Launch of the 2026-2030 program memorandum for Klimaatsprong for industry

Working together towards a climate-neutral industry

Flemish industry is facing an unprecedented transition towards climate neutrality and sustainable growth. With its new 2026-2030 program memorandum, the Klimaatsprong transition program for industry aims to proactively support basic industry in the transition to a low-carbon and competitive future.

The transition program brings together civil society, knowledge institutions, government, and businesses to collaborate on innovative solutions for competitive and sufficient energy, infrastructure, building an economy around alternative raw materials, fuels, circularity, and accelerated climate innovation.

During this event, we will share inspiring practical cases, give the floor to key figures from industry, the research world, and government, and stimulate dialogue about the challenges and opportunities of the industrial climate transition.

Who is it for?

• Are you involved in the Klimaatsprong (Climate Leap) for Industry program?
• Are you a professional active in the (petro)chemical, steel, or energy sector?
• Or does your company supply crucial technology to make the climate transition a reality?
• Are you following the climate transition from the academic world, civil society, as an investor, or as a policymaker?

Then you are very welcome!

What can you expect?

• Learn more about strategies, technologies, and policy visions for a climate-neutral industry in Flanders from leading speakers and panelists.
• Gain insight into the transition paths from the roadmap study that form the basis for Klimaatsprong's new 2026-2030 program note for industry.
• Be inspired by pioneers and innovators from energy-intensive industries and innovative Moonshot projects.
• Build valuable connections with colleagues, policymakers, and investors.

Program

9:00 a.m.: Reception with coffee

9:30 a.m.: Welcome and introduction

• Opening remarks by Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister of Economy, Innovation, and Industry
• Towards a carbon-circular, low-carbon, and competitive basic industry: insights from the updated roadmap study by Tomas Wyns (Researcher at VUB-IES) and Eline Brugman (Partner Climate & Sustainability Deloitte)

10:15 a.m.: Industry at the helm

• Panel discussion ‘Navigating challenges and innovation’ with Yves Verschueren (Managing Director, essenscia), Gert Jan Ten Cate (Vice President, Large Industries & H2E for North and Central Europe, Air Liquide), Geert Van Poelvoorde (Executive Vice President, CEO, ArcelorMittal Europe), Tine Schaerlaekens (Director, Moonshot Flanders)
• Electrification gaining momentum? Interview with Bram De Wispelaere (General Manager, Energyville) and Bart Adams (EMEA Energy Manager, INEOS Styrolution)
• Carbon Capture Storage and Utilization: opportunities and bottlenecks of these key technologies Interview with Tom Claerbout (Managing Director TotalEnergies Belgium Services) and Annemie Bogaerts (Full Professor at the University of Antwerp, Head of PLASMANT)
• Innovation as a lever for biomass and circularity transition pathways Interview with Peter Roose (Director of Sustainability Advanced Interlayers and Technology Director EMEA Eastman and President of the Board of Directors Catalisti) and Liesbeth Stockman (Program Manager Sustainable Transition Industry Port of Antwerp-Bruges)

11:45 a.m.: The European policy perspective

• Keynote by Kurt Vandenberghe (Director General Directorate-General Climate Action)

12:15 p.m.: Closing

• Closing remarks by Mark Andries (Administrator-General VLAIO)

12:30 p.m.: Walking lunch: networking and getting to know innovative Moonshot projects