Completion of the “Digitization of Greek Scientific Collections” Project Coordinated by the University of Crete

The “Digitization of Greek Scientific Collections” project has been successfully completed, marking a major milestone in the Green Transition pillar of the “Greece 2.0” National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The project was coordinated by the Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete (NHMC-UoC), under the scientific leadership of Dr. Petros Lymberakis, with financial management provided by the Research Committee of the University of Crete (ELKE-UoC).

As part of the project, the Consortium of Greek Scientific Collections (CGSC), comprising eight of Greece’s leading research institutions, digitized more than 2.3 million natural history specimens. In addition, 230,000 high-resolution digital images and 7,700 three-dimensional (3D) models were produced.

The digitized data are now freely accessible through the new DiSSCo-GR digital portal, following internationally recognized FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles. The platform ensures interoperability with corresponding European research infrastructures while making a significant contribution to scientific research, education, and biodiversity conservation.

The project was coordinated by the Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, with Dr. Petros Lymberakis (Laboratory Teaching Staff, School of Sciences and Engineering, and Curator of the Vertebrate Collections at NHMC-UoC) serving as Scientific Coordinator. Financial management was carried out by the Research Committee of the University of Crete (ELKE-UoC).

The following Greek research institutions, all of which maintain nationally significant scientific collections, also participated in the project:

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Botanical Collection/Herbarium, Zoological Museum, Museum of Geology and Paleontology)
University of Patras (Botanical Collection/Herbarium, Zoological Museum, Geological and Paleontological Collections)
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Botanical Collection/Herbarium, Zoological Museum, Museum of Geology and Paleontology, Museum of Mineralogy and Petrology)
Goulandris Natural History Museum
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania
Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest
University of the Aegean (Insect Collections)

The project received €5 million in funding from the European Union’s NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility, through the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy, with the initiative led by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA).

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