Demonstrate at Captains of Industry Day x Drone West
Blue Cluster, the Belgian Navy and POM WVL are joining forces for the Captains of Industry Day x Drone West. On Thursday 29 October, we bring together companies, knowledge institutions, public authorities, defence and innovative technology partners around the future of maritime innovation and unmanned systems.
We invite companies, research institutions and technology partners to participate as demonstrators or exhibitors during this unique networking event.
1. Call for DEMONSTRATORS (free participation – selection)
Do you have a technology or solution that is relevant for maritime security or drone applications? Then we invite you to demonstrate it live during “Captains of Industry Day meets Drone West”.
Demonstrations will take place in the BlueBridge test environment, including a basin and canal section, cranes and infrastructure, a control room, VR cave and (water and aerial) drones on which sensors can be integrated.
Demonstrators will be selected based on relevance, operational feasibility and safety. Collaborations between technology providers, integrators and knowledge partners are strongly encouraged, for example through joint demonstrations or combined solutions.
Application deadline: 26 June 2026
2. Call for EXHIBITORS (paid participation)
Would you like to make your organisation, expertise or solutions visible within the ecosystem? Then we invite you to participate as an exhibitor.
As an exhibitor at “Captains of Industry Day meets Drone West”, you will reach end-users and industrial key players and position yourself as a partner in innovation and collaboration.
Exhibitor registration deadline: 31 July 2026
Why participate?
As a demonstrator or exhibitor, you will have the opportunity to:
- showcase your innovative technologies and applications to a targeted professional audience;
- connect directly with companies, researchers, policymakers, defence and end-users;
- explore new collaborations and business opportunities;
- organise live demonstrations in a professional demo zone;
- strengthen your visibility within the Belgian and international innovation ecosystem.
On this day, there will be direct interaction between technology developers and operational end-users, making Captains of Industry Day x Drone West a unique meeting place for innovation, collaboration and valorisation.
Target audience
Captains of Industry Day x Drone West is aimed at:
- companies active in maritime security, defence and innovative technology;
- drone operators and developers of unmanned systems;
- SMEs, scale-ups and large enterprises;
- knowledge institutions, research centres and test facilities;
- policymakers, public organisations and authorities.
Practical info
More information about the demo package and exhibitor formulas and registration via this link.
- Location: Bluebridge - Wetenschapspark 1, 8400 Ostend
- Date: Thursday 29 October 2026
- Registration is open until:
- Demonstrator registration deadline: 26/6/2026
- Exhibitor registration deadline: 11/9/2026
- More practical information on setup and logistics will follow after confirmed registration.
- The number of demonstration slots is limited.
- Each demo application is evaluated in advance based on relevance, operational feasibility and safety.
Collaborations between technology providers, integrators and knowledge partners are strongly encouraged. Joint demonstrations and integrated solutions lead to greater impact and more cross-fertilisation between sectors.
Test infrastructure
Demonstrators can use various professional test and demonstration facilities on and around the event site:
- access to the inner port for demonstrations of sailing and diving systems;
- spider crane for equipment up to 200 kg;
- test basin with transparent side walls (12 m x 3 m x 1.5 m deep);
- paved outdoor space around Bluebridge for ground-based unmanned systems;
- possibility to request aerial demonstrations;
- access to The Reef, including VR cave, VR play zone, Control Room and high-performance HCI cluster;
- available power supply on site.
