Periodic Reporting for period 2 - BCThubs (Blue Culture Technology Excellence Hubs in EU Widening Member States)
Reporting period: 2024-04-01 to 2025-06-30
The BCThubs project, also known as Blue Culture Technology Excellence Hubs, is an ambitious initiative aimed at fostering regional innovation excellence in the emerging field of Blue Culture Technology (BCT). This project is set within the broader context of addressing the multifaceted challenges associated with underwater cultural heritage (UWCH), including limited public awareness, restricted access to underwater sites, and the need for advanced technological solutions to preserve and promote these cultural assets.
UWCH is a significant yet underexplored aspect of our global cultural heritage, comprising shipwrecks, submerged settlements, and other artifacts lying beneath our seas and oceans. Despite its importance, the preservation and study of UWCH face numerous challenges due to the harsh marine environment, limited funding, and the complexities of underwater archaeology. These challenges necessitate innovative approaches and collaborative efforts to ensure the effective protection and sustainable use of UWCH.
The BCThubs project was conceived to tackle these challenges by creating a robust network of excellence hubs in Greece, Bulgaria, and Malta. These hubs are designed to foster cross-border collaboration, integrating scientific, societal, economic, and technical efforts to enhance regional innovation in BCT. The project aims to address the identified problems and needs through a comprehensive strategy that includes stakeholder engagement, development of innovative technologies, and the promotion of public awareness and education about UWCH.
The primary objectives of the project are:
● Establishment of Excellence Hubs and EU-wide BCT Cluster: To create and reinforce place-based innovation ecosystems in GR, BG, and MT through cross-border collaboration.
● Development of Joint R&I Strategy: To formulate a cohesive research and innovation strategy tailored to the needs of each hub, facilitating effective policy decision-making and promoting sustainable blue economy practices.
● Implementation of Innovative R&I Prototypes: To develop and test cutting-edge technologies that support underwater research, enhance site accessibility, and ensure the health and safety of divers.
● Preparation of an Investment Strategy: To devise a sustainable investment plan that attracts funding and supports the long-term goals of the BCT hubs.
● Engagement in Outreach Activities: To engage stakeholders, promote UWCH, and foster a sense of shared European cultural heritage through educational and public awareness campaigns.
The expected impacts of the project are manifold. By advancing technological capabilities and fostering collaborative research, the project aims to:
● Enhance the preservation and accessibility of UWCH: Through the development and deployment of innovative technologies such as 3D/4D reconstruction, electro-resistivity devices, and augmented reality applications.
● Promote regional economic growth: By creating new high-quality jobs, upskilling existing professionals, and fostering sustainable maritime cultural tourism.
● Strengthen international cooperation: By building a resilient EU-wide BCT cluster that supports effective ocean governance and maritime spatial planning.
● Increase public awareness and engagement: By raising visibility of maritime cultural heritage and promoting its significance through educational initiatives and public outreach.
UWCH is a significant yet underexplored aspect of our global cultural heritage, comprising shipwrecks, submerged settlements, and other artifacts lying beneath our seas and oceans. Despite its importance, the preservation and study of UWCH face numerous challenges due to the harsh marine environment, limited funding, and the complexities of underwater archaeology. These challenges necessitate innovative approaches and collaborative efforts to ensure the effective protection and sustainable use of UWCH.
The BCThubs project was conceived to tackle these challenges by creating a robust network of excellence hubs in Greece, Bulgaria, and Malta. These hubs are designed to foster cross-border collaboration, integrating scientific, societal, economic, and technical efforts to enhance regional innovation in BCT. The project aims to address the identified problems and needs through a comprehensive strategy that includes stakeholder engagement, development of innovative technologies, and the promotion of public awareness and education about UWCH.
The primary objectives of the project are:
● Establishment of Excellence Hubs and EU-wide BCT Cluster: To create and reinforce place-based innovation ecosystems in GR, BG, and MT through cross-border collaboration.
● Development of Joint R&I Strategy: To formulate a cohesive research and innovation strategy tailored to the needs of each hub, facilitating effective policy decision-making and promoting sustainable blue economy practices.
● Implementation of Innovative R&I Prototypes: To develop and test cutting-edge technologies that support underwater research, enhance site accessibility, and ensure the health and safety of divers.
● Preparation of an Investment Strategy: To devise a sustainable investment plan that attracts funding and supports the long-term goals of the BCT hubs.
