The Widening Impacts Spring 2026 Webinar Series officially commenced on May 22, 2026, with an engaging opening session dedicated to the BCThubs project, a flagship initiative under the Horizon Europe WIDERA programme.
This first webinar, titled “BCThubs’ Story: From Idea Conception to Post-Project Ambitions and Vision,” set the tone for the entire series by showcasing how collaborative European research projects can evolve from initial ideas into impactful innovation ecosystems.
A Platform to Strengthen the Widening Community
The Widening Impacts Webinar Series was created to enhance collaboration and visibility among EU Widening projects, bringing together researchers, innovators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
Its broader objectives include:
- promoting cooperation between projects,
- creating new opportunities through wider outreach,
- sharing knowledge and best practices,
- and maximizing the impact of Horizon Europe initiatives.
By launching the series with BCThubs, the organizers highlighted a project that exemplifies these goals in practice.
Introducing the BCThubs Project
BCThubs (Blue Culture Technology Excellence Hubs) is an EU-funded project that brings together partners from several Widening countries to develop advanced technologies for underwater cultural heritage (UCH).
Europe’s underwater environments host a vast yet vulnerable cultural legacy, including shipwrecks and submerged settlements, often inaccessible and at risk. BCThubs addresses these challenges by building innovation ecosystems and Excellence Hubs focused on safeguarding, studying, and promoting this heritage.
Key technological achievements presented during the webinar include:
- a multi-sensor ROV for 3D/4D seabed reconstruction,
- virtual reality diving applications for remote access,
- augmented reality tools for divers,
- AI-powered monitoring systems for heritage protection,
- and DiveSense wearable technology for diver health and safety.
From Concept to Impact
The webinar provided a comprehensive overview of the project journey, from early conceptualization and consortium building to real-world validation. Demonstrations and testing activities carried out in Greece, Malta, Bulgaria, and beyond illustrated the project’s tangible progress and practical relevance.
Importantly, the session also addressed lessons learned and best practices, offering valuable insights for other Horizon Europe projects aiming to build successful collaborative frameworks.
Towards Future Collaboration and Innovation
Beyond presenting its achievements, BCThubs outlined an ambitious post-project vision, including continued development, wider adoption of its technologies, and stronger integration into European innovation ecosystems.
The webinar concluded with an interactive discussion, reflecting the series’ commitment to creating dialogue and fostering partnerships across disciplines and sectors.
A Strong Start to the Series
Opening the Widening Impacts Spring 2026 Webinar Series with the BCThubs project demonstrated the transformative potential of cross-border cooperation, technological innovation, and knowledge sharing.
Widening Impacts Spring 2026 Webinar Series_BCThubs’ Story
As the series continues, it is expected to further strengthen the Excellence Hub community, inspire new collaborations, and amplify the impact of EU-funded research across the Widening landscape.
For more Information follow:
YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/@WideningImpacts
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/wideningimpacts
Website: http://www.wideningimpacts.eu
