Sector | Marine sector Nature conservation

Government authorities and scientific institutes involved in the protection of natural marine ecosystems will find here the answer to “what can ILVO do for me?”. You’ll get a brief overview of relevant expertise, analyses, infrastructure, and the professional approach that characterizes ILVO. You can contact the Marine Living Lab for specific services and questions regarding possible collaborations.

Go to Marine Living Lab

What does ILVO do?

How does ILVO work?

ILVO strives for optimal use of the resources of the sea, with maximum added value, and far-reaching sustainability in the chain. Spatial planning and monitoring of the marine environment is important here.

Your point of contact: Marine Living Lab

ILVO’s Marine Living Lab strives for accelerated and sustainable innovation in the blue sectors, according to the principle of co-creation. ILVO listens to you, analyzes your question or challenge, and – together with you – searches for a (high-tech) solution and a concrete project, as well as suitable partners and funding. ILVO scientifically follows up on the implementation of the joint project.

Your ILVO guarantee

  • Scientifically substantiated solutions
  • Individual and/or co-creative supervision of innovation trajectories
  • Confidential handling of your question
  • Clearly interpretable results that can be used in daily practice
  • Technological support for various business processes

Specialized research infrastructure

  • Accredited lab for the analysis of fauna living in the soil (macrobenthos)
  • Lab for analysis of fish and fauna on the seabed (epibenthos)
  • Accredited lab for chromatographic analyses
  • Space and expertise for the development of methods, measuring devices, and experimental trial tanks tailored to specific research projects
  • Access to research vessels: ILVO cooperates closely with VLIZ and the Operational Direction for the Natural Environment (OD Natuur) for sampling at sea, using the research vessels Simon Stevin and Belgica, respectively.

Wide network

ILVO is an active member of The Blue Cluster and of the Covenant for a Sustainable Fishing Industry (NL). On an international level, ILVO works closely with ICES, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

All ILVO expertises at your service

ILVO works in an interdisciplinary fashion and has a network of living labs that work closely together. A problem or question is therefore examined from many different angles by ILVO experts from different disciplines. This is guaranteed by ILVO's broad and systematic approach, together with the typical openness of the ILVO culture.

Contact an expert

See also