OCR Expert for AI-Driven Text Recognition and Digitalization Support

1. Background

The Jewish Digital Cultural Recovery Project (JDCRP) is a non-profit foundation based in Germany, dedicated to documenting and reconstructing the history of Nazi-looted cultural property. The JDCRP is developing a centralized digital platform that aggregates archival data, enhances provenance research, and provides historical insights into the looting of Jewish-owned art and cultural property by the Nazis.

As part of this effort, JDCRP is seeking an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) expert with experience in AI-driven text recognition solutions. This expert will play a key role in developing and improving OCR capabilities, ensuring that archival materials in various formats, languages, and conditions can be successfully digitized and integrated into the platform.

This tender is part of two parallel projects:

A project funded by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM)

A second project supported by the European Union (EU) and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference)

The selected expert will start immediately, with the possibility of continued collaboration.

2. Scope of Work

JDCRP is looking for an expert to:

Develop and implement OCR solutions, ideally using Generative AI (Gen-AI) technologies, to process complex archival records in multiple formats and languages.

Evaluate and test OCR approaches for different types of archival documents, considering variations in quality, structure, and historical context.

Support JDCRP researchers and data officers in reviewing records and selecting the best OCR strategies for digitization.

Refine and improve OCR accuracy for historical documents, handwritten materials, multilingual records, and low-quality scans.

Participate in internal workshops and discussions to help define future OCR strategies and contribute to the next phases of JDCRP’s digitalization efforts.

Ensure seamless integration of OCR solutions into the JDCRP platform and provide recommendations for scalable, long-term approaches.

3. Required Qualifications

The ideal candidate should have:

Proven expertise in OCR technologies, with experience in AI-driven OCR and Gen-AI solutions.

Experience handling complex archival records, including historical documents with different structures, languages, and conditions.

Strong problem-solving skills and ability to develop custom OCR solutions for diverse document types.

Ability to collaborate with both technical and non-technical teams, including provenance researchers, historians, and data officers.

Excellent communication skills and flexibility to adapt to emerging project needs.

Experience working with cultural heritage, historical archives, or research platforms is a plus.

4. Project Timeline & Engagement

Start Date: Immediate

Initial Engagement: Short-term with an opportunity for continued collaboration

Location: Remote or hybrid (with occasional in-person meetings if required)

5. Bidding Process & Submission Guidelines

Interested candidates should submit:

A short proposal (1-2 pages) outlining their experience and approach to OCR development for archival materials.

Examples of past OCR projects, particularly those involving historical or multilingual documents.

Proposed hourly or project-based rate.

Availability and estimated time commitment.

Submission Details:

Deadline: Rolling applications accepted (as soon as possible).

Send applications to: info@jdcrp.org

6. Additional Information

Questions & Clarifications: Candidates may request additional details by contacting JDCRP at info@jdcrp.org

Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be assessed based on technical expertise, OCR experience, cost-effectiveness, and ability to collaborate with JDCRP teams.

Contract Terms: JDCRP reserves the right to negotiate contract terms with the selected expert.

We encourage qualified professionals to apply as soon as possible.

JDCRP Public Tender: Exhibition and Website Design Services

The JDCRP, a non-profit foundation based in Germany, is creating a digital platform for archival documentation related to the art looted by the Nazis, their collaborators and allies. The platform will allow for cross-searching and linking of documents from different archival sources. In addition to the data repository, the JDCRP digital platform includes research and education projects that demonstrate the use of archival material in reconstructing the theft and highlighting the cultural contributions of European pre-WWII Jewry. State-of-the-art technology is supporting the development of cross-archival links and improved search capabilities across various databases on objects, owners, and perpetrators, thereby revealing for the first time the full scope of the plunder. The archival project uniquely targets both specialists and the general public.

The European Union co-funds the two-year project “JDCRP Pilot Project Part II” together with the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (the Claims Conference), sponsored by the Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future” (EVZ) and supported by the German Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF). There is a second project for the development of a JDCRP Pilot-Minimum Viable Product with co-funding by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) and the Claims Conference.

To advance these goals, JDCRP is inviting bids for the development of a design concept and the delivery of design products that will support two-panel exhibitions and update the JDCRP website as well the definition of design principles to ensure consistency across platforms and events.

This tender can be unbundled; bidders are welcome to send separate bids for one of the two bundles:

  • Bundle 1: WP 1-4
  • Bundle 2: WP 5

Scope of Work

The below scope of work will support JDCRP in achieving its objective. The work will be done in collaboration with relevant JDCRP team members and will require the service provider to incorporate the team’s feedback into the deliverables. The scope will be divided into a number of work packages (referred to as WP), allowing bidders to submit bids to parts of the overall scope.

