High technologies in arts. The University of Florence is our new partner.

On the 5th of December, in Florence, an agreement between the Center of design and multimedia in ITMO University and the Centre of information technologies in the University of Florence was signed.

The University delegation was led by Professor Nikolai Borisov, the head of the International scientific laboratory of information technologies in the culture, art and design. During the visit, an agreement was reached to expand the cooperation of universities in areas such as the creation of virtual museums, including the use of super high-resolution still images, the use of laser technology for restoration work, joint research under European programs, the development of information systems for the management of tourist flows in Florence and St. Petersburg, the development of innovative entrepreneurship and student creativity in the field of high technologies for arts and culture.

"Florence is not only the world's cultural heritage, but also a center of innovation, aimed at preserving the cultural heritage and tourism development", Philip Kazin comments, the head of the Department of innovation and project activities of the ITMO University, the member of the delegation. "There are hundreds of small innovative companies here offering solutions in areas such as the restoration of monuments of culture, the development of applications for content distribution, protection of works of art against illegal copying and other. Most of technologies that are used by Italian experts are studied in the ITMO University. In Florence there is a close interaction between science, business and regional authorities, making the city one of the most promising partners for St. Petersburg. After all, the rich cultural heritage of Russia's northern capital can and should be the subject of innovations. The ITMO University is already actively working in this direction".

There are some first projects, with which the cooperation between the two universities will start: Uffizi Touch - the special service for showcasing the masterpieces of world famous galleries in super high quality photos, Ubilia Cloud - the navigation system for cultural objects using the mobile application, conducting the Russian-Italian festival of student innovations in the field of culture and art, and many others. Due to the fact that Italy currently chairs the European Union, contacts with Italian partners will be continued in the new office of the ITMO University in Brussels. In January 2015 it is planned to hold the Russian-Italian workshop on cooperation between universities in Russia and Italy in the field of high technologies in arts and culture.