“Maintain data once. Use it many times.”
— This principle lies at the core of our platform architecture. The following overview demonstrates how consistently we have implemented it. —
How Our Infrastructure Connects Cultural Knowledge – The Key Facts in 60 Seco
Discover in less than a minute how our infrastructure unifies collection management, research, public engagement and digital presentation through a shared data foundation.
The infrastructure presented here brings together collection management, scholarly documentation, digital engagement and public presentation within a shared ecosystem based on a central, quality-assured data foundation. It follows the principle of capturing data only once and subsequently making it available for a wide range of applications and audiences. Existing collections, databases and external knowledge sources are integrated and interconnected through Linked Open Data technologies.
Through citizen science approaches, researchers, eyewitnesses and interested members of the public can actively contribute to the expansion and enrichment of the data. A central data layer harmonises, validates and consolidates all information and serves as a reliable single source of truth. On this foundation, research portals, digital collections, media guides, virtual exhibitions and additional formats for engagement, presentation and outreach can be created. The open and flexible architecture fosters collaboration between institutions, supports future technologies and enables sustainable solutions for cultural and scientific organisations.
This summary provides an overview of the most important aspects at a glance. If you would like to explore the topic in greater depth, detailed information on the individual components, areas of application and strategic potential of the infrastructure can be found below. Discover how connected data creates sustainable knowledge environments for research, engagement and cultural heritage.
“Today, digital collections are much more than digital representations of physical holdings. They form the foundation for research, knowledge transfer, participation and new ways of experiencing culture.”
At the same time, museums, archives, libraries and academic collections face the challenge of managing their data sustainably and making it available for a wide range of use cases. Our infrastructure was developed precisely to meet this challenge. It brings together collection management, scholarly cataloguing, digital engagement and public presentation within a shared ecosystem – all built on a central, quality-assured data foundation.
From Holdings to Digital Knowledge Spaces
Every project starts with an institution’s collections and holdings.
Whether museum objects, archival records, photographs, audiovisual media or scholarly documentation, existing information is integrated into the infrastructure through structured data capture and digitisation processes.
Existing collection management systems can be incorporated just as easily as external data sources and international knowledge networks. By applying Linked Open Data principles, new relationships are created between objects, people, places and events, extending far beyond the boundaries of individual collections.
Knowledge grows through dialogue
Digital collections are not a one-way street
Our infrastructure enables knowledge not only to be published, but also to flow back into institutions. Integrated citizen science approaches allow citizens, researchers, eyewitnesses and engaged communities to actively contribute to the enrichment of collection and research data.
In this way, new perspectives on cultural heritage emerge, along with valuable additions for research, documentation and engagement. Isolated datasets are transformed into a connected knowledge space.
A shared data foundation as a strategic resource
At the core of the infrastructure is an intelligent data layer that brings together information from different sources, harmonises it and ensures data quality.
A central data harvester consolidates data holdings, while automated quality processes ensure consistency, traceability and long-term usability. Search and indexing services make content discoverable across institutions and create the foundation for both scholarly analysis and public-facing applications.
The data foundation thus becomes a “single source of truth” – a central body of knowledge accessed by all applications.
Research, Knowledge Transfer and Presentation from a Single Source
“Capture once, enrich continuously and publish in multiple ways.”
As outlined above, all applications rely on the same structured data foundation. Content is maintained and contextualised centrally and made available for different audiences and use cases. From this shared foundation, a wide range of access points to knowledge and culture can be created:
Open to Collaboration and Future Innovation
Cultural heritage reveals its greatest value when institutions work together.
For this reason, the infrastructure was designed with openness at its core. Standardised interfaces and export mechanisms allow data to be integrated into external research environments, specialist portals, aggregators and web applications.
At the same time, the platform remains flexible enough to accommodate future technologies, new forms of digital engagement and institution-specific requirements. The infrastructure evolves alongside the needs of its users.
One thing becomes clear: sustainable solutions are built on a shared infrastructure, not on individual applications.
Every institution has its own collections, workflows, research questions and communication goals. That is why there is no universal off-the-shelf solution – but there are proven building blocks that can be adapted flexibly to different requirements.
On the following pages, we present the individual components of our infrastructure in detail. Discover research platforms, media guides, digital exhibitions, scholarly editions and other applications that are already being used successfully in cultural and academic institutions.
Together, we analyse existing structures, identify development potential and create sustainable solutions. Whether you have an initial idea, a specific project in mind or a long-term infrastructure strategy, we support you from concept to implementation, drawing on more than a decade of experience in digital cultural work since 2014.