ArchXAI – Artificial intelligence enhancing Cross-Border access to archives
The AI-Enhanced Cross-Border Archives (ArchXAI) project has officially started, bringing the power of artificial intelligence to the archival field across Finland, Estonia, and Latvia. The project aims to improve public services by developing new AI-based tools that make archival materials easier to find, describe, and access across languages and borders.
Archives are facing an ever-growing amount of data and an increasing number of information requests from the public. ArchXAI addresses this challenge by developing open-source AI tools that will help researchers, archivists, and citizens to find information faster and more accurately.
The main results of the project:
- Digitisation of historical materials and AI-based text recognition
- Smart AI tools to enhance metadata creation and search capabilities
- AI-supported services to make information request handling more efficient and user-friendly
The project is coordinated by South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk), with partners The National Archives of Finland, The National Archives of Estonia, and The National Archives of Latvia. The cooperation builds on shared historical backgrounds and a joint ambition to make cultural heritage more accessible to everyone.
“Archives are entering a new era where AI can open up historical materials in entirely new ways. ArchXAI develops practical, cross-border solutions that make archives more accessible, efficient, and equitable for everyone,” says Vili Herdell, Deputy Director of the National Archives of Finland.
Cross-border cooperation began with a first project meeting in Helsinki, where the ArchXAI project group met for the first time and started making a more detailed action plan. The objective of the kick-off was not only to foster closer collaboration, but also to elaborate the project plan and translate it into a concrete set of actions. Central Baltic project manager Normunds Strautmanis participated in the meeting and shared important information about the implementation guidelines and gave us useful tips and insights for the cooperation.
The ArchXAI project team at the kick-off meeting hosted by the National Archives of Finland in Helsinki. Participants from Finland, Estonia, and Latvia gathered to launch the AI Enhanced Cross-Border Archives project.
ArchXAI is co-funded by the Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027 and will run for three years. During the first year, the project will focus on digitization and training AI models.
👉Read more about the ArchXAI project here.
ArchXAI – AI enhanced cross-border archives is funded by the Interreg Central Baltic Programme. The project is led by South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) in partnership The National Archives of Finland, National Archives of Estonia and The National Archives of Latvia. The project continues until May 2028.
