Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), founded in 1999, is an autonomous institute with the legal status of a non-profit organisation. VLIZ promotes accumulation of marine knowledge and excellence in marine research in Flanders. The marine research areas are the ocean and seas, the coast and the tidal systems. The target groups for knowledge accumulation are the marine research community as well as educational institutions, the general public, policymakers and the industry (within the scope of the blue economy).
The six strategic objectives of VLIZ can be summarised as follows:
initiate, support, promote and implement innovative and multidisciplinary marine research for the benefit of, in collaboration with or complementary to Flemish and international marine research groups;
promote the national and international image of Flemish marine research;
serve as a national and international point of contact in the field of marine research;
promote ocean literacy in Flanders and marine research visibility among the general public;
provide tailored scientific data, information, knowledge and insights to the Flemish marine research community, the blue economy and policymakers with regard to marine matters;
deploy and manage large marine research infrastructure, including research vessels, a marine station and the Flemish Marine Data Centre.
In order to accomplish its strategic objectives, VLIZ fulfills a number of 'core activities':
supporting marine scientific research by providing research equipment and infrastructure (e.g. research vessel 'Simon Stevin'); operating and managing the VLIZ data center; exhibiting an extensive collection of marine literature in the VLIZ library;
combining the scanning for challenges and opportunities for marine research in Flanders with active research, including in collaboration with industry;
supporting a sustainable and scientifically founded policy for the coastal zone, the marine areas and the adjacent estuaries by providing policy-relevant products and services to the marine research community, policy makers and industry;
managing an information desk sharing qualitative sea-related information with various target groups (young and old, professional and general public, local and international, educational and research community) and in various existing and innovative formats;
taking up mandates to represent the Flemish marine research community in the international marine scientific circles, and formal networks related to the Blue Economy;
accommodating and supporting international organisations for the Flemish government (UNESCO/IOC Project Office for IODE, EMB secretariat, EMODnet secreatariat, JPI Oceans secretariat Brussels);
(co-)organising the Flemish contribution to marine research infrastructures of the ESFRI list, such as LifeWatch, ICOS and EMBRC.
Kane, I.O.; Vanderlinden, J.P.; Baztan, J.; Touili, N.; Claus, S. (2014). Communicating risk through a DSS: A coastal risk centred empirical analysis. Coast. Eng. 87: 240-248. https://hdl.handle.net/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2014.01.007, more
(2013). Coastal flooding: innovative ways to mitigate the risks. VLIZ/KU Leuven/CETMEF: Oostende & Leuven. 11 pp., more
(2013). Submersion côtière: des moyens innovants d'atténuation du risque. VLIZ/KU Leuven/CETMEF: Oostende & Leuven. 11 pp., more
(2013). Kust bescherming: slimme ideeën, duurzame oplossingen. THESEUS Innovative technologies for safer European coasts in a changing climate. VLIZ/KU Leuven/NIOZ: Oostende, Leuven & Yerseke. 20 pp., more
(2013). Coastal protection: smart ideas, sustainable solutions. THESEUS Innovative technologies for safer European coasts in a changing climate. VLIZ/KU Leuven/NIOZ: Oostende, Leuven & Yerseke. 20 pp., more
(2012). Coastal flooding: are we at risk? THESEUS Innovative technologies for safer European coasts in a changing climate. VLIZ/KU Leuven/UOP: Oostende, Leuven & Plymouth. 16 pp., more
(2012). Inondazioni costiere: siamo a rischio? THESEUS tecnologie innovative per coste europee più sicure in un clima chye cambia. VLIZ/KU Leuven/UniBO: Oostende, Leuven & Bologna. 16 pp., more
Kane, I.O.; Vanderlinden, J.P.; Baztan, J.; Touili, N.; Claus, S. (2014). Communicating risk through a DSS: A coastal risk centred empirical analysis. Coast. Eng. 87: 240-248. 
