The digitalisation of cultural heritage for sustainable development: the impact of Europeana

abstract chapter - The chapter analyzes the digitization process as a driver of sustainable development in the cultural field, with particular attention to cultural heritage. Cultural heritage is among the most evident cases of relevance for sustainability, in fact it risks a gradual extinction, at least in those units whose fragility may be irreversible (Macrì et al. , 2015). The exploratory research is divided into two phases: the first - on the desk - is aimed at exploring the theme of digitalization of cultural heritage in national and international literature as a tool to guide sustainable development. The second phase - at work - analyses the management and growth of cultural heritage through the Europeana portal also with the contribution of a short interview with privileged observers of the sector. The document helps to improve understanding and evaluation of digitalization practices in the cultural heritage sector in Europe. We believe that our research may highlight some interesting elements that can contribute to the efficient use of technology in the cultural heritage sector. This work is characterized by the offer of innovative profiles because the enhancement of cultural heritage through digitalization represents an area of activity that, at present, does not find substantial systematization in the Italian academic debate.