Cairo: The National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) is set to inaugurate a joint Egyptian-British center on August 17, focusing on the use of artificial intelligence and virtual heritage technologies to preserve cultural heritage and advance scientific research.

According to State Information Service Egypt, NRIAG Head Bassem Nabawi announced that the British-Egyptian Center for Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Heritage Technologies (BECAIVE) will be established in Egypt at the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics. Its UK counterpart will be located at the Center for Architecture, Urbanism and Global Heritage at the University of York. This initiative is part of a broader scientific collaboration between Egypt and the UK, aimed at enhancing research collaboration and sharing expertise in AI and virtual heritage technologies.

BECAIVE's mission will include conducting scientific research, building technical capacity, and developing AI applications specifically for the fields of Egyptology and archaeology. The center will also create a digital repository and integrated database that covers archaeological sites, artifacts, and museum collections. Abbas Mohamed Abbas, a representative of BECAIVE, stated that the center plans to utilize digitization, 3D modeling, and virtual reconstruction technologies to document archaeological sites and develop specialized research projects.

Furthermore, BECAIVE intends to expand cooperation with universities, museums, and research institutions both within Egypt and internationally, thereby supporting innovation in digital heritage and AI applications.