Connectivity
Ecosystem
North Sea
Connecting the North Sea for a smarter, sustainable future
Initiated by Ecosystem Services
About CENS, and why now?
Connectivity Ecosystem North Sea (CENS) is a collaborative consortium and working group of public and private stakeholders, committed to enabling fit-for-purpose, sustainable, and affordable connectivity across the North Sea and beyond.
CENS brings together a dynamic ecosystem of organizations, including industry, government, and research, working collectively to strengthen digital infrastructure and build trusted data spaces. Together, we empower smart, data-driven solutions that support a resilient, connected, and sustainable maritime future.
While we draw inspiration from natural ecosystems, in this context “ecosystem” refers to the network of interdependent actors who co-create the future of offshore connectivity.
CENS focuses on the Dutch sector of the North Sea, while actively involving partners from surrounding countries to address shared challenges and unlock joint opportunities across borders and sectors.
Strategic Pillars
To guide collaboration across the ecosystem, we’ve defined four strategic pillars that shape our ambitions and activities. These pillars are not yet standalone platforms, but rather focus areas that help coordinate initiatives, align investments, and prioritize efforts and help to translate ambition into action.
Information
- Providing an online hub to share (technical) knowledge, best practices and market insights
- Highlight relevant ecosystem events and market developments
- Share regulatory updates
Action
- Organize curated events, field explorations and validation sprints.
- Connect (testing) concepts and stakeholders to existing labs (like RFNS, Campus@Sea, Drone Valley).
- Developing frameworks that support trusted, approved
Research
- Map and prioritize North Sea connectivity use cases.
- Support pilots and co-create frameworks & standards using existing testbeds.
- Explore the shared digital infrastructure needed to support digital solutions, including data requirements
Business
- Identify cross-sector opportunities (like energy, shipping, ecology).
- Highlight funding instruments and EU growth funds.
- Accelerate partnerships and scaling of market-ready solutions.
Our Annual Program
CENS offers a structured annual program in which companies, knowledge institutes, and governments can actively participate. This includes thematic sessions, working groups, field explorations and collaborative project development, designed to drive tangible outcomes across all four platforms. Priorities are always desired based on opportunities and input from the consortium. This agile approach makes us adaptable to the fast-changing world
Scope and positioning
CENS is not about building new field labs, but about mapping needs, facilitating validation, and guiding the implementation of connectivity solutions by leveraging existing infrastructure and programs. In other words, connecting relevant bubbles to move steps forward.
Cens is doing so by positioning itself as:
- An Integrator of national and international initiatives such as RWS, CFNS, Campus@Sea, and the wider Digital North Sea ecosystem,
- A Driver for harmonising use cases, standards and certification processes,
- A Catalyst for innovation aligned with European missions and North Sea data strategies,
- And a Business Accelerator connecting stakeholders with funding, market intelligence and growth networks,
CENS ensures that the North Sea becomes a showcase for sustainable, digital maritime innovation.
How We Work
We believe meaningful impact emerges when the ecosystem directs itself. Our approach is guided by the following ecosystem collaboration principles created by the consortium:
Shared Vision, Shared Value
All participants align around a long-term, collective objective, creating value for all, not just one organisation.
Trust through Transparency
Honest, open interaction underpins our collaboration: we share intentions, progress, and learning so every partner can rely on the others.
Mutual Advantage
Every partner should both give and gain: we support reciprocity so that your involvement with CENS directly benefits your organisation as well as the ecosystem.
Open, Fair Platform
We operate on interoperable, semi‑open infrastructure and frameworks, enabling innovation, lowering barriers and encouraging diverse contribution.
Adaptive Self‑Organisation
While we maintain shared structure and direction, governance is light and flexible. The network organises itself around the opportunities it identifies.
Cross‑Sector Interoperability
We build for connection: systems, best practices and workflows that work across industries (maritime, energy, ecology) and geographies.
Resilient, Scalable Digital Foundations
We design for change and scale: digital infrastructure and data‑spaces that flex with new use‑cases, new partners and evolving requirements.
Participants
CENS unites technology innovators, offshore operators, regulators, researchers and governmental initiatives.
Why join CENS?
Industry & solution providers
(Suppliers and b2b)
- Early insights into offshore needs & regulations.
- Opportunities to test, validate, certify solutions together
- Build partnerships that speed market entry.
- Optimise the business case by collaborating as business ecosystem.
- Gain visibility in EU missions & growth fund initiatives.
Knowledge institutes & researchers
- Access to real-world use cases & industry data.
- Collaborate on frameworks & standards.
- Fuel research & publications, shape policy directions.
Governments & regulators
(orchestrator or reducer)
- Tackle regulatory hurdles together.
- Safeguard national interests (security, ecology, resilience).
- Strengthen geopolitical & economic positioning.
Other ecosystems & multi-sector clusters
(orchestrator, consumer or producer)
- Cross-pollinate with verticals from biodiversity to energy transition.
- Align efforts, avoid duplicate pilots, boost funding chances.
Get Involved
Whether you’re an offshore operator, government body, startup or research institute:join us to shape the future of smart, sustainable and affordable connectivity on theNorth Sea.
- Participate in thematic sessions, working groups, pilots and our curated annual programme.
- Explore partnerships, accelerate innovations and unlock new market opportunities.
- Contribute to shaping data spaces and the digital backbone of the North Sea.
Upcoming Events
30 Oct Mark Beermann and Anke Kuipers of Ecosystem Services will give a presentation
at RDI on 30 October 2025
at RDI on 30 October 2025
RDI has invited Mark Beermann and Anke Kuipers of Ecosystem Services to give a presentation at their company event where 120 employees will come together to explore collaboration and the importance of ecosystem thinking and acting, similar to what we have been doing together with the CENS consortium.
News
