About the event
How are cloud technologies and Artificial Intelligence changing approaches to the study and preservation of cultural heritage? How can digital platforms boost the development of alternative forms of tourism – from industrial to gastronomic? Why are fragmented digital solutions increasingly giving way to complex ecosystems, and what does this mean for museum and tourism spheres? How are modern technologies reimagining the format of corporate museums and transforming the perception of corporate history? Finally, what are the HR challenges that the sphere at the intersection of information technology, culture, and tourism faces?
We invite you to find answers to these and other questions at the II International Research & Practice Conference ’Information Technologies in the Preservation and Promotion of Cultural Heritage.’ The conference will take place on September 10–11, 2026, in St. Petersburg.
The main goal is to create an interdisciplinary platform to exchange experience among researchers, museum professionals, urbanists, place marketers, tourism industry representatives, and IT specialists. Together, we will discuss how digital tools are reshaping the tourism geography of cities, whether heritage can become a real driver of regional economies, and examine specific cases and common mistakes in technology implementation.
Venue: Kanatny Tsekh, 6 25th Liniya, Vasilievsky Ostrov, Korpus 1, HSE University, Saint Petersburg
Important dates
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April 15 - July 15
Applications
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July 31
Application Review Summary
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By August 20
Speaker Registration
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By September 9
Attendee Registration
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September 10 - 11
Conference
Thematic Tracks
1. Digitalization of Cultural Heritage: Formats, Tools, Target Audiences
What latest trends are emerging in the digitalization of cultural heritage? What matters more: broad accessibility of digital content or preserving the authenticity of a work? How can various information technologies be used to adapt digital platforms for different target audiences?
2. Cultural Heritage as a Driver of Socio-Economic Development of Territories
Can cultural heritage sites be considered catalysts for territorial development? How does cultural heritage help enhance the investment attractiveness of a city or a region? What contribution do new types of cultural tourism add to the development of regional tourism? What is the role of digital products in increasing investment attractiveness?
3. Branding of Cultural Heritage and Tourist Destinations: Strategies and Digital Tools
How does building a unique territorial brand based on cultural heritage sites influence its recognition and tourist flow? Which digital tools and platforms (social media, experience marketplaces, geoservices) are most effective for promoting a cultural heritage brand? How can the preservation of heritage authenticity be combined with the implementation of modern marketing and branding strategies? What strategies can be employed in promoting intangible cultural heritage?
4. Niche Tourism as a Resource for the Popularization of Cultural Heritage
How can industrial, gastronomic, literary, mountain, and other types of tourism contribute to the discovery and preservation of cultural heritage sites? Which digital and information technologies assist in the development and promotion of such specialized routes? How can conflicts between niche tourism development and the conservation of vulnerable heritage sites be avoided? Can niche tourism become a growth driver for regions with low conventional tourist flow?
Key speakers
Maria Panina
General Director LLC «Integrated Planning of Automobile Tours» LLC (Moscow)
Marina Kosheleva
Head of Projects in Education, Science and Culture Yandex.Cloud - (Moscow)
Artyom Aleksashin
General Producer, Bureau «Metaforma» (St. Petersburg)
Maria Bulycheva
Lead HR Manager "Vinci Interactive" (Perm)
Vladimir Opredelyonov
Development Director, Almaty Museum of Arts
Azamat Samatov
Deputy Director of the Registan Ensemble (Samarkand, Uzbekistan)
Application Submission Guidelines
- Applications are accepted in the format of full articles (2,500 to 5,000 words) in Russian or English.
- The paper must follow the structure outlined below: introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussions (results and discussions may be presented as a single section), conclusion. The paper must be accompanied by a list of references.
- The paper must include the following information, also provided in English: author's full name, academic degree/title/position, department, university/organization, abstract (150–250 words), keywords (5)
- Text formatting: pdf, 12 pt Times New Roman, single line spacing, page numbering in the bottom right corner.
Presentation: 15 minutes presentation + 10 minutes discussion.
Please send applications to cultecon@hse.ru.
Programme Committee
Alena Suvorova
Senior Research Fellow: HSE University–St Petersburg, Laboratory for Management in Culture and Tourism
Valery E. Gordin
Academic Supervisor: HSE University–St Petersburg, Laboratory for Management in Culture and Tourism
Irina Sizova
Laboratory Head: HSE University–St Petersburg, Laboratory for Management in Culture and Tourism
Ekaterina Baskakova
Research Fellow: HSE University–St Petersburg, Laboratory for Management in Culture and Tourism
Alexandra Pakhomova
Senior Research Fellow: HSE University–St Petersburg, Laboratory for Management in Culture and Tourism
Ekaterina Stepanova
Junior Research Fellow: HSE University–St Petersburg, Laboratory for Management in Culture and Tourism
Organizing Committee
Senior Research Fellow: HSE University–St Petersburg, Laboratory for Management in Culture and Tourism
Research Fellow: HSE University–St Petersburg, Laboratory for Management in Culture and Tourism
Manager: HSE University–St Petersburg, Laboratory for Management in Culture and Tourism
Contacts
For any issues regarding participation in the conference, please contact: cultecon@hse.ru.
