Maritime Faculty Kotor Participates in Implementation of HORIZON-CSA Project BCThubs

Within the framework of the Horizon Europe Framework Program (HORIZON), call HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-ACCESS-04 and action HORIZON-CSA, a project called "Blue Culture Technology Excellence Hubs in EU Widening Member States - BCThubs" has been approved for financing, which will last four years. The associated partner in the project is the Kotor Maritime Faculty of the University of Montenegro. The BCThubs project aims to build development and research capacities in the blue economy sector of future EU member countries, focusing on blue culture technologies (BCT) that support scientific research on underwater (UW), cultural heritage (CH) and tourism valorization. This project aims to build BCT Excellence Hubs that will be supported by a variety of innovative solutions and products related to the sustainable protection, restoration, valorization, management, accessibility and promotion of the UWCH. Although the BCT Excellence Hubs will have a regional character, they will be interconnected and oriented towards national and international synergies, supporting cross-border cooperation with common strategic goals. Each center of excellence will bring together all regional/national actors in the chain of blue culture and blue growth. The work team from the Kotor Maritime Faculty of the University of Montenegro will acquire new knowledge and experience that will be affirmed during the project activities. The aim is that the Maritime Archeology Laboratory of the Facultys Center for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship contributes to the development and provision of innovative Blue Culture technology solutions (remote detection with optical and acoustic sonars, VR/AR tech) that support underwater research endeavors. The laboratory will contribute to the activities of establishing hubs related to: development of the mentioned technologies, definition of their needs and assessment of functioning, establishment of value chains; participation in information campaigns and workshops; by formulating cross-border cooperation in the context of R&I strategy for hubs and developing an action plan. After the WRECKS4ALL project managed by the faculty, the BCThubs project will continue with the realization of research and practical activities on the topic of protection of the underwater cultural heritage of Montenegro. The total project budget is around 5 million euros.