What is the Belgian Navy Hackathon 2024?
The Belgian Navy Hackathon was an Open Innovation event that brought together Navy personnel and civilian professionals, representing the entire Belgian maritime ecosystem. A total of 60 participants took part, including 15 Navy personnel.
On September 24 and 25, participants worked in small, multidisciplinary groups to imagine, develop, and pitch projects for solving concrete, urgent challenges identified jointly by the Navy and the maritime ecosystem.
Winning projects were presented during Captains of Industry Day at TECHNOFest 2024 on October 4.
4 challenges
Before the Navy Hackathon, in a series of workshops with the maritime ecosystem, four challenges were identified. These challenges were then tackled and solved during the event.
Solving these complex challenges required the knowledge and experience of dozens of participants, along with fresh perspectives, ingenuity, and the ability to think creatively and strategically.
Underwater infrastructure protection
With the accelerating sophistication and availability of drone technologies, increasing vulnerability of underwater infrastructure is a current and growing concern for both military and civilian organisations. While substantial resources are being deployed by NATO, military navies and other governmental organisations, coordination among all actors and federation of resources remains a challenge.
Anti-drone measures
Neither military nor civilian vessels, onshore or offshore infrastructure are currently sufficiently equipped to manage drone (UxV) threats of various kinds, from state-sponsored to criminal.
Public Awareness for Accelerating Recruitment
The diminished visibility and prestige of the maritime ecosystem, as well as limited knowledge and appreciation of the role of the military and civilian navies in the Belgian economy, complicate recruitment for a wide variety of roles across the maritime ecosystem: from sailors to engineers to software developers.
Resilience of the Logistical Infrastructure
Following years of budget cuts and focus on efficiency, military and civilian navies have optimised their operations to the maximum. However, this policy also means limited reserves and limited resilience of the infrastructure. Any irregularity, incident or adversary action (e.g. cybersecurity breach) can severely destabilise the infrastructure with dire consequences.
How the challenges were tackled
A carefully planned, fast-paced methodology was put together to help participants bring their “A” game at the Navy Hackathon. This included ideation workshops, expert sessions, and structured teamwork – the full package.
Schedule
What happened after the Belgian Navy Hackathon?
Dreaming up a cool new project is fun, but turning it into a real product? That required serious resources.
The great news: with the Navy’s connections, participants had those resources right at their fingertips.
Pitch winning ideas at TECHNOFest
The winning team for each of the four challenges presented their project to the entire audience during the Navy’s TECHNOFest Captains of Industry day, which included movers and shakers from the entire maritime ecosystem.
Participants received extra help sharpening their pitches from the organizing team of the Navy Hackathon, along with a sneak preview of the audience to ensure their pitches were relevant.
Continued access to the real deal
After pitching at TECHNOFest, participants continue to have access to the Navy innovation team, whose advice helps them further develop their projects.
Privileged access to the Belgian Navy made this event extra special. Held in Zeebrugge, the Belgian Navy Hackathon 2024 included at least one Navy staff member in each team—highly motivated, innovation-minded sailors, software developers, engineers, and officers. They shared their experience to help keep projects grounded in reality and assisted participants in presenting their work to the Jury.
Meet the experts
A group of outstanding experts were at hand to share their knowledge with participants, to fine-tune the closing pitch, and to guide throughout the event.
EXPERT
Commander Jan L. Gacas
Commander Jan L. Gacas currently serves as the Innovation Manager within the Belgian Navy, where he plays a pivotal role in driving the adoption of cutting-edge solutions to keep the Belgian Navy at the forefront of naval operations.
From February 2024 to June 2024, Commander Gacas served at the Operation Headquarters of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, a European mission dedicated to protecting maritime shipping from various threats, including those posed by unmanned systems.
EXPERT
Commander Philip von Eberhardt
Commander Philip von Eberhardt serves as a Governance and Policy expert in Maritime Operations at the COE CSW, facilitating cooperation on Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection across Europe.
