Protect the coast with the forces of nature

At Blue Valley Ostend, we develop sustainable solutions for coastal protection and marine ecosystem restoration. They not only provide protection against the impact of climate change, but also improve diversity and make coastal zones liveable. Oyster reefs, mussel beds, nature-enhancing wind farms and dune restoration show how nature and technology can go hand in hand.

Our strengths

• Testing facilities and innovation acceleration
  Help in finding testing facilities, real-life offshore and onshore testing, laboratory support, finding partners and funding
  
  

• Wave-breaking and coastal protection using biogenic structures
  Establishing and testing oyster beds, seaweed beds, dune restoration, erosion protection
  
  

• Ecosystem restoration and biodiversity improvement
  Cultivation of native species, habitat development, monitoring ecological effects, pollution and microplastics impact analyses
  
  

• Innovative materials for hybrid solutions
  Research, development and testing of biopolymers, natural coatings, reef structures, erosion protection, validation of prototypes
  
  

• Water purification and pollution reduction
  Development of systems that purify water using biological processes (algae, seaweed, oysters), testing and scientific validation
  
  

• Advice and policy integration
  Policy advice, scientific underpinning, governance and stakeholder management

Your partners in Ostend

University of Ghent, KU Leuven, Flanders Marine Institute, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Agency for Maritime Services and Coast (Agentschap MDK), West Flanders Provincial Development Agency, De Blauwe Cluster, Flanders Hydraulics (Waterbouwkundig Laboratorium)