Intelligence Studies: This research focuses on the operation of intelligence and security agencies and how intelligence is gathered, analyzed and disseminated by public or private agencies. For anyone who works or will work in the security sector, a good understanding of intelligence gathering is essential as it forms the basis of policy strategies against threats such as radicalization, terrorism and cyber threat. Scientific results are shared with the public and professionals through the Belgian Intelligence Studies Centre.

Art and cultural heritage crime: Art crime, long understudied in criminological research, only received international attention in the late 1990s. In Belgium, works of art are stolen, smuggled and forged on a daily basis. Although Belgium lags behind when it comes to academic research in this domain, art crime is actively researched at this university and findings are shared through the GRACE expertise center.