Blue Valley Ostend connects businesses, researchers, and public authorities within the blue economy, with Ostend as its operating base.
Ostend is the ultimate Belgian seaside city and an important European hub for marine and maritime innovation. We harness the power of the sea to shape our future. The blue economy provides solutions for climate challenges, creates new jobs and boosts innovation. For Ostend, this is a policy priority, fully in line with the Europese Green Deal and the EU-strategie voor duurzame blauwe groei.
With Blue Valley, we invest in collaboration, talent, knowledge and a high-quality infrastructure, in this way creating an environment where you as a company, research partner or business person can develop, experiment and grow internationally.
Organise your Blue Economy conference in Ostend
Conferences & Business events
Ostend is Belgium’s leading hub for the blue economy and offers an inspiring setting for conferences and business events focused on maritime innovation. Through Blue Valley Oostende, you gain access to a strong network of companies, research institutions, and experts.
Meet in Ostend provides practical support with venues, ticketing, invoicing, and event organisation. This allows you to focus on the content, while we help ensure your conference delivers real impact.
News
What is the blue economy?
The blue economy encompasses all economic activities associated with oceans, seas and coasts. Within it, marine resources are used sustainably to:
- Stimulate economic growth
- Create new jobs
- Improve people’s wellbeing
- While protecting the health of marine ecosystems
Examples of the blue economy
How Blue Valley Ostend can help your company
Whether you are a business, a start-up or a research institution, Blue Valley will support you every step of the way:
Set up and grow
We will help you find the perfect location in Ostend, arrange permits or licences and direct you to local, Flemish and European funding opportunities.
Collaborate and network
Connect with local and international partners, build consortia and gain access to infrastructure and testing facilities.
Innovate and develop
Develop and scale up your ideas with the help of knowledge institutions, shared research and logistics infrastructure, testing facilities, training programmes and relevant policy and funding frameworks.
Talent and expertise
Collaborate with education and research centres, find young talent through work placements and training programmes, and take part in knowledge platforms, theme-based working groups and matchmaking.
International visibility
Put your organisation on the international map. Blue Valley Ostend will help you grow with powerful communication, targeted campaigns and participation in international conferences and trade missions. This way, you will embed your company in a region with ambitious plans for the blue economy and a sustainable coastline with international pull.