WP 1 -Corporate identity and design principles

  1. Facilitate and define the foundation’s corporate identity.
  2. Define design principles to ensure consistency of visual presentations across different activities, both to enable JDCRP’s outreach and visibility activities, and to support the design of materials required for other WPs in this tender.
  3. The deliverables in this part of the scope will include documentation and design guides to support the JDCRP team in applying the design principles, including vector files, images in different formats and scales, etc.
  4. The term “corporate identity” is used to simplify communication and in alignment with the terminology of the grants. To clarify, this WP’s deliverables will be used for the JDCRP foundation, a non-profit organization.

WP 2- Exhibition Design

  1. Development of Exhibition Concept
    • Create and deliver concepts for two exhibitions, each comprising 12-16 panels, including the support of the development of the exhibition concept and storytelling.
  2. Panel Design
    • Develop and deliver the graphic design for each panel based on text provided by JDCRP.
    • Provide digital materials needed to allow the printing of the panels.
    • Design additional materials where needed, such as the design of roll-ups and signs for the exhibition.
  3. Brochure Development
    • Design and deliver a brochure presenting the foundation and its work.
    • Specification over file type and dimensions should be in alignment with JDCRP requirements and, at a minimum, in ready-to-print PDFs as well other formats as required to allow the printing of the brochure.
  4. The design of the panels and brochure should take into consideration the design principles defined in WP1 and the JDRP corporate identity to ensure consistency with the overall JDCRP design style and language.

WP3- Social Media Kit

  • Develop a social media kit for networks such as LinkedIn as part of the foundation’s outreach activities. Conduct an overall design review and update of the website to align with the defined corporate identity.
  • The materials created in this work package should align with the design principles developed and the corporate identity defined in WP1 of this tender.
  • The deliverables in this part of the scope will include documentation and design guides to support the JDCRP team in implementing the design principles, including vector files, images in different formats and scales etc.

WP4- Website pages design

  • Design and deliver digital assets to allow the presentation of the work of JDCRP on the JDCRP website, which is WordPress-based, and part of the requirements of its implementation of educational, exhibition, and research activities.
  • Create new pages design, and content presenting the work done by the foundation according to the website pages design in WP4, including:
    • Educational projects.
    • Two exhibitions.
    • Two research projects.
    • A page to link and present the JDCRP archival materials repository
    • Pages to introduce and present two index lists which are being created by the JDCRP (persecuted Jewish Artists and Collectors).
  • The deliverables provided as part of this scope of work will include design assets and documents in a format suitable for the website update in WP5. This can include alignment with the party developing the website in WP5 in order to ensure the fit of the design assets to the website.

WP5- Website development and update

  • Develop and deliver updates for the JDCRP website, which is WordPress-based, to answer the need to present the work produced by JDCRP as part of its implementation of educational, exhibition, and research activities.
  • Create new pages presenting the work done by the foundation according to the website pages design in WP4, including:
    • Educational projects.
    • Two exhibitions.
    • Two research projects.
    • A page to link and present the JDCRP archival materials repository
    • Pages to introduce and present two index lists which are being created by the JDCRP (persecuted Jewish Artists and Collectors).
    • Changes to existing pages to link them to the pages mentioned above.
    • Overall adaption and update of the website to align with the design principles and corporate identity to ensure a unified look, usability, and accessibility of the JDCRP website.
  • The deliverables provided as part of this scope of work will include live, active WordPress pages as part of the JDCRP official website, as well as files, documentation, and assets used to create the pages and the content mentioned above.

Financing

This tender includes activities that are part of multiple projects financed by different sources. JDCRP will require separate billing for the distinct sets of activities. A summary report explaining the challenges and solutions found will be required at the end of the project.

Bidding process

In your bid, please include the following information:

  • Describe how each of the work packages will be approached and which technology will be used.
  • Provide a cost estimate for each service offered that includes a detailed specification as well as the number of persons and/or work hours involved.
  • Outline a time frame and schedule you envision being needed in order to set up the service.
  • Explain how you ensure quality management according to the team´s aims.
  • Describe your company’s track record dealing with similar projects, preferably in cultural heritage, provenance research, and/or art history.
  • Include the individual qualifications of the people who will participate on the project.


    • The full tender package can be requested via the following e-mail address: connect@idantobias.com.

    Bids should be submitted by August 2, 2024, to:

    Jonathan Blok, IT / Data Officer: jonathan.blok@jdcrp.org