The announcement was made by APDC – Digital Business Comunity, which selected the Portuguese project to represent the country in the international competition, after being recognized in the Culture & Heritage category. The contest involves projects from over 180 countries and will take place in several stages starting in November.
The projects chosen by APDC cover areas such as logistics, environmental sustainability, health, education, and inclusion, demonstrating the economic and social value of technology. PATRIMÓNIO CULTURAL 360º aims to "preserve Portuguese heritage and make it accessible from anywhere", using high-resolution digitization technologies, photogrammetry, laser scanning, and 3D modeling to create digital representations of cultural assets.
The initiative provides free content to explore heritage remotely and produces technical documentation to support research, conservation, and restoration. APDC highlights that the application "combines the democratization of access to culture with the preservation of collective memory for future generations".
The international process includes evaluation by the WSA Online Jury in November 2026, which will select a shortlist of 15 to 18 projects per category. In January 2027, the Grand Jury will choose the 40 WSA Winners. Winners will gain international visibility and access to experts, entrepreneurs, and investors.
