€8.7 million investment in maritime innovation infrastructure

In the presence of North Sea Minister Annelies Verlinden, we presented several new investments in the blue economy at the Port of Ostend on 17 June. Highlights include a new offshore test platform, an advanced measurement and monitoring buoy, and several marine drones. These investments are part of an ongoing €8.7 million investment programme. The new test infrastructure is designed to help companies and research institutions bring innovative technologies from research to real-world offshore applications more quickly.

With support from the federal government, we are investing €8.7 million in new innovation infrastructure in and around the Belgian part of the North Sea. The investments form part of an innovation programme for the North Sea that is currently nearing completion. The programme is funded through the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), supplemented by federal funding.

The investments strengthen existing research and testing facilities along the Belgian coast and contribute to the development of an integrated innovation infrastructure for the blue economy. Companies and research institutions already have access to a range of research and testing facilities along the coast. Until now, however, opportunities to validate new technologies on a larger scale and in realistic offshore conditions further out at sea have been limited.

New opportunities for offshore testing

The offshore test platform is one of the programme’s key investments. The floating platform is 21 metres long, 14 metres wide and 10 metres high. It will serve as an offshore test site within an existing wind farm in the Belgian part of the North Sea. With power supply and data communications available on site, the platform provides a unique environment for testing and demonstrating innovative offshore applications.

Companies and research institutions will be able to carry out material testing, corrosion testing and tests involving offshore energy systems under real-life conditions at sea. The platform will also support aerial, surface and underwater drones. This will allow new technologies to be validated and evaluated on a larger scale in conditions that closely reflect their future use at sea.

Monitoring buoy strengthens data collection

In addition to the offshore test platform, an advanced measurement and monitoring buoy has also been purchased. “The buoy is 5 metres high and has a floating structure measuring 6 by 3 metres. It collects data on weather and sea conditions, among other parameters. This information supports offshore testing and provides companies and researchers with valuable data for developing and validating new technologies,” says Jean de Bethune.

“The buoy can be deployed flexibly at locations further offshore where no electricity or data connection is available. Thanks to its own power supply and communication systems, it provides an autonomous testing and monitoring environment for offshore applications. This makes it suitable for innovations in areas such as offshore wind energy, offshore solar energy, wave energy, marine environmental research and maritime operations. It can also support offshore drone systems, including drone charging and data exchange. This enables drones to remain operational for longer and to operate further from the coast.”

Investing in the North Sea of tomorrow

The investments are part of a broader ambition to further develop the Belgian North Sea as a hub for innovation, sustainable energy and maritime safety. For West Flanders, the investment further strengthens its position as a centre for maritime innovation and the blue economy.

The blue economy is one of West Flanders’ strategic priorities. These innovations reinforce the unique testing and innovation environment along our coast. They create new opportunities for West Flemish companies and strengthen our province’s position as an international reference point for maritime innovation.

Strengthening the entire innovation chain

The investment programme also includes a series of targeted investments in existing innovation infrastructure along the Belgian coast. Blue Accelerator, the offshore test tower off the coast of Ostend, will be equipped with additional sensors and new cardinal buoys marking the safety zone around the test area.

Drone Dock in Ostend will also be expanded with a wind simulator. In addition, a new test basin for recently acquired marine drones, together with a dedicated lifting system, will be installed at Bluebridge in Ostend. This infrastructure is intended to accelerate the development of hybrid drones that combine the advantages of different types of drones for offshore applications.

We are also investing in the further development of The Reef training hub, also located in Ostend. Using a digital twin of the area around Blue Accelerator and other digital applications, companies, researchers and operators will be able to simulate, test and optimise innovative technologies and drone operations virtually before deploying them at sea.

New high-tech digital learning and research environments have also been developed for students and professionals in the fields of maritime cybersecurity and marine spatial planning.