What Arkhenum does

Arkhenum, rebranding to MEMORIST in January 2026, is a France-based professional services firm specializing in the preservation, digitization, and digital valorization of heritage collections. Founded in 1999 in Bordeaux and operating as a subsidiary of the Mobilitas Group since 2016, the company serves museums, national libraries, archives, international organizations, government institutions, and private companies with historical or industrial heritage assets across France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Africa. Its offering is organized into four service pillars — INSPIRE (heritage strategy audits and digitization feasibility studies), DIGITIZE (2D, 360°, 3D, audiovisual, microform, and on-site scanning), PRESERVE (heritage asset management, preventive conservation, collection reconstitution), and SHARE (web valorization, content creation, museography via the proprietary Limb Gallery digital library platform).

The company operates what it describes as the largest heritage digitization technological park in Europe, with specialized equipment including 45-degree restricted opening scanners for fragile bound documents, high-resolution iconographic capture systems, 360° and 3D object scanners, and microfilm/microfiche readers. AI-powered modules — notably Handwritten Text Recognition tuned for historical and vertical handwriting styles with claimed 99% data recovery reliability, and structured data extraction from web archives — are offered as enrichment add-ons. An on-site workshop deployment model, refined since 2011, allows the firm to install equipment, train local teams, and run dedicated production operations at client premises worldwide.

Commercially, Arkhenum generates revenue primarily through quote-based, project-tied professional services contracts with public institutions and enterprises, ranging from short audits to multi-year multi-million-page digitization programs (e.g., 4 million pages for the Wildenstein Plattner Institute, 2.5 million views for the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek). The firm employs a sales-led enterprise motion with commercial teams and project managers based in Bordeaux, Paris, Berlin, Geneva, and Leipzig, supplemented by public-sector procurement processes for government clients. Repeat engagement with marquee institutional clients — including the BnF, DNB, ICRC, Monnaie de Paris, EssilorLuxottica, and Centre Culturel Irlandais — indicates a relationship-driven, high-touch business model with long contract cycles and embedded delivery.

Name

Arkhenum

Legal name

Arkhênum

Website

https://arkhenum.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Arkhenum (now MEMORIST) is a French heritage digitization and preservation services firm serving museums, national libraries, archives, international organizations, and private companies across Europe and Africa with end-to-end scanning, conservation, AI-enhanced text recognition, and digital valorization offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Digitization Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Document Scanning, Digitization & Archival Reproduction (Records, Transcripts, Microform) (EDAEAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ), Archival Preservation & Conservation (Handling, Storage, Environmental Controls) (MPADAMAF), Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Heritage digitization services
• Cultural archive preservation
• Document scanning services
• Digital library platforms
• On-site digitization workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Bordeaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Heritage Digitization Services: Professional services revenue from digitizing heritage collections including books, manuscripts, photographs, audiovisual materials, microforms, and objects. Projects are typically long-term contracts with public institutions and private companies, ranging from months to several years.
2. Consulting and Audit Services: Heritage strategy audits, technical digitization studies, and advisory services for establishing preservation strategies, budgeting, and project planning.
3. On-site Scanning Services: Deployment of scanning workshops at client locations worldwide, providing ongoing digitization production capabilities.
4. Preventive Conservation Services: Conservation services including heritage asset management, preventive conservation, and collection reconstitution.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Arkhenum provides end-to-end heritage digitization and preservation services, covering heritage strategy audits, 2D/3D/360°/audiovisual/microform digitization, on-site scanning workshop deployment, preventive conservation, collection reconstitution, and digital valorization through its Limb Gallery platform. The company serves museums, libraries, national archives, international organizations, and private companies with cultural or industrial heritage collections across Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, leveraging Europe's largest heritage digitization technological park.

