The ten finalist projects selected by the European Commission for the Horizon Impact Award have research results with high societal benefit in common. This year, for the second time, the award is dedicated to EU-funded projects whose results have positive social impacts throughout Europe and beyond.

The participatory, interdisciplinary and transnational research project ARCHES - Accessible Resources for Cultural Heritage EcoSystems was one of ten projects to make it on the shortlist for the Horizon Impact Award. Coordinated by VRVis, the project has brought together the expertise and innovational power of twelve European institutions to develop smart solutions for inclusive art and art education and to open museums around the world to new - and literally all - visitor groups. At the heart of the project was the active participation of over 200 people with special access needs to art and culture due to their visual, hearing and cognitive impairments throughout the three-year research and development process.

The five winners of the Horizon Impact Award 2020 will be announced on 23 September 2020 during the European Research and Innovation Days in Brussels.