Egyptian Museum wins ICOM Egypt award for Pioneering Museum Technology and Display

Written by Shreen Mohamed Amin, Head of the Scientific Office, Egyptian Museum & Visiting Professor, Helwan University (Egypt, ITP 2016)

The Egyptian Museum has been honored with the prestigious Museum Best Practices Competition Award by ICOM Egypt for its outstanding achievements in museum display and the use of technology.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo team is honored to submit this file for participation in the 2024 Museum Best Practices Competition, highlighting the invaluable role of its Scientific Office in preparing the main submission and supporting documents. This effort was carried out in close collaboration with dedicated colleagues, including Norhan Hassan, Curator and Exhibition Coordinator, The Egyptian Museum (Egypt, ITP 2017) and other esteemed museum professionals from the curatorial and restoration departments at the Egyptian Museum, reflecting a collective commitment to innovation and excellence.

In 2024, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo made significant strides in museum display development, presenting eight exhibitions both temporary and permanent—as part of its ongoing commitment to innovation. The Scientific Office, in close collaboration with Noor Hassan and other museum colleagues, played a crucial role in formulating and documenting the museum’s advancements in technology-driven exhibition practices within the written submission for the 2024 Museum Best Practices Competition.

This detailed documentation outlined the museum’s strategic integration of modern media and technologies, including QR codes, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR), showcasing how these tools have been effectively employed to enhance artifact presentation and create more engaging visitor experiences. Additionally, the written file carefully structured the museum’s approach to digital transformation, ensuring that technological advancements align with global standards, Egypt’s Vision 2030, and UNESCO’s ethical guidelines on artificial intelligence.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo remains dedicated to the responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies within cultural heritage preservation, aligning its efforts with the digital strategy set forth by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Museums Sector. In accordance with the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (2025–2030), the museum ensures compliance with national intellectual property laws, including the Egyptian Intellectual Property Law (2002, 2020), which safeguards the rights associated with digital reproductions generated through AI technologies, such as 3D models and digitally reconstructed historical narratives.

Through its comprehensive and expertly crafted submission, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo has demonstrated a profound commitment to advancing museum technology while ensuring its ethical and responsible use in heritage preservation and exhibition design.

A key component of the submission is its focus on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) within museum operations, particularly regarding recording, monitoring, protection, and display. The Scientific Office’s thorough documentation outlines how the museum adheres to UNESCO’s ethical guidelines on AI, ensuring transparency, fairness, and human rights protections in its digital initiatives. This commitment underscores the Egyptian Museum’s role as a leader in museum technology ethics, advocating for innovation that respects cultural integrity. To maintain ethical standards in digital heritage management, the Egyptian Museum enforces strict licensing agreements under the direct oversight of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Museums Sector, ensuring that AI-generated cultural materials adhere to regulatory frameworks protecting intellectual property. Furthermore, the museum’s approach to AI implementation within museum displays and archival practices is fully integrated with international ethical standards, most notably the UNESCO Recommendations on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021). These recommendations, regarded as the first global standard on AI ethics, provide critical guidelines for the responsible utilization of AI in cultural, educational, and heritage sectors, reinforcing principles of human rights, transparency, and equitable access.

Additionally, the museum’s submission integrates insights from the European Union Working Group’s development plan Transforming the Egyptian Museum of Cairo EU funded project, incorporating expertise from five European museums The Museo Egizio (Turin), The British Museum (London), The Louvre Museum (Paris), The National Museum of Antiquities (Leiden), and The Egyptian Museum (Berlin) to enhance its digital infrastructure. Specific references from the Work Plan 2: Masterplan (pages 44, 54, 56, 58, and beyond) illustrate the museum’s dedication to applying technology responsibly, leveraging international collaborations to refine its approaches.

Beyond documenting past achievements, the Scientific Office’s submission serves as a strategic blueprint for future developments in museum technology. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo positions itself as a reference model for other institutions seeking to integrate digital tools into heritage preservation and visitor experience. By presenting a detailed, research-driven account of its technological progress, the museum sets a precedent for how digital transformation can be effectively and ethically implemented within cultural heritage settings.

Ultimately, the Egyptian Museum’s submission is more than a report on technological advancements—it is a visionary document showcasing how heritage institutions can embrace innovation while honoring the past, ensuring that history remains engaging, accessible, and responsibly preserved for future generations.

One of the most intellectually stimulating and insightful discussions I had was with my esteemed ITP colleague at the Egyptian Museum, Norhan Hassan.  Our exchange centered on the evaluation process, the systematic organization, and the methodological approach to formulating professional documentation. This conversation not only reflected our collective expertise but also reinforced the critical frameworks necessary for archival and institutional record-keeping. Moreover, this discussion evoked memories of the transformative experience we had during the British Museum’s International Training Programme (ITP). That programme played a pivotal role in shaping our professional trajectories by equipping us with indispensable skills, ranging from museum curation and artifact documentation to strategic planning and international collaboration. The ITP fostered a dynamic learning environment that deepened our understanding of global museology and provided us with the analytical tools to navigate complex institutional challenges.

Read More about ICOM Egypt: https://icom-egypt.mini.icom.museum/  

Read more about the UNESCO’s ethical guidelines on AI https://www.unesco.org/en/artificial-intelligence/recommendation-ethics

Read more about Egypt National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Second Edition (2025-2030) https://ai.gov.eg/SynchedFiles/en/Resources/AIstrategy%20English%2016-1-2025-1.pdf