Flanders and Catalisti sign cluster pact for sustainable innovations in chemistry and plastics

This cluster pact lays down the concrete commitments of the cluster organization, the companies and knowledge institutions that are part of it and the government. Catalisti unites nearly one hundred companies and all Flemish universities. Sector federation essenscia vlaanderen, VITO (Flemish Institution for Technological Research), the research center for the textile industry Centexbel and Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, the pilot facility for the bio-based industry, are also part of the innovation platform.

Last year, Flemish Minister of Innovation Philippe Muyters launched the new cluster policy to stimulate strategic cooperation between companies, sectors and researchers. The goal? To significantly increase the economic impact of innovation. Meanwhile, five spearhead clusters were identified: Catalisti (chemicals and plastics), SIM (smart materials), VIL (sustainable logistics), Flux50 (energy) and Flanders FOOD (food). Piece by piece, they connect to the strengths of the Flemish industry and knowledge institutions.

Flemish Minister of Innovation Philippe Muyters: "The commitment we make as the Flemish government is not minus: it involves a maximum of 500,000 euros per cluster, and that for a term of 10 years. In addition, 50 million euros are available this year for research and innovation projects that the clusters can carry out to support the competitiveness of their cluster members. But quid pro quo: the companies themselves also put at least 50% of the financing of the cluster operation on the table." 

Minister-President Geert Bourgeois: "The Flemish government's strong focus on research and development is paying off. Innovation is one of the lifelines of our Flemish prosperity. The cooperation and interaction between government, companies and knowledge institutions is therefore crucial if we want to secure our prosperity, anchor our companies and maintain our top position abroad."

Jan Van Havenbergh, managing director of Catalisti: "In the spearhead cluster CATALISTI, where companies from the entire value chain are represented, from raw material supplier to plastics processor, innovation in its broad sense is the driving force for progress. Because of the high financial foundation, larger companies are usually the triggers, but the cooperation with medium and small enterprises guarantees the progression to joint international success. A cluster operation like CATALISTI brings together the knowledge within companies and research institutions."