● Engagement in Outreach Activities: To engage stakeholders, promote UWCH, and foster a sense of shared European cultural heritage through educational and public awareness campaigns.
The expected impacts of the project are manifold. By advancing technological capabilities and fostering collaborative research, the project aims to:
● Enhance the preservation and accessibility of UWCH: Through the development and deployment of innovative technologies such as 3D/4D reconstruction, electro-resistivity devices, and augmented reality applications.
● Promote regional economic growth: By creating new high-quality jobs, upskilling existing professionals, and fostering sustainable maritime cultural tourism.
● Strengthen international cooperation: By building a resilient EU-wide BCT cluster that supports effective ocean governance and maritime spatial planning.
● Increase public awareness and engagement: By raising visibility of maritime cultural heritage and promoting its significance through educational initiatives and public outreach.
During the 2nd reporting period, BCThubs advanced strongly across work packages. Most WP2 technology prototypes were finalized, passed FAT, and entered field validation. Under WP3, physical hubs were established in Malta & Bulgaria, with the Greek hub nearing maturity, progress was made on legal frameworks, and the Maturity assessment survey was launched. WP4 advanced training activities, engaging 230 participants through the 1st workshop; further workshops in Greece, Malta, and Bulgaria will conclude by end-2025. Several secondments were conducted, and demonstration plans are progressing. The BCT Marketplace has entered early deployment. WP5 laid the groundwork for hub sustainability, including a joint investment strategy, the launch of the Entrepreneurial Mentoring Programme ‘MentorCult’ in Greece, and strategic collaboration plans. WP6 developed evaluation and sustainability frameworks, organized the 1st BCThubs International Conference ‘Widening the Big Blue Horizon’, and initiated replication planning for an EU-wide BCT Cluster.
Work in WP2 has produced several innovative results that go beyond the current state of the art in underwater research, cultural heritage preservation, and immersive technology for the promotion of UCH.
These advances are delivering significant scientific, societal, and industrial impacts, and are paving the way for new applications and standards in the field. From a scientific and technological perspective, the project introduced a suite of advanced tools and methods for non-invasive underwater exploration, including:
Electro-resistivity mapping (ERM) systems adapted for use in UCH environments, enabling the detection of buried features and geomorphological structures.
Coring devices tailored for sediment sampling ensuring low-cost solutions.
Robotic platform that enables ROVs with DTMs/photomosaics capabilities by merging data coming from different sensors (vision, acoustic, navigational).
4D reconstruction techniques, offering dynamic and temporally-aware models for underwater sites, including AI methodologies for enabling safeguarding and monitoring capabilities.
Cloud-based virtual reality solution for enabling remote accessibility and promotion of UCH sites.
AR-based solution for improving diving experiences for tourists and scuba diving enthusiasts, as well as scientists and experts.
DANA Health System, a real-time diver health and safety monitoring tool that continuously captures physiological and environmental data - such as hearth rate, depth, temperature, and breathing rate - during the dive.
Moreover, partners prepared an exploitation plan, which defines the possibilities for further research, demonstration, access to markets and finance, commercialization, IPR support for each KER. It also assesses sustainability prospects for the three BCT Hubs.
These advances are delivering significant scientific, societal, and industrial impacts, and are paving the way for new applications and standards in the field. From a scientific and technological perspective, the project introduced a suite of advanced tools and methods for non-invasive underwater exploration, including:
Electro-resistivity mapping (ERM) systems adapted for use in UCH environments, enabling the detection of buried features and geomorphological structures.
Coring devices tailored for sediment sampling ensuring low-cost solutions.
Robotic platform that enables ROVs with DTMs/photomosaics capabilities by merging data coming from different sensors (vision, acoustic, navigational).
4D reconstruction techniques, offering dynamic and temporally-aware models for underwater sites, including AI methodologies for enabling safeguarding and monitoring capabilities.
Cloud-based virtual reality solution for enabling remote accessibility and promotion of UCH sites.
AR-based solution for improving diving experiences for tourists and scuba diving enthusiasts, as well as scientists and experts.
DANA Health System, a real-time diver health and safety monitoring tool that continuously captures physiological and environmental data - such as hearth rate, depth, temperature, and breathing rate - during the dive.
Moreover, partners prepared an exploitation plan, which defines the possibilities for further research, demonstration, access to markets and finance, commercialization, IPR support for each KER. It also assesses sustainability prospects for the three BCT Hubs.