Product overview

Arkhênum (becoming MEMORIST in 2026) is a heritage digitization and preservation service company operating across France, Germany, Switzerland, and internationally. Its offering is organized as a full-service portfolio spanning four phases: INSPIRE (heritage strategy audits and consulting, digitization technical studies), DIGITIZE (2D heritage digitization, 360°/3D object digitization, audiovisual digitization, microform digitization, on-site digitization at client premises), PRESERVE (heritage asset management, preventive conservation, collection reconstitution with historical research and oral archives), and SHARE (web valorization through the Limb Gallery digital library platform, content creation, and museography). AI-powered modules including Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR) and HTML data extraction are offered as enrichment add-ons to core digitization services. The company claims Europe's largest technological scanning fleet.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Heritage Digitization Services Comprehensive heritage digitization services covering 2D scanning of books, manuscripts, incunabula, registers, archives, photographs, postcards, slides, negatives, glass plates, maps, architectural plans, posters, and prints; 360° and 3D digitization of heritage objects, textile collections, and built heritage; audiovisual digitization of film, video, and audio archives; and microform digitization of microfilm and microfiche. Services are adapted to document condition and format requirements, for museums, libraries, archives, and private companies with heritage collections.
• On-Site Digitization (Scanning on Customer Premises) Deployment of complete digitization workshops within client premises worldwide. Arkhenum installs its scanning equipment, trains local staff, and operates dedicated teams of project managers and quality controllers to manage international on-site digitization projects. This service enables clients to maintain control over their collections while leveraging Arkhenum's specialized equipment and expertise.
• Heritage Strategy Audit and Consulting Advisory services helping clients plan heritage treatment, including in-depth fund audits, conservation advice (volumetric and typological evaluation), heritage valorization strategy definition (planning, tool selection, processing methods), and budget estimation. Designed for heritage institutions and companies planning preservation and digitization programs.
• Digitization Technical Audit and Study Technical analysis preceding digitization programs to precisely define project scope including collection typologies, volumes, appropriate technical specifications, enrichment and metadata requirements, and budget planning. Pre-project consulting service for institutions and companies launching digitization initiatives.
• Preventive Conservation of Heritage Preventive conservation services protecting heritage documents and collections from degradation, including environmental controls and conservation treatments. For museums, archives, libraries, and private collections requiring physical preservation alongside digitization.
• Heritage Asset Management Management and organization of heritage collections and archival funds, including cataloging, inventory, and physical management of patrimony. For heritage institutions needing to organize, catalog, and manage their collections.
• Collection Reconstitution Services to reconstitute incomplete or missing heritage collections through historical research, oral archive collection (scientific campaigns trained by Florence Descamps), and acquisition from professional auction networks. For institutions seeking to rebuild or complete their collections.
• Web Promotion (Digital Valorization) Online heritage valorization through digital platforms (including the Limb Gallery platform), web exposition, and digital mediation tools enabling public access to digitized collections. For heritage institutions seeking to make their collections accessible to researchers and the general public online.
• Museography Design and creation of physical and virtual museum exhibitions and interpretive spaces for heritage collections. For museums and cultural institutions planning new exhibitions or interpretive experiences.
• Limb Gallery Digital Library Platform Proprietary digital library platform deployed by Arkhenum to expose heritage archives online. Functions as an aggregator for digitized collections from multiple sources, featuring keyword search, manuscript browsing, and newspaper archive access. Used for the True Life in God foundation archives and other heritage digitization projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% data recovery reliability achieved using AI-powered HTR for handwritten manuscripts
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Helvetia InsuranceminorOthersInsurance partner mentioned in privacy policy for client insurance policies. Client data may be shared with Helvetia in case of insurance subscription.
• MEMORISTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEMORIST is the heritage pole of Mobilitas Group, created in 2022 as an alliance of 5 companies (Arkhenum, La Reliure du Limousin, Tribvn Imaging, Vectracom, Art Graphique et Patrimoine) offering comprehensive heritage services from physical preservation to virtual spaces. Arkhenum rebranded to MEMORIST in January 2026.
• Florence DescampsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining partner for scientific oral archive campaigns. Arkhenum teams trained by Florence Descamps for conducting oral history documentation projects.
• Direction du Patrimoine numérique (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTripartite project for Maison d'Érasme digitization with the heritage institution as collection holder and the Direction du Patrimoine numérique as project funder under the Pep's plan.
• Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for heritage digitization projects. Arkhenum contributed content to Gallica digital library and collaborated on digital valorization initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Internet Archive: Nonprofit digital library offering mass digitization of books and archival materials globally. Operates adjacent to Arkhenum's space at a different scale and model, with overlapping mission of public access to cultural heritage.
• Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF): French national library that operates its own Gallica digitization program and contracts with Arkhenum. Both client and broader ecosystem player, as it sets digitization standards for French heritage and partially self-provides scanning capacity.

Others

• Tribvn Imaging: Now a sister company under MEMORIST group, Tribvn provides image acquisition and analysis solutions for life sciences and heritage. Adjacent technology provider with overlapping R&D in heritage imaging, formerly a direct peer before consolidation.

Direct peers

• Picturae: Dutch heritage digitization specialist serving national libraries, archives, and museums across Europe. Most direct competitor with similar on-site deployment model and comparable technology park, particularly strong in Benelux and Northern European markets.
• Backstage Library Works: US library digitization services firm specializing in large-scale book and archival scanning for academic and public libraries. Comparable institutional client base and service portfolio, focused on North American market.
• MediaPreserve: US-based heritage digitization services firm covering books, manuscripts, audio, film, and microform with similar institutional client base. Comparable scope across physical and audiovisual preservation, competing for international NGO and library contracts.
• Memnon Archiving Services: Belgian heritage digitization specialist serving European broadcasters, libraries, and archives with audio/video preservation expertise. Direct competitor in European audiovisual digitization market and adjacent 2D document services.
• Apex CoVantage: US-headquartered digitization services firm with significant heritage and library digitization operations, including book scanning at scale and AI-based OCR/HTR capabilities. Competes internationally for large institutional contracts.
• Diagramm Halbach: German digitization services provider specializing in microfilm, archival materials, and heritage documents. Direct competitor in DACH region, particularly for public-sector archive contracts where Arkhenum also operates.

Regional players

• Numen Digital: French heritage digitization and digital publishing services firm serving similar institutional clients in France. Regional peer with overlapping customer base (museums, archives) but smaller scale than Arkhenum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/arkhenum
• Facebookfacebook.com/arkhenum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arkh%C3%AAnum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arkhenum