In recent years, VLIZ has positioned itself as a central player in the Blue Knowledge Economy in Flanders. The groundwork for this was laid during the previous VLIZ covenant period (2017-2021), when the Blue Economy was recognised as a specific target group for the institute. Prior to 2017, VLIZ collaborated sporadically and on an ad-hoc basis with actors from the marine and maritime business sectors. This changed in 2017-2018, when VLIZ, along with several companies, supported the creation of a maritime flagship cluster, Blue Cluster. Thanks to this cluster, blue innovation rose to the top of the Flemish agenda, and the involved companies and knowledge institutions gained access to earmarked innovation funds. To this day, VLIZ chairs the scientific advisory board of the cluster and sits on the steering committee and board of directors in that capacity. Together with Blue Cluster, VLIZ has been organising the Blue Economy Science Summit (BESS) for many years, bringing together Flemish maritime companies and marine research institutions.
The establishment of the maritime flagship cluster marked the start for VLIZ to significantly scale up its operations towards actors in the Blue Economy. A collaboration strategy with business actors was developed, including the necessary legal foundation regarding state aid. In just a few years, VLIZ has built an impressive portfolio of joint research and innovation projects with companies, actively engaging in broad knowledge diffusion and valorisation. In 2024, VLIZ was involved in no fewer than 60 projects and project proposals with specific relevance to the Blue Economy, in collaboration with more than 70 different companies based in Flanders. These projects range from research on the complex geological substratum of new offshore wind farms to underwater noise research for offshore security purposes. On a provincial level, VLIZ is engaged in structural collaboration with organisations such as POM West-Flanders to further develop the Blue Economy hub in the region around Ostend.
In the current covenant period (2022-2026), the institute is continuing to invest in new ways to collaborate with actors from the Blue Economy. VLIZ is increasingly involved as a subcontractor or through bilateral contracts by companies in the development of new services or products. In the same vein, VLIZ provides consultancy and knowledge transfer to start-ups, notably in the framework of MariFish.Inc, where VLIZ is now part of the scientific advisory board.
Additionally, the institute participates in commercial tenders in specific cases, at the request of companies. For participation in such tenders, VLIZ always conducts a thorough analysis of the (unique) added value it can provide as a research organisation to a consortium, as well as the market effects to avoid disruption. An example of this is the offshore wind tenders in the Netherlands, where innovation and environmentally friendly elements are key criteria. In this context, VLIZ participated in several tenders with local offshore wind developers to enrich their bids with a scientific perspective.
VLIZ also contributes to the international positioning of the Flemish Blue Knowledge Economy through participation in trade missions, representing Flanders in European networks such as the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP), and involving Flemish companies in European research and innovation projects.
Finally, VLIZ explores new themes and networks for collaboration with business actors. One example is the Mine Counter Measure Lab (MCM lab), of which VLIZ is a founding member. This network brings together Belgian partners to develop new solutions and technologies for mine countermeasures. The network was established following the purchase of new MCM vessels and a toolbox for the Belgian and Dutch navies. As part of this network, VLIZ was able to join ambitious European innovation projects alongside several Flemish SMEs.