From June 9th to 13th, more than 14,000 participants from 175 countries, including 75 heads of state and government, gathered for the UN Ocean Conference in Nice. They had one goal in mind: to secure the future of our ocean. Flanders and VLIZ were present with a robust delegation, bringing substantial expertise in marine science, innovation, and coastal policy. On the first day of the Ocean Conference, Belgium officially ratified the historic Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. This new ‘ocean treaty’ protects biodiversity in the high seas – beyond national borders – and is a major step forward for international ocean governance.

The importance of marine research and innovation is greater than ever before, driven by the ocean's key role in addressing major societal challenges. The Belgian marine research and innovation landscape is taking an increasingly prominent role with high-quality, internationally oriented research at the interface between people, the environment and the economy.