Blue Economy Science Summit (BESS 2024)
During the Blue Economy Science Summit (BESS), scientists, businesses and policymakers meet to delve deeper into the blue economy. This year, the focus is on the game-changing aspects of digitisation. Under the theme of "The Digital Sea", the event serves as a dynamic platform to network, exchange knowledge and actively participate in shaping the future of the blue economy.
This year, BESS takes on an international dimension, as one of the events of the Belgian EU presidency – providing inspiration and demonstrating the leading position of Flemish and Belgian companies and organizations in the development of a Digital Sea. The event kicks off a new innovation cycle for the Baltic and North Seas as part of the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters.
This innovation cycle targets “MULTI-USE and MARIPARKS” as well as “SMART SEA AND SECURITY” and is designed to be a catalyst for project ideas and consortia which will eventually feed into the main targets set for the area: carbon neutrality and circularity. Learn more about the Mission and discover opportunities for engagement.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders, researchers, and innovators, contributing to the ongoing dialogue on the digital future of the blue economy.
Highlights
- Thematic focus: Opt for a deep dive in offshore security, business opportunities in mariparks, or artificial intelligence & big data.
- Notable Keynote Speakers: Gain insights from renowned experts who will share their perspectives on the digital revolution's impact on the marine industry.
- OECD will conclude the day by discussing the significance of public marine data and its implications for a sustainable blue economy.
Blue Cluster and Flanders Marine Institute look forward to your presence at the Blue Economy Science Summit as we collectively navigate the uncharted waters of 'The Digital Sea'.
Programme
| 13:30 | Registration & welcome coffee |
| 14:00 | Welcome & introduction Moderator Marijn Rabaut (Blue Cluster) and Blue Mission Banos project lead Angela Schultz-Zehden (S.Pro) |
| 14:30 | Science-industry-policy collaboration linked with the goals of Mission Ocean Jan Mees (VLIZ) |
| 14:45 | Trends and gaps in digitalisation in sustainable blue economy Piet Opstaele (Blue Cluster) |
| 15:00 | Pitches: introduction to the break-out sessions |
| 15:15 | Break-out sessions: choice between three parallel sessions (more information below) |
| 17:00 | Keynote presentation: Understanding the contribution of Flanders' public marine data to society - Value chains of public marine data Claire Jolly (OECD, Head of Innovation Policies for Space and Oceans Unit) |
| 17:30 | Wrap-up and Q&A |
| 17:45 | Network reception (until 19:00) |
Afternoon programme
In the afternoon, we offer you the possibility to either join experts from industry, policy and research for a 1.5 hour deep dive into two specific topics, or let yourself be inspired by our inspirational sessions, where we offer shorter sessions with panel discussions, presentations and lots of interaction on hot topics ranging from autonomous navigation and digital twins to smart monitoring.
Deep dive
- Smart Sea & Security
Within the Blue Economy, more and more challenges arise regarding the security of activities at sea and in ports, with a specific emphasis on critical infrastructure. In response to this, Blue Cluster is developing an innovation roadmap on ‘Maritime Security’. This roadmap aims to bring together companies that provide solutions and companies that experience specific challenges in the field of maritime system and asset security and to accelerate innovations within this domain.
Blue Cluster kicks off the session presenting the current state of play of this roadmap, covering its background, evolution, current status, and today's objectives. IMEC will give an insight in RANTZEE (a joint innovation center undertaking mission-driven research) and elaborate on their technology roadmap, which includes elements such as perimeter detection and derisking underwater technology. Blue Cluster provides a strong connection with industry, while Rantzee/IMEC offers a strong technological perspective.
Yvan De Mesmaeker (Secretary General of the European Corporate Security Association – ECSA) will act as a key-note speaker and will provide a valuable insight into the challenges of offshore security and critical infrastructure. During a panel discussion we will debate and share positions and arguments on this subject with the public, companies and knowledge institutions active in this domain. The goal of this deep-dive is to bridge connections with industry and to build a network and set up collaborations for future innovation projects.
- Maripark
Let’s combine sustainability, innovation and economic growth into a real ‘Maripark’ and optimally use marine space while safeguarding the marine area in a socially inclusive way. Blue Cluster inspires with a promising concept for implementing multi-use at sea: a Maripark. The concept stimulates a sustainable blue economy as well as effective nature restoration. A Maripark capitalises on synergies between different sectors and proposes an integrated governance and permitting context.
