The European Commission has recently published its annual report on the status and trends of the European Blue Economy. The European Blue Economy - all activities related to oceans, seas and coastal areas - has experienced strong growth over the last decade. With a turnover of 566 billion euros, the sector generates 174 billion euros in added value and creates employment for almost 3.5 million people (2016).
Spearhead Cluster
The Blue Cluster is the sixth Spearhead Cluster in Flanders, following Catalisti (chemistry), Flux50 (energy), VIL (logistics), Flanders Food (agro food) and SIM (new materials). The Blue Clusters has been launched on the 26th of June in Ostend, in the presence of 250 representatives from the industry, universities an research institutes. Those Spearhead Clusters are far-reaching partnerships between companies, knowledge institutes and the government
Economic activities and investments
From 29 June to 28 September 2018, you can provide input on the draft marine spatial plan (MSP) 2020-2026 for the Belgian part of the North Sea.
The Belgian Marine Strategy is our national strategy to protect the marine environment of the BPNS that fits within the framework of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Its main objective is to achieve and maintain a 'Good Environmental Status' of our marine waters and, where possible, to restore damage to the ecosystem. Until July 15, the possibility is given to express your thoughts and remarks on the draft reports for the Belgian Marine Strategy.
SeaConomy, an interdisciplinary consortium of representatives from all links in the seaweed chain, from breeding to consumption, presents its vision text towards the realization of the Flemish cultivation, processing and marketing of seaweed products.
The FWO is strongly committed to international cooperation as a lever for scientific excellence. In this context, FWO and CAS are going to finance two-year cooperation projects in all scientific research fields. This cooperation agreement aims to offer young researchers the possibility to realize their mobility towards and from the Czech Republic. Therefore, in each scientific cooperation project at Flemish side at least one young scientist, with no more than 6 years of postdoctoral experience, should be engaged.
The VLIZ Marine Science Day 2018 was a very successful edition with no less than 370 junior and senior marine scientists finding their way to MEC Staf Versluys, Bredene.
A well-filled programme including pitch presentations, poster sessions and a networking event 'Meet the Company' was preceded by an inspiring keynote by researcher Veerle Huvenne from the British National Oceanography Centre (NOC). She spoke, among other things, about how technological developments can help to achieve a better understanding of the marine environment.
The Flemish Government approves the co-financing of the EFRO project 1040 - 'Blue Accelerator' to POM West-Vlaanderen in the framework of the EFRO Flanders 2014-2020 programme.
The Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship agency (VLAIO) has given the go-ahead for the recognition of a sixth spearhead cluster, which aims to promote economic development and innovation in the Belgian part of the North Sea.
Through the publication of a new Policy Informing Brief, the Flanders Marine Institute intends to provide a concise overview of all scientific studies that were conducted in the context of either the Flemish Bays – project or the subsequent Complex Project Coastal Vision, and which focus on any possible forms of hydraulic engineering that might take place in front of the eastern part of the Belgian coast. Such an overview was demanded by several members of the Policy Commission Complex Project Coastal Vision.
The upcoming FUST Ocean event (14-15 May) will showcase the impact of collaboration between the Government of Flanders and UNESCO and its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission related to ocean and coastal areas.
In March 2018, the FWO has signed an agreement with the São Paulo Science Foundation (FAPESP) on the funding of new research projects with a duration of three years open to fundamental research in all disciplines. Project proposals have to be submitted both at FWO by a research group from Flanders and at FAPESP by a research group from Brazil (State of São Paulo).
The Science, Research and Innovation performance of the EU and key European countries have been presented in the latest SRIP report by the European Commission's Directorate-general for Research and Innovation. The report combines a macroeconomic analysis with analytical research on policy and speaks to members of the Research and Innovation community, Economics and Finance-policy.
On Wednesday, February 1, 2018, the compendium secretariat organized its intermediate expert group meeting. At this intermediate process evaluation, the secretariat reported on the progress made within the Compendium 2018 trajectory and also brought new ideas to the table. With this new edition of the Compendium, the secretariat intends to focus even more on meeting the expectations of its target audience. This is done, among other things, by implementing a thorough refurbishment of the various publications and a refreshment of the Compendium house style.
From 17 till 21 September 2018, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and LifeWatch Belgium will be organizing the 53rd edition of the European Marine Biology Symposium (EMBS53) in Ostend, Belgium.
Every year, in the framework of the Compendium for Coast and Sea, the compendium secretariat of VLIZ reports in the form of a policy-informing brief (PIB) on the current state of marine research in Flanders and Belgium.
The UN has declared the period from 2021 to 2030 as the “Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development”. By doing so, they intend to mobilize more people and resources to streamline and stimulate ocean research.
At the naval base of the Port of Zeebrugge the long-awaited Long-Term Vision North Sea 2050 was presented. The goal was to produce a strong, widely supported vision for the future of our North Sea originating from a bottom-up approach and working closely with different stakeholder. In view of the general success of this process and the rapid developments taking place in the North Sea, a continuation of this trajectory is facilitated in a "ThinkTank North Sea" to support science based decision making.
The CREST project, Climate Resilient Coast, aims to gain insight into physical coastal processes such as waves, tide, currents, sediment dynamics, wind, ... And in the role of these processes in ensuring coastal protection and natural resilience of the Flemish coast in relation to climate change and major international developments. The CREST consortium consists of ten partner institutes from the academic world, the Flemish government and the private sector.
