The BCThubs project was presented at the regional conference “THALASSA 2024” organized by the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), which took place on May 28th and 29th in Larnaca, Cyprus. The purpose of the conference is to serve as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experiences, bringing together experts and stakeholders from academia, research institutes, industry, NGOs, and the public sector.
Specifically, Mr. Angelos Manglis from Atlantis Consulting presented the BCThubs project during Session 5 “Marine Cultural Heritage” on “Integrated approaches that enhance capacity building, protection, preservation, and sustainable utilization of Underwater Cultural and Natural Heritage.” He introduced the “Reinforce Innovation Excellence” model, which focuses on enhancing innovation through the creation of Excellence Hubs and cross-border collaborations, aligned with European policies. He also highlighted the main objectives of the BCThubs, which include supporting sustainable management and promoting Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH). Initiatives such as the development of a joint cross-border R&I strategy and the implementation of innovative technological solutions aim to improve research and accessibility of underwater cultural resources UCH in the hub regions.
The goal is to raise awareness of the cultural and socioeconomic value of UCH and address the challenges of the marine environment through capacity building at the regional level, support of scientific research, use of blue culture technologies, and active involvement of actors and citizens. These interdisciplinary approaches are based on a variety of corroborating models and technological approaches, adaptable and replicable to the needs of areas and characteristics of the UCH sites.