Blue Bastion launches its first eight maritime security projects
How can we protect our ports, offshore energy installations, subsea cables, and shipping routes against increasingly complex threats? This question lies at the heart of Blue Bastion, Blue Cluster’s innovation programme, which, in collaboration with the Royal Higher Institute for Defence (RHID), is working to establish a strong Belgian ecosystem focused on maritime security, defence, and the protection of critical maritime infrastructure.
The first eight Blue Bastion Projects
Through Blue Bastion’s first demonstrator call, eight projects were selected, each making a tangible contribution to a safer, more resilient, and better protected maritime environment. From underwater detection and autonomous surveillance to drone protection and advanced data analytics, these projects showcase the strength of Belgium’s maritime security innovation ecosystem.
- BLUE SENSE: a sovereign drone infrastructure for maritime security
- DEEP GUARD: a physical protection layer for maritime infrastructure
- IWAT: early detection of underwater intrusions
- MARLIN: intelligent detection of maritime threats
- PORTSHIELD: protection against emerging aerial threats
- SEAMLESS: faster interventions through advanced imaging technologies
- TRIDENT: listening to what happens beneath the water’s surface
- NEMESIS: additional eyes in the sky over the North Sea
Building a stronger maritime security ecosystem
These eight demonstrator projects illustrate how collaboration between industry, research institutions, defence organisations, and operational end users can deliver innovative solutions to urgent maritime security challenges. Together, they strengthen the protection of critical maritime infrastructure and contribute to a future in which the Belgian North Sea is safer, more resilient, and better protected.
With Blue Bastion, Blue Cluster aims not only to develop new technologies, but also to effectively demonstrate, validate, and accelerate their deployment in real-world applications. In doing so, we are helping to build a strong Belgian ecosystem for maritime security and defence.
Got an idea of your own?
The second Blue Bastion call is open as of August the 26th.
