10 years of EMBRC Belgium: Driving force for innovation in marine research

On December 9th, the 10th anniversary of the Belgian branch of the European Marine Biological Resource Centre was celebrated at the Institute of Natural Sciences. Over the past decade, the initiative has significantly strengthened access to high-quality research infra-structure, expertise, and international collaborations. The anniversary day provided the ideal opportunity to reflect on this impact and to set a course for the coming years, emphasizing collaboration, sustainability, and scientific innovation.

The Belgian branch of the European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC-BE) looked back on ten years of work on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. EMBRC-BE is part of the pan-European research network EMBRC-ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium), which aims to increase our knowledge of the biodiversity and functioning of European coastal seas. EMBRC-ERIC supports and streamlines marine research throughout Europe by providing researchers with access to highly equipped laboratories in marine stations and research institutions.

The marine environment covers 71% of our planet’s surface and is crucial for all life on Earth and a wide range of human activities. Seas and oceans produce approximately half of all the oxygen we breathe. They store large amounts of CO2, thus buffering the effects of climate change. At the same time, they are a source of food, energy, and employment for millions of people worldwide.

“The marine environment is also increasingly being used as a location for renewable energy production or aquaculture. It’s therefore crucial to fully understand how the marine ecosystem works and how we can sustainably use marine resources,” explains Jan Vanaverbeke of the Institute of Natural Sciences and Ghent University, who was involved in launching EMBRC-BE.