The  Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) acts as the coordination and information platform for marine and coastal-related scientific research in Flanders and serves as an international contact point. VLIZ is a government-funded but autonomous institute with the legal status of a non-profit organisation. VLIZ has set up a strong collaborative network through cooperation agreements with Flemish research groups and administrations, and participates in numberous national and international networks.

VLIZ is the Belgian partner in ASSEMBLE Plus and also offers access services via its MSO station.

The core activities of VLIZ are: to provide the research vessel 'Simon Stevin' and other research equipment and infrastructure for common use, via the MSO; to run the data centre for the management and exchange of marine data and information; to expand the library, developing a collection of marine and coastal scientific literature; to manage an information desk and to provide policy-relevant scientific information.

VLIZ will offer transnational and virtual access (TA and VA); will lead NA2; and will participate in all networking activities and JRA3 and JRA4.