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 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.
At the initiative of the Secretary of State for North Sea (Philippe de Backer), stakeholders from different sectors (private sector, NGOs, local governments, knowledge centers, civil society, media and administrations) were gathered within the “North Sea Forum” to brainstorm and work towards a shared "North Sea 2050" vision text. The forum was subdivided into three working groups (Nature, Multiple Spatial Use and Blue Economy and Innovation), resulting in three independent reports. These reports were subsequently integrated into one coherent vision text to be included in the MSP 2020.
In a new Policy Informing Brief, VLIZ - on demand of the Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM) - maps the Flemish expertise and knowledge around marine litter and microplastics. The note provides a useful overview of the published research, but also indicates the needs for studying and addressing litter and microplastics in Flemish aquatic environments.
Under the titel 'natural coastal defense', Natuurpunt and the West-Flanders Environmental Federation (WMF) joined forces resulting in the Kappa plan. Within the Kappa-plan they advocate for one integrated and sustainable vision for coastal protection against climate change and floods using natural buffers.
Now, on Monday, October 23 (from 19:00), both organizations organize the symposium 'Sant in eigen lant, towards a resilient coastal management', further exploring the question 'How can we work with nature to protect our coast?'.
Eight months after the start of the North Sea Forum the final reports of the working groups are presented to Secretary of State for North Sea, Philippe de Backer. The reports pave the way towards an integrated ‘North Sea 2050’ vision. The stakeholders are very pleased with the constructive atmosphere and ambitious goals envisioned for our North Sea.
As part of the United Nations’ Ocean Conference, the first Global Ocean Science Report (GOSR) was presented on Wednesday, 8 June, on World Oceans Day in New York. The Global Ocean Science Report marks the possibility of having a first look at the current state and main trends in oceanic research on a global scale.
In the autumn of 2018 a new version of the Compendium for Coast and Sea will be launched. In view of this next version, the Compendium Secretariat organized the first Expert Group Meeting (EG) of the new preparation process on the 24th of May. The EG, which is responsible for the strategic follow-up of the process and the quality assurance of end products, is expanding with some newly represented organizations (overview members) related to the extension of the renewed VLIZ mandate.
On the 8th of July, the EU Commissioner for Environment and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, visited the InnovOcean site in Ostend. The EU Commissioner signed an agreement on the cooperation for marine observation data with the Flemish government and Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). With this, the Commission underlines their engagement for a sustainable blue economy and jobs based on science, data and innovation.