Trilateral Innovation Summit -
United by Chemistry'

Date: 29 September 2025

Time: 10:00 – 16:00

Location: Watt17, Heusden-Zolder, Belgium

Join us for a high-impact, cross-border matchmaking event designed to catalyze partnerships, innovation, and sustainable transformation in the chemical industry across the trilateral region.

This summit builds on the Trilateral Strategy for the Chemical Industry, a strategic collaboration between governments and industry clusters in Flanders, the Netherlands, and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Together, we aim to drive competitiveness, sustainability, and growth in the European chemical sector through joint innovation and shared vision.

About the Event

Plenary Session

During the plenary session, Dirk Carrez (Bio-based Industries Consortium) will present a state-of-play on bio-based innovation in the trilateral region and beyond. He will highlight not only the opportunities but also the structural challenges and barriers. In addition, Kelly Servaes (VITO) will introduce the cross-border EU project COUNTLESS, which focuses on developing innovative applications based on lignin—ranging from building foams to adhesives and even sun creams.

Challenge Tables

Challenge Tables are dynamic, small-group breakout sessions where leading companies and research institutes present concrete innovation challenges they are currently facing. These companies have confirmed their participation as hosts of

Challenge Tables:

From Belgium: Arcelor Mittal, BASF Antwerp, Cargill, Effex, Indaver, Zeopore
From Germany: Blue Activity, Cyclize and more to be announced
From Netherlands: BioBTX, Shell, Syclus and more to be announced

Each session focuses on a specific innovation challenge proposed by each of these companies. Participants are invited to share their expertise, explore solution directions, and potentially initiate partnerships. The sessions offer a rare opportunity to connect with cross-border partners around shared innovation goals.

Thematic Tables

The Thematic Tables revolve around 4 questions:

How to navigate European funding in the chemical industry? (Moore Belgium)
How to use SSbD to drive sustainable innovation? (essenscia)
How to integrate AI in process intensification? (KU Leuven)
How to navigate the Interreg Meuse-Rhine program? (Interreg Meuse-Rhine)

Led by expert facilitators, each Thematic Table provides valuable insights. These sessions are ideal for participants looking to strengthen their innovation strategy, gain clarity on policy developments, or learn how to align their projects with European and regional support mechanisms.

Why you should participate

1. Meet innovation leaders across europe’s chemical powerhouse

2. Co-create in Challenge Table sessions

3. Navigate innovation funding and strategy in Infosessions

4. Showcase your expertise & connect with potential partners

Who should attend?

Knowledge institutions ready to scale up new technologies (TRL 5+)
Companies with innovation challenges or sustainability concepts
Start-ups/scale-ups seeking strategic partnerships
Entities exploring cutting-edge R&D collaborations and value chain opportunities

Program

10.00 Welcome Coffee

10.30 Plenary session

Welcome by Tine Schaerlaekens (Catalisti) (5’)

Introduction by Colette Alma-Zeestraten (VNCI) (10’)

Keynote: Dirk Carrez (Bio-based Industries Consortium) (30’)

Project: Countless by Kelly Servaes (VITO) (15’)

11.30 Parallel table sessions with Challenge Tables and Thematic Tables

12.30 Lunch

14.00 Parallel table sessions with Challenge Tables and Thematic Tables

15.00 Reception

16.00 End

Ready to join?

Register today and secure your seat at the forefront of Europe’s green chemistry transition.

We’ll contact you to select your Table Session preferences by the end of August. Let’s innovate together— driven by purpose, united by chemistry.

The Trilateral Innovation Summit is supported and organized by these organizations:

Trilateral Innovation Summit - United by Chemistry'