About us

Mission

Marine@UGent, founded in 2012, is a community of researchers in over 70 research groups across 10 faculties of Ghent University. The consortium contributes to about one third of all marine and maritime publications in the Belgian research landscape.

The core missions of Marine@UGent are:

1. Research Excellence: Our community enables Ghent University to enhance its research capabilities and sustain excellence in marine and maritime research. Our consortium facilitates groundbreaking studies, transdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation in areas such as marine biology, oceanography, aquaculture, coastal management, and maritime engineering. This investment ensures that Ghent University attracts top researchers and strengthens its reputation as a leading institution in this field.
2. Addressing Research Gaps: Marine@UGent fills a crucial gap in Ghent University's research by connecting researchers across disciplines and departments and offering them core facilities for collaborative research. This provides unique opportunities for conducting large-scale experiments and studies in a marine environment and further valorising research results at a higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL). As such, Ghent University overcomes limitations inherent to monodisciplinary research and expand its research scope to address urgent marine and maritime challenges.
3. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Marine@UGent promotes interdisciplinary collaboration by bringing together researchers from different faculties, research groups, and disciplines. We are more than just a clustering in one field. This collaboration enables a holistic approach to marine and maritime research, combining expertise in engineering, biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, and other research fields. As such, Ghent University fosters collaboration between disciplines, unlocking new insights, and promoting innovative solutions for complex marine problems that require multidimensional perspectives. Our open approach makes us available and accessible to all marine and maritime researchers at Ghent University and stakeholders.
4. Industry and Societal Impact: The marine and maritime sectors play a crucial role in the global economy and sustainable development. Through the establishment of Marine@UGent, Ghent University makes a clear choice to contribute to the advancement of these sectors by conducting research that addresses key industrial challenges and societal needs. We support innovation, technology transfer, and the development of sustainable practices in aquaculture, offshore energy, coastal management, and other relevant industries. We achieve to have a positive impact on regional and national economies, create employment, and support sustainable resource management, particularly in the local ecosystem in Oostende.
5. Collaborative Synergy: Marine@UGent is deeply integrated into the research ecosystem. It collaborates with existing research infrastructures and institutes. This fosters synergies, promotes knowledge exchange, and maximizes the utilization of resources and expertise. This positions Ghent University as the only knowledge institution in close proximity with relevant research infrastructure for marine and maritime research nationally and internationally, in a unique and privileged position with respect to these partners. This investment will not only enhance the collaborative ecosystem but also serve as a catalyst for attracting external funding. Consequently, Ghent University positions itself as a key player in the marine research community.
6. Education and Training Opportunities: Investing in the M@UG Core Facility (CF) not only benefits research activities but also creates opportunities for education and training in the context of Lifelong Learning. The CF can support specialized marine and maritime workshops, postgraduates, and training programs, as well as provide practical training, internships, and research opportunities for students interested in these fields. By investing in these advanced facilities, Ghent University prepares students to tackle real challenges, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary for careers in the broad blue economy.
7. State of the art marine and maritime research infrastructure: Through dedicated core facility, Marine@UGent aims to remain a frontrunner in providing unique marine and maritime research infrastructure. Through its steering group, advisory board, and collaborations with both other Ghent University Core Facilities led by community members and the local ecosystem, it will focus on unique infrastructure. Where necessary, it will enter into partnerships to maximize the use of existing infrastructure or support other infrastructure applications if they are better housed elsewhere. As such, Marine@Ugent offers all stakeholders access through the one-stop-shop principle able to tackle projects comprehensively from start to finish.
8. A Ghent University global initiative: Marine@UGent does not only transcend department and research boundaries but also national borders. With a headquarters in Ostend and a branch institute in South Korea as well as connections with relevant stakeholders in Australia, Africa and South East Asia, it leverages itself as an international brand able to contribute to global solutions in marine and maritime research.

Team

Community

Marine@UGent stands as a dynamic community of over 800 researchers, distributed across 70 research groups spanning 10 faculties at Ghent University. The consortium serves as the nexus for Ghent University's marine and maritime research expertise, fostering interfaculty collaboration and transdisciplinary initiatives.  Discover the research groups and faculties within the consortium by clicking the button below.

Discover the Marine@UGent community

Branches

Ghent

South Korea