Facilitating research and real-life testing
The unique interaction between marine and maritime business and research is what sets Ostend Science Park apart. Our research and real-life testing facilities ensure that you can market high-end products faster.
Curious to know what research expertise and infrastructure is available at Ostend Science Park and which solutions are offered for major Blue Economy challenges?
Get access to onsite world renown marine and maritime researchers, research groups and facilities of Ghent University at Ostend Science Park. Also, get in touch with the residents in Bluebridge to connect to other offsite research and testing facilities and to link your business with the most suitable communities, consortia and liaison networks within Ghent University to provide tailor-made solutions for your challenges.
Onsite research and testing facilities
Multispecies Hatchery
Finding suitable starting material is a major challenge in aquaculture. Our lab combines expert knowledge with high technological hatchery facilities to boost your aquaculture activities. We offer innovative hatchery techniques, integrated RAS systems as well as ecosystem-based water management approaches, and so much more.
This lab will be operational in 2024, but already open for R&D project proposals
Saltwater Wave Flume
Tidal currents and waves have a major impact on coastal towns and blue economic activities. Our facility offers a unique salwater wave flume that allows to study the interactions between waves and man-made structures, including live marine organisms (e.g. plants, fish) in your setup.
This lab will be operational in 2024, but already open for R&D project proposals
Biotechnology-Biodiscovery Lab
From pollution to solution, our multi-functional lab offers a wide range of technologies to boost your blue economy activities. This includes state-of-the-art biotechnological facilities develop new marine natural products, chemical synthesis of new polymers for industrial applications, micro- and nano-plastic research.
This lab will be operational in 2024, but already open for R&D project proposals
Applied Ecology Lab
Marine ecosystems are complex environments where economic activities can impact biodiversity. Our wet lab facilities offer infrastructure to understand human and other impacts on marine ecosystems including temperature controlled mesocosm facilities, state-of-the-art incubation rooms for algae and plants.
This lab will be operational in 2024, but already open for R&D project proposals
E-cube
The E-cube is a zero energy test house for researchers developing energy efficient building components and systems. It is a full scale test facility, operated by the Research Group Building Physics of Ghent University, to investigate innovations designed for the zero energy buildings of the future in realistic climatic conditions. Recent research contributes to the development of energy efficient ventilation systems, and investigates the influence of environmental parameters (wind speed, direction, solar irradiance, temperature, relative humidity) on the indoor air quality with particular focus on volatiles released by building materials.
Coastal & Ocean Basin - COB
Next door to Ostend Science Park, in the Flanders Maritime Laboratory, all types of scale models of offshore structures, structures for coastal protection, floating wind turbines, wave energy converters, and much more can be tested in the wave basin to study their design and behavior under the influence of waves, currents and wind. The Coastal and Ocean Basin is a collaboration between UGent, KU Leuven and Flanders Hydraulics Research.
Towing tank
At Flanders Maritime Laboratory, the fully automated shallow water towing tank installation (175mx20mx1m) will test ship models up to 8 meter long in both captive and free running mode. These tests will help to understand the manoeuvring behavior of ships in shallow and confined water.
Offsite research and testing facilities
Blue Accelerator
The Blue Accelerator test platform, just outside the port of Ostend, offers a broad range of possibilities to develop and test new Blue Energy products and technologies in real life sea conditions. The test platform consists of a broad range of sensors, measurement equipment and telecommunication systems in a living lab setting. The platform allows testing in different marine and maritime research and innovation domains.
Facilitating: we link your company with our research teams
Marine@Ugent
An interfaculty research consortium consolidating all marine and maritime expertise within Ghent University, through one single point of contact. Get in touch to find our researchers working on marine and maritime topics.
EnerGhentIC
The interdisciplinary community of Ghent University researchers working on the energy challenge. This cross-disciplinary business development center brings together about 180 Ghent University researchers and focuses on the application of sustainable energy technologies with the explicit goal to disseminate research results and to bring them to the market.
BLUEGent
The Industrial Research Fund BLUeGent business development center unites more than 30 research groups which perform research in the Blue Growth domain. Together they aim to translate their academic research and expertise into business solutions and applications. Your single point of contact for blue growth R&D ideas or your business proposals.
Power-Link
Power-link is the energy transition platform of Ghent University, focusing on local and European carbon reduction and energy transition projects. It establishes links between industry and research, initiates, coordinates and supports scientific research projects on sustainable and renewable energy. Your partner for coordination, administration and communication and/or for establishing partnerships in these type of projects.
Overall contact person for Blue Research at Ostend Science Park
Professor Jana Asselman
+32 59 417737
Jana.asselman@ugent.be
News
Visit delegation of Flanders Investment & Trade
Ostend Science Park welcomed a delegation from Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) for a remarkable Day of Blue Economy in Oostende. We had the pleasure of greeting the Trade & Invest Deputies and witnessing a day filled with fruitful interactions and networking.
Read more All news
The historic High Seas Treaty: interview with Professor Jana Asselman
After 15 years of discussion, the member states of the United Nations have reached an agreement to protect the oceans. By 2030, 30% of the high seas must be protected. Now barely 1% is protected.
How realistic is this agreement? And is it enough?
Radio 1 had an interview with Jana Asselman, professor in Marine Biotechnology.