From May 20 to 22, 2025, the STORM_SAFE Annual meeting takes place in Ostend, Belgium. This event (and the STORM_SAFE project overall) brings together experts from across the North Sea Region to tackle a challenge that’s both urgent and invisible: outdated software in critical water infrastructure.
Sophie D’hondt, Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM): “Ostend knows the risks of the sea. From medieval floods to the 1953 storm surge that damaged thousands of homes, and even the heavy rainfalls of 2021; this city has seen what water can do when defenses fail.”
Many of our sea dykes, storm surge barriers, locks, and sluices now rely on old software. If that software stops working, the impact could be serious. Not just here, but across Europe. That’s why STORM_SAFE is important. This EU-funded project helps improve the digital resilience of our water systems. With 11 partners from 6 countries, we’re testing new strategies, upgrading outdated systems, and working side by side with infrastructure owners and universities.
We focus on real-life solutions for real-life infrastructure, from the Netherlands to Sweden, from France to Belgium. Together, we’re making sure that the invisible software behind our climate defenses is strong, smart, and ready for the future.
