform, but also other technologies or virtual reality tools for mobile heritage, including in support of local communities," added Raluca Turcan.

The minister recalled that E-culture has ensured the transposition of more than 550,000 mobile cultural resources into the online environment, from books and old books, historical documents, paintings to ethnographic objects, etc.

Raluca Turcan attended the official inauguration of the Princely Palace in Alba Iulia on Saturday.AGERPRES(RO - author: Marinela Brumar, editor: Florentina Peia; EN - editor: Simona Iacob)