News

How can knowledge, experience and fresh ideas reinforce each other in the maritime sector? That question was at the heart of the second edition of Waves of Change, an initiative of the Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services (MDK) and Blue Cluster.

From smart technologies to new partnerships, innovation is playing an increasingly important role in security and defence. The first Defence Innovation in Flanders Day will bring together organisations on 27 October 2026 that are helping to develop solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow.

The European floating offshore wind sector is facing an important next step. While the past years have primarily focused on technological development and demonstration, the focus is now increasingly shifting towards industrialisation, scaling and cost competitiveness.

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.

Seven promising ventures from across Europe gathered in Ostend for the inaugural Wavemaker Port Innovation Awards. After a series of pitches focused on water innovation in ports, Algaenius emerged as the overall winner, ahead of Noah Water Solutions and The Great Bubble Barrier®.

The seven Flemish spearhead clusters, including Blue Cluster, are jointly launching the Intercluster cSBO Project Call 2027. The call is aimed at knowledge institutions that wish to set up strategic basic research around challenges that connect different sectors.

A new publication by the Flemish Government provides a clear overview of the research infrastructure landscape in Flanders. It helps researchers and companies identify suitable facilities and expertise for research, innovation and collaboration.

Developing new technologies for use at sea is one thing. Testing, validating and scaling them reliably is at least as important. At the Coastal & Ocean Basin in Ostend, maritime and offshore innovations can be tested under realistic conditions.

Can seaweed be grown without the sea? OceanBites believes it can. The Belgian company is developing a cultivation system that enables local production of fresh dulse under fully controlled conditions, independent of climate, location or seasonal fluctuations.