Call for Proposals: Present Your Solution for More Security in the North Sea

Blue Cluster invites you to submit your porposals to demonstrate innovative technologies in the field of maritime security, focusing on the protection of critical maritime infrastructure. This call offers companies the opportunity to showcase their solutions in practice, integrated within realistic sea-based scenarios.

The demonstration will take place on Friday 3 October during the ‘Captains of Industry’ day at the Belgian naval base in Zeebrugge. The emphasis is on complementarity of technologies for safeguarding critical maritime infrastructure. Interested in presenting your technology? This call is open until Friday 4 July at 12:00 noon.

The call provides for a maximum co-financing of 75% of the total project costs, with a maximum of €30,000 per participating company. These demonstration sessions are intended to show how different technologies - such as drones, sensors, communication systems, or AI - contribute in an integrated way to securing maritime infrastructure.

The final scenario will be determined based on the submissions received, but demonstrations should in any case focus on any of the following scenarios:

• Scenario 1: Unknown Object Underwater Near Critical Infrastructure
  An unknown object is detected underwater near important infrastructure such as cables or pipelines. It is unclear whether the object poses a threat.
• Scenario 2: Suspicious Vessel Near Critical Infrastructure
  A vessel behaves suspiciously near an offshore installation, for example through unusual maneuvers or by lingering in the same zone for a prolonged period without a clear reason.
• Scenario 3: Multiple Threats Above and Below Water
  Several suspicious situations occur simultaneously or shortly after one another, both underwater and on the surface. For example, an unknown object underwater and a suspicious vessel on the surface, possibly indicating a coordinated threat.

All submitted proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance & Impact (30%)
  To what extent does the proposal address current challenges in maritime security? Does it contribute to protecting critical maritime infrastructure?
• Innovation & Technological Added Value (20%)
  What is the innovative character of the applied technologies? Can the solution easily be combined with other technologies for joint scenarios?
• Ecosystem Value (30%)
  What added value does the proposal offer to the broader maritime innovation and security ecosystem? How complementary is the proposal to other technologies within the ecosystem?
• Feasibility & Planning (20%)
  Is the project practically feasible within the given timeframe? Is the demonstration logistically and operationally achievable by 3 October?

Interested in participating? Submit your proposal by Friday 4 July 2025 at 12:00 noon by filling out the form below. Your proposal should include:

• A brief summary of the demo (max. 300 words);
• A clear explanation of the scenario and objectives;
• An overview of the technologies and innovations used;
• The added value of your project for the maritime ecosystem (with a focus on Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection - CMIP).

Selected proposals will be announced on Friday 11 July 2025. Blue Cluster will then develop an overarching scenario for the demonstrations and provide further guidance.

For any questions or more information, please contact Eveline Buyck. She is happy to assist and support you in this process.