The Technology Research Institute for Culture and Heritage (TRIC) of Korea and France’s Memorist have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration in the field of digital heritage and to jointly pursue cultural industry projects and global market expansion initiatives.
TRIC and Memorist are leading digital heritage organizations representing Korea and France respectively. Both possess the full in-house capacity to digitize, archive, resource, and creatively apply cultural heritage. Memorist, backed by France’s robust cultural infrastructure and public-private sponsorship ecosystem—including the presence of UNESCO headquarters—has successfully executed global-scale heritage projects. TRIC, emerging from Korea’s world-class IT infrastructure and growing demand for immersive digital content, has developed advanced technologies and built a strong foundation in creative content production.
Through this MOU, the two organizations will accelerate multifaceted collaboration in digital heritage. They plan to co-develop cultural and creative industry (CCI) projects—including immersive exhibitions and digital storytelling—and introduce innovative content that fuses creativity with technology from both nations. Additionally, they will exchange expertise in high-precision 3D scanning, gigapixel imaging, and Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), advancing the technical capabilities of both partners.
Access to each country’s cultural ecosystem is also a key pillar of the partnership. By connecting public and private stakeholders, securing government support and funding channels, and exploring joint branding opportunities, TRIC and Memorist aim to strengthen industrial cooperation and enhance their visibility and impact on the global stage.
This collaboration also aligns with the upcoming celebration of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France in 2026. In May of this year, the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the French Ministry of Culture signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) in Paris, formalizing bilateral cooperation across heritage, the arts, and cultural industries. In step with this agreement, TRIC and Memorist will implement joint projects in digital heritage to deepen their partnership and play a pivotal role in the global digital heritage ecosystem. Looking ahead to 2026, the two organizations plan to expand collaboration with national art institutions and regional cultural hubs in both countries, particularly through immersive exhibitions and digital content initiatives.
TRIC CEO Jikio Kim stated, “This MOU marks the beginning of substantial collaboration between Korea and France in digital heritage, allowing us to deliver innovative cultural experiences to global audiences.” Isabel Lecea San Roman, International Relations Director of Memorist, added, “It is an honor to work with TRIC on forward-looking cultural heritage projects that seamlessly blend tradition, technology, and storytelling.”
