The third of September marked the very first edition of Waves of Change – Together towards an inclusive future. This year’s theme was “Women in the Maritime Industry.” The event was co-organised by the Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services (MDK) and Blue Cluster.

Our CEO, Piet Opstaele, recently spoke with MULTI.engineering about Blue Cluster’s role in the blue economy. He highlights how the cluster is moving from innovation policy to tangible economic impact, with collaboration between companies and knowledge institutions at the heart of this transition.

The Flemish Government is developing a regulatory framework for innovative navigation. In this context, the Mobility Council recently issued an advisory opinion, calling for more focus, clear rules, and attention to cooperation and training.

Flanders has a strong start-up scene, but too few companies manage to scale successfully. VLAIO’s new scale-up monitor highlights where growth potential remains untapped and which barriers are still holding ambitious businesses back.

Flat oyster reefs disappeared from much of the North Sea and European waters in the early 20th century. Recently, around 200,000 young oysters were released to help restore these reefs, aiming to revive both the habitat and the rich biodiversity it once supported.

Beneath the warm Venetian sun, experts, innovators, and policymakers from across Europe came together to exchange ideas and insights. They explored the future of marine spatial planning through the lens of Mariparks, an emerging framework for offshore multi-use zones.

Do you want your SME to take a solid leap forward within the themes of internationalisation, digitalisation, sustainable and circular entrepreneurship or innovation? Then apply for the SME growth subsidy before 1 September and strengthen your strategic capabilities.

On 26 June 2025, Oceans of Energy’s offshore solar farm “Nymphaea Aurora” was officially inaugurated at the Port of Amsterdam. This marks the successful completion of the assembly of the world’s first floating solar farm to be integrated within an offshore wind park.

The coast of tomorrow moves with nature, not against it. Nature-Based Solutions offer a powerful and forward-looking way to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and coastal safety, while resiliently shaping our blue economy.

Ireland is fully committed to offshore wind power to meet its ambitious climate goals. With plans for at least 5 GW by 2030 and more than 20 GW by 2040, the country is making significant investments in ports, grid infrastructure and market access.