From 2015 to 2019, he upgraded maintenance and repair operations for the German Navy, incorporating advanced technologies. Between 2020 and 2022, he focused on public-private cooperation models for port operations during Baltops.
Since 2022, he has led initiatives on Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection and NATO-EU maritime cooperation.
EXPERT
Commander Celeste Faes
Celeste Faes currently serves as the N1 at Zeebrugge, overseeing naval logistics operations for the Belgian Navy.
From August 2021 to June 2022, Faes completed a Staff course in Brussels, following her role as Training Manager for the naval component in Bruges from 2016 to 2021. Prior to that, she served as Head of Competency Management at Zeebrugge from 2012 to 2016.
Earlier in her career, Faes was the Supply Officer aboard BNS Godetia and led logistics services in Zeebrugge. She has also held roles in finance and administration within the Navy.
EXPERT
Lieutenant Robrecht Clerinx
Lieutenant Robrecht Clerinx joined the Belgian Navy after completing his studies at the Antwerp Maritime Academy. He has served aboard the frigates F931 Louise-Marie and F930 Leopold I, participating in anti-piracy operations and missions with the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
In 2017, he joined the U.S. Navy through a Personnel Exchange Program, serving aboard the USS Howard and teaching at the Surface Warfare Officers School. Upon returning, he took up roles in missile defense and ice navigation, leading Arctic missions with the Canadian Navy and the Belgian RV Belgica.
In 2023, he was appointed Head of Operations aboard F931 Louise-Marie.
EXPERT
Fleur de Belloy de Saint-Liénard
Fleur de Belloy, Manager Defense & Security at Sopra Steria Benelux, has 6 years’ experience in supporting the digital transformation in the defence sector. She worked 4 years on multiple assignments for the French Ministry of Defense and the French Armament Directorate on Big Data, 3D printing, Digitalisation of the Battlefield and IoT. She’s currently co-managing the Innovation as a Service Programme and an ongoing project for the Belgian Navy and CyberCommand.
EXPERT
Delphine Claeys
Delphine Claeys is the Innovation Manager for the Belgian Defense Staff, where she brings a fresh perspective to the transformation of Belgian Defense.
She joined Belgian Defence in 2024 as a civil servant, bringing experience in digitization and innovation from both the private and public sectors. With a background in linguistics and computing, Delphine calls herself a “Digital Humanist,” and is passionate about language-related technologies such as conversational AI.
Her goal is to drive innovation forward by leveraging her interdisciplinary skills and introducing new ideas to Belgian Defence.
EXPERT
Major Koen Ceulemans
Major Koen Ceulemans is the Innovation Officer for the Belgian Defence Land Component, where he supports bottom-up innovation initiatives and connects industry with military end-users.
He joined Belgian Defence in 1999 after attending the Royal Military Academy and serving in the Paracommando’s with deployments in Africa and the Middle East. Since 2020, he has promoted innovation within the Special Operations Regiment and now manages Belgian Defence’s “Innovation as a Service” contract.
Koen is passionate about technology, creativity, and fostering a culture of innovation within the military.
EXPERT
Lieutenant Commander Kelly Michel
Lieutenant Commander Kelly Michel currently serves as a military administrator at DGHR, following her completion of the Advanced Military Academy Course in 2024. She began her naval career in 1999, graduating from the Royal Military Academy in 2003. Michel has served on vessels like the Crocus, Lobelia, and Leopold I, and participated in key operations such as Western Eagle, UNIFIL, and Unified Protector.
She has held roles as Weapons & Supply Officer, Operations Officer, and Executive Officer, and commanded the minehunter Lobelia. In 2020, she became the personnel manager for the Navy in Zeebrugge and served as Commanding Officer of Narcis.
EXPERT
Jaimie Daelman
Jaimie Daelman currently serves as the Team Leader at VDAB Maritiem Opleidingscentrum Zeebrugge, where she plays a vital role in developing and enhancing maritime training programs to meet industry demands.
