An ecosystem for the protection of critical maritime infrastructure

Blue Cluster carried out a feasibility study commissioned by the Belgian Ministry of Defence and the Royal Higher Institute for Defence (RHID) on the establishment of an innovative ecosystem focused on protecting critical maritime infrastructure. The study is part of the Ministry’s Defence, Industry and Research Strategy (DIRS), which promotes collaboration between industry and research institutions to strengthen national security and position Belgium as a leading European innovation partner.

The study shows that Belgium has a solid foundation for developing such an ecosystem. The country combines world-class expertise in maritime technology, data analytics, autonomous systems and secure communications with an active network of companies, research institutions and government bodies.

The proposed ecosystem aims to accelerate innovation to protect energy, communication and port infrastructure against hybrid threats and “grey zone” activities: disruptive actions that fall below the threshold of military conflict. By connecting defence, industry and research, this ecosystem could become a driver for technological advancement, knowledge exchange and economic growth.

The feasibility study demonstrates not only that Belgium is ready to strengthen the protection of its maritime infrastructure, but also that it possesses all the assets needed to develop a more robust defence-oriented industry. Several key technologies stand out, including advanced sensors, autonomous drones and underwater systems, secure communication solutions, digital twins and AI-driven data analytics.

In addition to the technological dimension, the study also assessed the market potential of maritime security. The findings confirm that this field is not only vital to national and European security, but also offers significant economic opportunities for Belgian companies within the expanding global security market.

Particular growth potential lies in dual-use applications, technologies that can be deployed within the defence sector as well as in other societal domains. With its strong knowledge base, innovative companies and access to European markets, Belgium has all the ingredients to become an international reference point in maritime security and defence technology.