Consortium Map
An interactive map of all 21 partners. Hover over each pin to see the institution, role, and associated Doctoral Candidates.
Coordinator
CNRS leads and coordinates the UNVEIL network, recruiting three Doctoral Candidates through two laboratories: IRL Georgia Tech-CNRS 2958 in Metz (terahertz imaging) and C2RMF in Paris (multimodal data fusion for heritage materials).
Europe's largest public research organisation and the sole institution active across all scientific disciplines in France. CNRS coordinates UNVEIL through two laboratories directly involved in the research: the International Research Lab Georgia Tech-CNRS (IRL 2958) in Metz, which leads terahertz imaging research for painting stratigraphy and ceramic tomography (DC1, DC4), and the Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France (C2RMF) in Paris, a reference laboratory for the scientific analysis of museum collections hosting DC8 on multimodal data fusion for pigment and materials identification.
Beneficiary Partners
Nine further institutions recruit and host Doctoral Candidates, providing full-time employment contracts, research supervision, and training environments across Europe.
The DIMES department hosts DC2, developing pulse-compression thermography with multi-wavelength LED excitation (UV to NIR) for non-contact stratigraphic inspection of paintings. The project creates modular heating systems enabling selective stimulation of individual paint layers, combined with advanced thermal signal processing for depth-resolved imaging.
Warwick's engineering faculty hosts DC3 on air-coupled ultrasonic Lamb-wave tomography for paintings and wooden objects. DC3 investigates non-contact through-transmission methods and metamaterial-enhanced imaging resolution, building on Warwick's recognised strength in materials and measurement sciences.
Fraunhofer IKTS, a leading European NDT centre, hosts DC5 developing new 3D ultrasonic imaging methods for sculptures and ceramic artefacts using Laser Doppler Vibrometry, Air-Coupled ultrasound, and Synthetic Aperture Focusing techniques to reveal internal defects fully non-invasively.
Recognised as Europe's most innovative university, KU Leuven hosts DC6 exploring laser ultrasonics for non-contact depth profiling. DC6 uses photoacoustic excitation and Guided Acoustic Waves to produce cross-sectional images of artworks from nanometric surfaces to millimetre-depth structures — a fully non-contact alternative to X-ray tomography.
NTNU's internationally renowned Colourlab hosts DC7, building a complete framework for multiscale and multimodal hyperspectral image acquisition and analysis across VNIR–SWIR–MWIR spectral ranges, applied to wall paintings. DC7 creates spectral libraries and AI-based material mapping tools for heritage conservators.
Italian SME specialising in hypercolorimetric multispectral imaging (HMI) systems for cultural heritage. Profilocolore hosts DC9, developing data fusion methods integrating HMI with THz, thermography, and ultrasonic subsurface imaging, including feature-based co-registration across sensor modalities. A key industry partner for secondments of DC1 and DC8.
Newcastle's Intelligent Sensing & Communications group hosts DC10, developing feature extraction and multimodal fusion algorithms for high-dimensional NDE datasets — THz, thermography, ultrasound, multispectral — to improve diagnostics and generate precise digital twins of artworks. Closely linked to the Great North Museum: Hancock for real-world validation.
RWTH's Virtual Reality & Immersive Visualisation Group hosts DC11, developing user-centred digital twin interfaces for conservation professionals. The project uses visual analytics and immersive VR to spatially integrate multi-source NDE data, designed iteratively with conservators and restorers. RWTH is a world reference in scientific visualisation and HCI.
Trier's HCI group hosts DC12, designing augmented and virtual reality systems that make digital twins of historical artefacts accessible to museum visitors. DC12 will develop and test AR interaction paradigms for laypeople at the Musée de la Cour d'Or – Metz Métropole and Twiceout (Rome), translating complex NDE data into compelling public experiences.
Associated Partners
Eleven institutions participate as associated partners — providing doctoral enrolment, secondment placements, access to collections and conservation facilities, and industrial expertise.
PhD-awarding institution for DC1 and DC4, both recruited by CNRS in Metz. Provides the doctoral enrolment framework for the IRL 2958 laboratory and contributes to co-supervision in physics and THz signal processing.
PhD-awarding institution for DC8 and home of the CNRS-SATIE laboratory, which co-supervises DC8. Contributes statistical signal processing and uncertainty quantification expertise directly applied to XRF + hyperspectral fusion methods. One of France's top-ranked research universities.
Primary real-world deployment site for DC12 (AR digital twins). The museum's Gallo-Roman and medieval collections provide an ideal environment for designing and testing AR interfaces with real museum audiences — bridging UNVEIL's technical outputs with public heritage engagement.
PhD-awarding institution for DC5, recruited by Fraunhofer IKTS. TU Dresden, a German university of excellence, provides the doctoral programme and scientific environment for DC5's ultrasonic imaging thesis, contributing strengths in materials science and advanced acoustic methods.
Combined academic and museum secondment host for DC4 (THz ceramics), DC5 (ultrasonics), and DC12 (AR). Leipzig's museum collections include ceramic artefacts and historical objects providing experimental validation material, bridging scientific NDE research with heritage science practice.
PhD-awarding institution for DC9, recruited by Profilocolore. Co-supervises DC9 through electronics and signal processing expertise, including image fusion algorithms (PCA, ICA) and multimodal data integration. One of Europe's oldest and largest universities.
Italy's leading conservation and restoration centre serves as a secondment host for DC2 (thermography) and DC8 (multimodal fusion). Provides direct access to real artworks undergoing conservation, enabling DCs to validate imaging methods alongside professional conservators in an authentic working environment.
Italian company specialising in scientific diagnostic services for art and cultural heritage objects. Broadens DCs' intersectoral experience by providing operational expertise in applying spectroscopic and imaging instruments in real conservation and authentication contexts outside of academia.
Italian SME in digital technologies and interactive software, serving as secondment host for DC12. Contributes software development expertise for interactive digital experiences — supporting the translation of UNVEIL's NDE-based digital twins into deployable, museum-ready AR applications.
Major regional museum affiliated with Newcastle University, hosting internationally significant collections of archaeology and natural history. Serves as a real-world test environment for DC10 (feature extraction and digital twin validation), providing direct access to museum objects and professional conservators for experimental campaigns.
Skills4Science is a training provider specialised in the development of skills in the science and healthcare sectors. Within the UNVEIL Doctoral Network, it contributes to the design and delivery of training activities, supporting the development of both technical and transferable skills for Doctoral Candidates. Through its expertise in vocational education and collaboration with industry, Skills4Science enhances the employability of early-stage researchers and supports the objectives of Horizon Europe in building a highly skilled and adaptable research workforce.