IN THE FACE OF DIGITALIZATION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF POLICIES IN ITALY AND CHINA

Digitalization, in particular BIMs for architecture and heritage fields, represents the trend that cannot be ignored nowadays. BIM platforms provide safe methods and shared management paradigms for contemporary activities about Cultural Heritage (CH), inviting more multidisciplinary and international stakeholders to get involved within the issues. In recent years, Italy and China have indeed increased their cooperation in this field, from practical projects to academic communications and labor-market-oriented training of technicians. Italy, especially under the umbrella of EU, has been very early in the process of digitalization policies, as suggested by PNRR action, targeted at promoting the economic and tourism value of areas with historical and artistic importance. This process is ongoing marketing that is time consuming and costly, like course training for the younger generation in universities or highly specialized training for technicians. Sharing the same situation in the face of massive cultural heritage, China is lagging a bit in digitalization but has seen its focus shift to the cultural sector following its 14th Five-Year Plan. A series of policies have been enacted to set a clear direction and framework. Given to this, the paper firstly clarifies the development of digital transition policies in CH domain, from a general landscape to Italy and China. Furthermore, it compares the policies of both nations, technological applications especially BIMs strategies.