Los Angeles, California Oct 24, 2025 – During the Belgian Economic Mission to the West Coast of the United States, presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium, a global first was formalized: a pioneering partnership between AxonJay, the Belgian deep-tech scale-up employing AI for planetary intelligence, and the Deheyn Lab of the distinguished Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego).
The accord, titled “The Invisible Microplastics: Making them Visible and Actionable to Address a Global Crisis,” signals the commencement of a new era in environmental science.
For the first time, AI and advanced microscopic imaging are being integrated to render the dispersal of microplastics — the imperceptible threat in our oceans, atmosphere, soil, and bodies — discernible, quantifiable, and predictable on a global scale.
Following the signing, Princess Astrid personally extended an invitation to both entities to the Royal Palace, acknowledging this extraordinary Belgian-American collaboration with worldwide implications.
From Imperceptible to Evident
The Deheyn Lab is internationally acclaimed for its fluorescence imaging technology, which causes microplastics and microfibers to glow with unmatched precision. AxonJay’s Self-Machine-Learning Platform, developed in Belgium, subsequently enables the automated analysis of vast quantities of microscopic data, pinpointing correlations and forecasting behavioral patterns — in real-time, globally, and autonomously.
Together, they are establishing the initial globally scalable benchmark for microplastic research.
What was once an unseen dilemma now translates into concrete, visual, and policy-relevant data.
A Partnership with Worldwide Aspirations
This collaboration is scheduled to span at least five years and encompasses:
— Publishing a minimum of ten joint scientific articles in esteemed journals;
— Collective participation at international forums such as Davos and COP, where AxonJay & Scripps will host a panel at the System Shifters Conference
— Forming an international network for plastic pollution investigation
— Joint fundraising efforts with governments, foundations, and industries to expand this work internationally.
Its objective is to accelerate discoveries, foster more robust policies, and facilitate ecosystem recovery — utilizing data as a tool against contamination.
Statements
“This collaboration underscores that Belgian deep tech can achieve a global impact. Thanks to our self-learning AI, scientists no longer need to manually count plastic particles — they can concentrate on the larger inquiries: the origins of microplastics, their spread mechanisms, and how we can contain them?”
— Jean-Philippe M.L. Schepens van Thiel, Founder & CEO, AxonJay
“Addressing a problem begins with perceiving it clearly. Through this alliance, we can literally visualize what remained invisible — heightened awareness alters everything.”
— Dr. Dimitri Deheyn, Principal Investigator, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
A Global Innovation with Belgian Origins
What originated as a meeting during an economic mission has evolved into a boundary-pushing partnership that unifies science, technology, and royal foresight. A symbolic juncture where Belgium, through AxonJay, reinforces its innovative capability and ecological commitment on the international stage.
To quantify is to comprehend — and the catalyst for all transformation.
Concerning AxonJay
is a Belgian deep-tech company based in Brussels, operating at the intersection of AI, data intelligence, and sustainable innovation.
AxonJay monitors over 80% of all global companies and predicts in real time which are prepared to buy, upgrade, relocate, innovate, restructure, merge, or expand.
Every organization leaves behind digital footprints.
AxonJay’s Self-Machine-Learning Platform processes more than 50 billion data points daily, powered by hundreds of algorithms that convert one thing into another:
Unprocessed data into actionable signals.
Inquiries:
+32 471 80 80 82 Jean-Philippe M.L. Schepens van Thiel
Tina Stroobandt +32 486 66 76 84
Media Relations
AxonJay
Source :AxonJay