A delegation from the Western Development Commission (WDC) will travel to Belgium this week as part of its multi-annual European Engagement Programme (EEP), which aims to strengthen the West and North-West’s international connections and capitalise on European opportunities for the region.
The three-day programme, taking place from 22-24 September 2026, brings together representatives from regional SMEs, Galway City Council, the Marine Institute, Donegal County Council, Kerry County Council and the Killybegs Marine Cluster. The delegation will visit key marine, maritime and blue economy organisations in Ostend and Ghent, including the Port of Ostend, VLIZ, Bluebridge, Ostend Science Park and Ghent University. The programme will provide opportunities to explore approaches to offshore wind, aquaculture, marine research, innovation and sustainable blue economy development.
The group will also engage directly with European institutions in Brussels, including the European Commission and European Parliament, with discussions covering opportunities such as the European Ocean Pact, BlueInvest and European support for ocean knowledge, skills and innovation. A key element of the Brussels programme will be engagement with the Irish College Leuven, a longstanding centre for Irish-European connections and policy engagement. Through its partnership with the Irish College Leuven, the WDC is strengthening links between the region and European networks, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, collaboration and greater regional visibility within Europe.
The programme reflects the WDC’s focus on connecting regional businesses, local authorities, research organisations and clusters with European partners and networks. In Ostend, the delegation will explore the ecosystem supporting marine and maritime innovation, including Bluebridge, which connects entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers, and Ostend Science Park, a hub bringing together marine and maritime businesses and research.
The WDC is proud to undertake this third year of our partnership with the Irish College connecting western regional stakeholders with European 🇪🇺 expertise. It’s gone from strength to strength and this year sees a focus on the blue economy including marine tech and renewable energies, which is driven by the stakeholders requests.
Head of Regional Development, Dr Ian Brannigan
The visit will also provide an opportunity to examine developments in offshore renewable energy and green hydrogen in Ostend, where initiatives are being developed around offshore wind and the production and use of green hydrogen.
The EEP visit is designed to support continued collaboration and knowledge exchange between the region and European partners, while identifying opportunities that can contribute to innovation, investment and sustainable economic development across the West and North-West of Ireland. Through initiatives such as its partnership with the Irish College Leuven, the WDC is committed to strengthening the region’s European profile and ensuring that businesses, communities and institutions across the West and North-West are well positioned to benefit from future European opportunities.
