26/04/2026 - ERA is a strategic partner in a European project with ‘historic’ funding

ERA Arqueologia is part of the consortium that will establish UAlgTec Heritage, the first European centre of excellence for technological innovation in archaeological heritage.

UAlgTec Heritage aims to create a new European innovation sector – HeritageTech – where artificial intelligence will be used to protect, study and promote archaeological heritage. Planned solutions include risk anticipation systems (climate change and urban pressure), immersive experiences in virtual and augmented reality, and decision-support tools for local authorities.

Portugal has secured €81 million from the European Commission under the Teaming for Excellence call (Horizon Europe) – 30% of the total €270 million – to establish six centres of research excellence, spread from the North to the Algarve, in the fields of genomic medicine, environmental health, sustainable AI, archaeology and cultural heritage.

Led by ICArEHB, the Interdisciplinary Centre for Archaeology and the Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArEHB) at the University of the Algarve, the consortium includes the University of Kiel (Germany), the technology consultancy Zartis (Ireland) and ERA Arqueologia, the largest Portuguese company in the sector.

ICArEHB has secured a landmark grant of €31.5 million to establish UAlgTec Heritage, the first European centre of excellence dedicated to technological innovation in archaeological heritage. It is the first ‘Teaming for Excellence’ grant awarded in the field of archaeology in Europe.

ERA’s involvement strengthens the link between cutting-edge research and professional practice, consolidating its status as a national benchmark in the management and enhancement of cultural heritage. João Cascalheira (director of ICArEHB) notes that 'archaeology has often been regarded as being on the fringes of the digital transformation. UAlgTec Heritage aims to reverse that narrative.' Over the course of six years, this initiative aims to create more than 70 skilled jobs, train 400 professionals, and engage 38,000 participants.

ERA thus establishes itself as an indispensable strategic partner in the new cycle of HeritageTech.