The ANCHISE Final Forum opened at the Society of Archaeology in Athens, gathering over a hundred participants from across Europe for three days of exchange on the future of cultural heritage protection. The morning set the tone with welcoming remarks from the European Commission, ICOM Greece, the French Embassy in Greece and a video address by French Higher Education, Research and Space Minister Philippe Baptiste, who described ANCHISE as an example of how well-coordinated research can make a tangible difference against trafficking. Dr Vassiliki Papageorgiou of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture then offered a vivid account of Greece's experience in combating looting, presenting recent repatriation successes and stressing the growing importance of digital tools and international partnerships. Project coordinator Prof. Véronique Chankowski presented ANCHISE's three-year journey: a toolkit of six technologies developed through a bottom-up approach with end-users, a body of social sciences research on trafficking networks, and a professional network connecting previously fragmented communities. She emphasised that no tool can replace human expertise, but that innovation designed with practitioners can dramatically accelerate operational responses.
A session on interdisciplinary collaboration then explored how ANCHISE brought museums, law enforcement and researchers to work together. Sophie Delepierre (International Council of Museums) highlighted that ANCHISE's co-development approach was a first for the museum community. Marine Lechenault (French National Police College) stressed that tools enabling answers in minutes rather than days fundamentally change what is possible for investigators. Benjamin Omer (French School at Athens) then stated the importance for HSS researchers to be able to influence the development of tools through their fundamental and practical studies. The afternoon was dedicated to the tools.