Vilnius University (VU) is proud to announce its designation as a Cooperating Partner of the Digital Research Infrastructure for the Arts and Humanities (DARIAH-EU). This strategic partnership positions Lithuania’s leading academic institution as a central hub for digital innovation, bridging advanced technology with the study of culture, communication, and society in the Baltic region. The Lithuanian Literature and Folklore Institute was also accepted as a DARIAH Cooperating Partner alongside Vilnius University.
A Strategic Leap for Research Networking
DARIAH is a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) whose mission is to empower research communities with digital methods to create, connect, and share knowledge about culture and society. As a Cooperating Partner, VU joins a network of 24 member countries and numerous partner institutions, filling a critical geographical gap in the European digital research map between Poland and Latvia and strengthening the integration of Baltic research into the continental landscape.
The Vice-Rector of Vilnius University, Dr Artūras Vasiliauskas, commented: “This step reflects Vilnius University’s long-standing openness to international collaboration and its commitment to being an active, trusted partner in Europe’s research ecosystem. By joining DARIAH-EU, we are strengthening our ability to connect Lithuanian scholarship with global academic networks and to respond to societal challenges through innovative, technology-driven research.”
A Transdisciplinary Hub for Digital Innovation
The partnership is spearheaded by the Faculty of Communication, which acts as a unique transdisciplinary connector between technical ICT research and traditional inquiries in the human and social sciences. This ecosystem is defined by a diverse array of specialised research units that apply digital methods for pressing societal issues. The newly established Centre for Communication Influences and Propaganda Research at the Faculty of Communication utilises digital analysis of textual and media resources to investigate strategic narratives and disinformation, while the Connective Research Group has developed an innovative Social Media Archive using knowledge graphs and generative artificial intelligence to explore how the past is remembered and how Lithuanian history and heritage shape contemporary identities. These efforts are complemented by the Faculty’s Mobile Eye-Tracking Laboratory, which investigates reading behaviours and information consumption, and the 3D Digitisation and Digital Research Laboratory, which provides expertise in AI and 3D scanning for urban heritage preservation.
“This partnership recognises the breadth of expertise within our Faculty,” noted Prof. Renata Matkevičienė, the Dean of the Faculty of Communication. “To the European network, with the project activities, we bring significant methodological insights based on results of our previous research, together with innovative technical and technological resources from the mobile eye-tracking laboratory to our work on knowledge graphs and 3D digitisation. This collaboration will expand our already existing multidisciplinary collaboration network and provide our researchers and students with access to an exceptional community of experts, ensuring we remain at the forefront of the digital transformation.”
Leading the Agenda on Digital Practices
Supporting these research capabilities is the Vilnius University Library, a national leader in Open Science. By managing MIDAS, the National Open Access Research Data Archive, and digitising over 50,000 cultural heritage objects annually, the Library ensures robust preservation and access for Lithuania’s documentary heritage.
Associate Professor Ingrida Kelpšienė, Vice-Dean for Projects and Partnerships at the Faculty of Communication, explains: “I have witnessed firsthand the value of cross-border collaboration with DARIAH, having been involved in the network since its early stages and being part of the Digital Methods and Practices Observatory (DiMPO) working group. It is particularly meaningful to renew Lithuania’s engagement with this international research infrastructure, with our Faculty once again being an active part of the network. DARIAH membership is strategically significant for our academic community, as it strengthens international partnerships, leverages our regional expertise in digital research, and opens new opportunities for collaborative projects, research, and innovation across traditional and emerging fields of scholarship.”
“The Faculty of Communication is uniquely positioned to serve as the connector for this initiative”, adds Prof. Konstantinos (Costis) Dallas, the Scientific Coordinator for the partnership. “We look forward to collaborating fruitfully with the Lithuanian Literature and Folklore Institute to strengthen the bond between Lithuania and the European digital humanities research space. By combining our methodological leadership in digital practices with our new infrastructures for social media analysis and digital behaviour, we aim to drive the digital research agenda forward across the human and social sciences, not just for the University, but for the wider region.”
The President of the DARIAH-EU Board of Directors, Dr Agiatis Benardou, endorsed the agreement: “We are delighted to welcome Vilnius University to the DARIAH family. The Faculty of Communication has a distinguished history of contributions to the community. Formalising this partnership allows us to deepen our collaboration and leverage VU’s expertise and infrastructure to the benefit of the broader European research landscape.”
For more information on the Cooperating Partners membership in DARIAH, their role, tasks and benefits: click here.