From 28 September to 2 October 2026, the Maltese Excellence Hub organised a five-day Demo Event at the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) in Gozo, Malta, combining technology demonstrations, field testing and training dedicated to Underwater Cultural Heritage and diving safety. The programme connected complementary areas of expertise, exploring how blue technologies and practical skills can support the research, protection and sustainable management of Underwater Cultural Heritage.
Day 1 | Welcome, partner presentations and DANA Health
The event opened with a welcome by Prof. Alessandro Marroni of DAN Europe, followed by partner presentations. Massimo Pieri of DAN Europe introduced DANA Health, a system supporting divers’ health and well-being through monitoring and access to expert advice. The afternoon programme featured field testing of the technology within the project’s relevant activities.
Day 2 | Technology field testing
The second day focused on further field testing of DANA Health, led by Massimo Pieri. These sessions placed the technology at the centre of the demonstration programme, connecting its presentation with practical applications in the field.
Day 3 | Scientific divers training
The third day featured scientific divers training, led by Massimo Casabianca of DAN Europe, focusing on skills relevant to scientific activities underwater. The programme also included an additional DANA Health field-testing session with Massimo Pieri, linking diver training with technology demonstration.
Day 4 | ROV technology and operation
Inès Boujmil of AquaBioTech Group led sessions introducing Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) technology and operation. The programme focused on tools that can support underwater observation and exploration, complementing the diving activities covered earlier in the week.
Day 5 | Underwater Cultural Heritage protection and GIS training
The final day focused on the detection, protection and conservation of underwater cultural heritage, with sessions delivered by Malta’s Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. This was followed by Geographic Information System (GIS) interface training, connecting heritage protection with digital tools for managing spatial information.
Across the five-day programme, the Demo Event brought together complementary expertise in diving, health monitoring, underwater robotics and heritage management, contributing to BCThubs’ efforts to strengthen research and innovation capacities in Blue Culture Technologies.
Find the Programme here.
