Flanders is ready to tackle ocean challenges in the UN Decade of Ocean Science

Meet Flanders, a region bordering the southern Bight of the North Sea. For centuries, this region and its people have largely benefitted from their proximity to the ocean. This relationship has proven fertile ground for the development of maritime competences and a maritime identity that continues to this day and is present in cutting-edge marine sciences and bold innovations for a maritime economy.

2020 was a remarkable year for Flanders’ ocean community: we celebrated the first anniversary of the sixth and youngest Flemish industrial spearhead cluster, the Blue Cluster of maritime industries. The first stone of the new InnovOcean Campus in Ostend was laid, which will host the Flanders Research Institute for agriculture, fisheries and food (ILVO) as well as the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and its international partners. In addition, a new chapter was added to the successful cooperation between research, development and entrepreneurship, by launching Ostend Science Park. This high-tech knowledge hub gathers researchers and businesses to develop and implement innovative sustainable economic use of the North Sea and the ocean.

Flanders reaches out to share its maritime identity, broad expertise, long-standing traditions, maritime skills and capacities and shape strong and far-reaching collaborations based on ocean science, knowledge and innovative approaches. Hereby, grasping the unique opportunity of the Ocean Decade to join forces in a decade of open international collaboration that will guide the transition to the ocean we need for the future we want.

Download the pdf of the publication via de VLIZ library:
Link: www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/358933.pdf