With over 16 years of experience, Jaimie has specialized in maritime and offshore techniques, focusing on maintaining quality and identifying new opportunities. Her extensive network spans defence, maritime and technical schools, companies, and government bodies, with a key emphasis on fisheries. Jaimie collaborates closely with leading partners, including DEME and Jan De Nul, who are pioneers in the maritime and offshore sectors.
EXPERT
Olmo Mezger
Olmo Mezger is an electrical and energy engineer with a PHD in energy economics, now working as an Innovation Manager at Elia Group. He’s all about bridging the gap between start-ups and big companies in the offshore energy space, focusing on pushing innovation forward. Before this, Olmo spent over a decade as a serial entrepreneur, co-founding Basking, where he led different teams from product development to customer success while securing major VC backing. With a strong grasp of European energy systems, he’s passionate about driving change in the sector and making the energy transition a reality.
EXPERT
Jeroen Van Overloop
Jeroen Van Overloop is a maritime security expert and policy advisor at the Belgian Ministry of Transport. His work focuses on maritime safety, especially in relation to offshore wind energy and its interaction with shipping. As a reserve officer in the Belgian Navy, Jeroen brings a strategic perspective to offshore renewable energy development, ensuring the coexistence of wind farms and maritime operations.
His contributions also extend to risk assessments for wind energy installations, aiming to balance maritime safety with renewable energy advancements.
EXPERT
Liesbet Van Herreweghe
Liesbet Van Herreweghe currently works in the HR Department after completing the Senior Officers Course at the Royal Military Academy.
She holds a Master’s in Commercial Sciences and Maritime Logistics and joined the Navy in 2009. Liesbet served as Officer of the Watch on the command and supply vessel GODETIA and as Officer of Operations on the minehunter PRIMULA.
In 2015, she became an instructor at the Nautical School, focusing on navigation and STCW certification, before specializing in minehunting at EGUERMIN (NATO School) in 2017. She was Executive Officer (XO) on the minehunter LOBELIA in 2020.
Meet the jury
Teams were evaluated by experts, both militart and civilian
EXPERT JURY
Admiral Tanguy Botman
Rear Admiral Tanguy Botman joined the Belgian Defence in 1983, commanding several Belgian minehunters and frigates, and serving on the French helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc. He held staff roles at Admiral Benelux in Den Helder and NATO Maritime Force Headquarters in Toulon, with deployments on the French Aircraft Carrier Strike Group. In 2013, he commanded the frigate Leopold I during anti-piracy operations and maritime missions in West Africa. He became Chief of Staff of the Belgian Navy in 2020 and led Operation AGENOR in 2022. He assumed command of the Belgian Navy on 26 June 2023.
EXPERT JURY
Commander s.g. Michel Eyckmans
Michel Eyckmans is a 30+ year navy reserve officer and the current Navy Innovation Officer, as well as a computer science engineer with a long career in high-tech R&D. In civilian life, he spent 16 years developing design methodology at a leading micro-electronics lab in Belgium. He then managed innovative R&D in telecommunication and security software for major automotive OEMs. In his naval career, he has worked on numerous technology-related assignments and joined the Navy’s innovation cell in 2023.
EXPERT JURY
Hélène Smidt
Hélène joined the Royal Belgian Shipowners Association (KBRV) in 2019, focusing on environmental and sustainable finance topics within the maritime industry. She also leads two innovation think tanks, MIDC and MASS, which bring together stakeholders from across the maritime value chain, technology providers and governmental bodies to share technical/legal knowledge on a bi-monthly basis. Additionally, Hélène is passionate about raising awareness of unintentional ship strikes with whales and exploring how technology can help prevent them.
EXPERT JURY
Deepak Mehta
Innovation Ecosystem Developer at Movin’On Cluster for Maritime and Port Innovation.
Deepak Mehta builds innovation ecosystems for sustainable mobility in an ecosystem of European corporates focussing on Maritime and Port Innovations. Deepak focuses on developing complete coalitions of the willing on key areas of innovation.
