RITHMS_EU

RITHMS project (Research, Intelligence and Technology for Heritage and Market Security) intends to boost the operational capacity of Police and Customs/Border Authorities in addressing the increasingly organised and poly-criminal nature of trafficking in cultural goods through research, technological innovation, outreach and training. Illicit trade in cultural heritage has progressed from a local phenomenon limited to the initiative of a few individuals to a highly remunerative source of income for criminal organisations and terrorist groups that have taken advantage of the opportunities offered by the web and social media to further expand an already flourishing market. Against this background, RITHMS proposes an interdisciplinary approach made necessary by the transnational character of this crime and its links to other criminal networks. The project is funded by the European Union, under the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme [agreement n. 101073932]. The project’s coordinator is the Centre for Cultural Heritage Technology in Venice (Italy) - Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia