PROJECT UNDER THE HORIZON PROGRAM
BLUE CULTURE TECHNOLOGY EXCELLENCE HUBS IN EU WIDENING MEMBER STATES
Blue Cultural Technology Hubs in Widening Member States
On November 11, 2022, the Center for Underwater Archaeology in Sozopol, together with 14 other organizations from Greece, Malta, and Bulgaria, signed an agreement with the European Research Executive Agency (REA) of the European Commission for participation in the project Blue Culture Technology Excellence Hubs in EU Widening Member States(Project 101087146 — BCThubs). The project is fully funded by the European Research Executive Agency (REA) under the Horizon programme, sub-programme HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-ACCESS-04.
The project envisages the development of research and innovation capacities in the sector of maritime cultural heritage and the blue economy. Prototypes of technological solutions supporting research on underwater cultural heritage and the valorization of underwater tourism will be developed. The project aims to establish consortia (hubs) of organizations supporting the protection, research, management, valorization, promotion, and accessibility of underwater cultural heritage in each of the participating countries – Greece, Malta, and Bulgaria. The Center for Underwater Archaeology will be engaged in the development of innovative technology and methodology for marine geophysical surveys using geo-electrical resistance in a three-dimensional environment, as well as in the establishment of the consortium in Bulgaria. The project is being implemented in the period from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2026.
The broader ambition of the project is the creation of an EU-wide BCT cluster, which will establish an official connection between the hubs after the project’s completion.
Link to the project website: https://bcthubs.eu/