For our Belgian offshore wind industry to stay as competitive as they currently are, they need to fully enter the emerging and promising market of floating wind. But to do so, they require a competent and long-term academic base, which BEL-Float will provide: a select group of junior researchers, and their surrounding ecosystems, will, in close collaboration with industry, acquire knowledge and skills to face the most urgent challenges in floating wind. A unique bonus is our extensive cooperation with Norwegian universities, strengthening the Belgian-Norwegian energy alliance.