News

From 9 to 13 March 2026, a delegation from the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) conducted an extensive institutional visit to Chile. Building on a long-standing collaboration with Chilean partners, the mission marked a significant step in reinforcing VLIZ’s international engagement in leading ocean research. With visits to six locations, meetings with fourteen institutions and the signing of three...

This week (22–28 February 2026), VLIZ is well represented at the Ocean Sciences Meeting in Glasgow, Scotland. The Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM) is the flagship conference for the ocean sciences and the wider ocean-connected community. In addition to several oral and poster presentations, VLIZ employees will (co-)chair various sessions and attend back-to-back meetings. See the full overview of VLIZ...

On Wednesday 4 March 2026, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) brings together the marine scientific community on the VLIZ Marine Science Day 2026 at De Grote Post, Ostend. This edition will be entirely devoted to the internationalisation of marine research and will offer a dynamic programme with inspiring speakers, interactive sessions and opportunities to strengthen cross-border collaborations...

On Friday 6 February 2026, VLIZ hosted the VLIZ PhD Symposium at the InnovOcean Campus in Ostend. This one-day event brought together PhD researchers, supervisors, external advisors and collaborators. It highlighted the diversity, quality and societal relevance of doctoral research conducted within the VLIZ Research Department in close collaboration with universities.

For her PhD research, geologist and oceanographer Alice Ofélia Matossian (Ghent University) made extensive use of the VLIZ fleet of underwater robots and its scientific expertise. Thanks to this collaboration, an important step has been taken towards understanding how large sediment accumulations form on the seafloor of the Atlantic Ocean.

From 17 to 20 November 2026, the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2026 will bring the global marine biodiversity community together in the historic city of Bruges, Belgium. Join the scientific conference as a participant or abstract presenter. On 18 November, the general public is also invited to a special screening of the deep-sea documentary How Deep is Your Love .

Between 2008 and 2024, Belgian universities and research institutes published between 447 and 974 peer-reviewed papers each year, across 2,006 different scientific journals. This output is on a par with the larger marine institutes in our neighbouring countries. A growing share of these papers is open access, rising from about 34% in 2008 to a provisional high of 79% in 2023.

The European Digital Twin Ocean, a flagship EU initiative turning ocean data into actionable knowledge, has entered its second phase with a €14 million investment. Led by Mercator Ocean International and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) on behalf of the European Commission, this new stage — known as EDITO2 (2025–2028) — will both enhance the platform’s technological capabilities and expand co...

The philanthropic arm of VLIZ – The Sea as a Good Cause – continues to support young, creative marine researchers. This year, six research grants will be awarded again to PhD students and junior postdocs working in Flanders, as well as to doctoral students from the Global South. Key requirement: dare to think differently, dare to be innovative. Submit your proposal by 19 January 2026.

The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) has launched a unique underwater sound library for the North Sea. With more than 2000 sound clips, this collection offers insight into the complex soundscape of our busy sea. The library highlights trends across different years and variations between locations. In doing so, the platform supports policymakers, researchers, and the wider public in understanding...

On Tuesday 16 September, Their Majesties King Filip and Queen Mathilde visited the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Ostend. Their visit formed part of a provincial tour of West Flanders, centred on the theme of “safety at the North Sea.” At VLIZ, the focus was on the latest insights in marine research and the innovative technologies employed by scientists.

Our planet is more than 70% ocean, yet much of the seafloor remains a mystery. The international Seabed 2030 Project, an initiative of The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO, is determined to change that. Its goal: by 2030, to deliver a complete, freely accessible map of the entire ocean floor. This is more than a scientific dream; a detailed seafloor map is vital for applications such as improved...

VLIZ climate researcher Alizée Roobaert is one of the finalists of the prestigious 2024 Chen Institute and Science Prize for AI Accelerated Research. Alizée developed an innovative AI solution to monitor oceanic climate dynamics. Her essay is published in today’s issue of Science online.

At the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), 9-13 June 2025, Mercator Ocean International unveiled the next-generation European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EU DTO), an advanced AI-powered platform designed to simulate and explore “what-if” scenarios that reveal the potential impacts of our decisions —past, present and future — on the marine environment and the socio-economical activities. As a major outcome...

Last month, the uncrewed vessel USV Gobelijn carried out the very first multi-day uncrewed mission in Belgian Part of the North Sea. This important milestone in the future of uncrewed marine operations in Belgium was made possible thanks to a strong and open partnership with the FPS Mobility and Transport, the Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services (MDK), the Joint Nautical Authority (GNA)...

The newly appointed EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis visited – at the invitation and in the presence of Minister Crevits, Governor Decaluwé and a delegation of European, federal, regional and local dignitaries – the research facilities of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and the Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food Research (ILVO) in Ostend on 20 January. In the...

In 2023, the first phase of the expansion of the Marine Station Ostend opened its doors. By 2024, all remaining planned upgrades were finalized. VLIZ replaced the old residential building at the Slipwaykaai with a new construction that integrates seamlessly with the expanded Marine Station.

As of 2023, Belgium is home to a total of 144 marine research groups, setting a new record. This is according to the annual inventory of the Belgian marine research landscape conducted by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). Belgian marine research stands out for its global collaboration and the open availability of scientific knowledge. With a total of 144 marine research groups (MRGs) in 2023...