Today, the focus is on practical implementation of this risk-reducing infrastructure and potential opportunities of a Maripark (Kinnie De Beule, Innovation manager, Blue Cluster). The context setting is followed by the European Commission’s ambitions for a sustainable blue economy and the new multi-use compendium on multi-use and co-existence at sea, outlined by Céline Frank (Policy officer Sustainable Blue Economy, Aquaculture and Maritime Spatial Planning, European Commission - DG Mare).
After having set the scene, 4 companies will pitch opportunities for their business in Mariparks: A Maripark as an enabling infrastructure that releases pressure for entrepreneurs (Timothy Vanagt, ORG Permanent modernity; Erwin Coolen, ECHT; Tine Boon, Tractebel and Luka Barbetti; IMDC.
Project ideas are actually worked out during a roleplay workshop and a panel discussion on the results.
Inspirational sessions
The inspirational session tackles different hot topics related to the digital sea. During shorter interventions (15-20 minutes) participants get a quick update about the latest developments linked to marine robots, the Digital Twin of the Ocean and the use of AI in offshore monitoring.
Curious about the next steps towards autonomous shipping in the North Sea? Want to know more about the Digital Twin of the Ocean and the opportunities of AI for industry and research? Pick and explore the sessions that you are interested in. Opportunities for Q& A and networking with the speakers are foreseen.
| 15:15 | Introduction Tina Mertens (VLIZ) |
| 15:20 | Marine robotics and unmanned shipping: interview and panel discussion with Wieter Boone (VLIZ), Jan Pas (DG Scheepvaart) and others |
| 15:50 | DTO and smart data space: presentations with Zoi Constantinou (DG Mare), Simon Claus (Digitaal Vlaanderen) and others |
| 16:20 | AI as smart monitoring assistant: pitch presentations including Q&A Rune Lagaisse (VLIZ); Hans Polet (ILVO; Steve Vanlanduit (UAntwerp - Invilab); and Christof Devriendt and Jan Helsen (OWI Lab) |
Keynote speaker
Claire Jolly is Head of Innovation Policies at the Space and Oceans Unit of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry. She has 18 years of experience in policy and economic analysis, having worked for both public and private organisations in aerospace and defence in Europe and North America, before joining the OECD in 2003.
Her background is in international relations / finance (MA. Versailles and Cornell University) and aerospace engineering (ENSTA), with an interest in technology transfers and space applications (MSc, ISU). She is also an alumna of the Institute for Higher National Defence Studies in Paris (Institut des Hautes Etudes de Défense Nationale, IHEDN).
Claire and her team work to provide evidence-based information to improve the research and innovation policy mix for sustainable ocean management. Her keynote presentation will focus on the recently completed OECD study on Public Marine data in Flanders.
Photo contest
During BESS, a small photo exhibition will be organised on the topic of the “Digital Sea”. Contestants can submit their high-resolution photos via e-mail to info@vliz.be, with the subject line “photo contest BESS” and including the title, date, place and name of the photographer. The deadline is 10 May 2024. Contestants can submit a maximum of 5 photos (max 8 Mb, format .jpg, .jpeg or .png), from which the jury selects a maximum of one. The final selection will be showcased in large format during the event.
Authors grant the organisers (VLIZ and Blue Cluster) a licence to use the submitted work. The contestant has made their submission under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). This licence means that the organisers can Share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and Adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) any material received, while giving appropriate credit to the contestant as the original content creator and providing a link to the licence, and indicating in case any changes were made.
At all times, the organisers recognise the Photographer as the original content-creator and author of the respective images. Any use of the received images, including any online publications, print, use at conferences, exhibitions, in videos, or on social media channels is always to be accompanied by an appropriate disclaimer that gives credit to the contestant as the original content creator. By submitting their photos, contestants agree with the rules above.
Practical information
Given the international nature of this event, the official language is English.
Places are limited. Would you like to be there? Register for the event. The deadline is 10 May.
Any questions? Please contact Flanders Marine Institute or Blue Cluster.
Blue Innovation Village at Ostend at Anchor
BESS takes place during Ostend at Anchor, the largest maritime festival in Belgium. During this festival, Blue Cluster organises the Blue Innovation Village, where can you can discover innovations by Belgian companies and organisations in the blue economy. Pay us a visit and find out what Belgium has to offer in the field of innovation in the blue economy!