Focussing on the importance of Maritime and Ports in the larger transition of Europe and bringing partners together to tackle key challenges together from both public and private sector but also engaging with Defence for key challenges like resilience and cyber security in maritime and ports.
EXPERT JURY
Commander Denis Dimanche
Commander Denis Dimanche currently serves as executive officer of the Belgian frigate Louise-Marie. From March to June 2024, Commander Dimanche served in the Operation EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, a European mission dedicated to protecting maritime shipping from various threats, particularly those posed by unmanned systems.
He previously worked in the human resources department as a synthesis officer and contributed to the protection of critical infrastructures at sea during his command of the coastal patrol vessel Pollux.
EXPERT JURY
Céline Mortier
Céline Mortier is the CEO of Bogerd Martin and its software division, Chart Track, where she leads digital innovation and sustainability efforts in the maritime industry. Under her leadership, Bogerd Martin has become a leader in digital navigation and fleet management solutions, focusing on reducing fuel consumption and enhancing regulatory compliance.
Mortier has also developed tools like the Carbon Intensity Indicator Dashboard to improve fleet efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. A strong advocate for gender equality, she serves as president of WISTA Belgium, promoting the inclusion of women in leadership and advancing equal opportunities in the maritime sector.
EXPERT JURY
Geert Potters
Dr. Geert Potters is the Head of the Research Department at Antwerp Maritime Academy, where he leads the AMACORT research group, focusing on corrosion, microbial corrosion, and fouling. His team has established pilot installations in all major Flemish ports and is involved in projects funded by Flemish, European, and NATO grants.
He graduated maxima cum laude with a master’s in Biology from the University of Antwerp in 1998, followed by a PhD in plant stress physiology in 2002. Dr. Potters advocates for industry-driven research and collaboration between academia and the maritime sector.
EXPERT JURY
Piet Opstaele
Piet Opstaele is the CEO of the Blue Cluster, driving the development of a sustainable blue economy in the North Sea. Under his leadership, the Blue Cluster, a network of around 200 companies and 10+ knowledge institutions, fosters breakthrough innovations in Flanders, positioning it as a leader in the global blue economy.
Piet began his career in the 1990s at Tele Atlas, later acquired by TomTom, and went on to run a consulting firm in the energy sector. He also played a key role in the digital transformation of the Antwerp-Bruges port platform.
He holds a master’s in spatial planning and history, along with postgraduate degrees in energy and environmental management, and an MBA from Vlerick Business School.
EXPERT JURY
Filip Maertens
Filip Maertens is a tech entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert with a focus on AI and mobile technologies. He founded Securax and Argus Labs, applying his deep knowledge of cybersecurity in sectors like banking and critical infrastructure.
Currently a Managing Partner at Katalyte, Filip’s work revolves around integrating AI and IoT solutions for enterprises. He’s passionate about driving innovation in tech and enjoys mountaineering and CrossFit in his free time
EXPERT JURY
Frank Gielen
Frank Gielen is the Education Director at InnoEnergy, where he plays a key role in driving digital and blended learning initiatives, particularly in sustainable energy. With a strong background in R&D, software technology, and venture capital, Frank previously held technical and management positions at AT&T Bell Labs and Alcatel.
He also served as VP of Software Engineering at Tellium, guiding the company through a successful NASDAQ IPO. His current focus is on strengthening links between industry and education to support Europe’s energy transition
Who took part?
The Belgian Navy Hackathon embraced inclusivity and diversity, with participants from various backgrounds and levels of experience taking part.
The entire maritime ecosystem
The entire maritime ecosystem was represented. Participants included ship owners, shipbuilding companies, and representatives from industries like dredging, logistics, and offshore infrastructure. Port authorities, technology providers (from mature companies to startups), defence contractors, researchers from universities and colleges, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations, all took part. Navy staff also played an active role in the event. Imagine what participants could learn in just two days by collaborating with such a diverse group!
Were present:
Dozens of organizations from across the maritime ecosystem participated.
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