Networking event: CO₂ as a feedstock - from technology to industrial scale-up
CO₂ is not only an emission, it can also serve as a feedstock for the chemical industry. The technology is developing rapidly. But what is still needed to move CCU (Carbon Capture and Utilisation) in Flanders from demonstration to industrial application? Since 2025, the strategic agenda for chemicals & plastics has been working together with companies, knowledge institutions, public authorities and other system actors to explore how CCU can contribute to a circular carbon economy in Flanders. On 9 December 2026, we will bring the CCU community together again at VAC Ghent. During this event, we will take stock: where are we today, what has changed since 2025, and which conditions now need to fall into place to further scale up CCU in the chemical industry? We will combine perspectives from policy, research, technology companies and finance, and discuss the next steps for the Flemish CCU ecosystem.
This journey started on 13 March 2025 with the CCU Pioneering Sessions at VAC Ghent, organised together with Catalisti, CAPTURE and VITO. Through keynotes, practical examples and discussions, the event explored the opportunities offered by CCU and the conditions needed to use CO₂ as a feedstock. On 11 June 2025, the topic was taken further during the WACK Community Event in Brussels. More than one hundred partners and pioneers from the chemicals and plastics sector came together around the broader question of how Flanders can accelerate the transition towards a circular chemicals and plastics industry. One of the key messages was clear: technology alone is not enough. Policy, financing and implementation also need to be better aligned.
This journey started on 13 March 2025 with the CCU Pioneering Sessions at VAC Ghent, organised together with Catalisti, CAPTURE and VITO. Through keynotes, practical examples and discussions, the event explored the opportunities offered by CCU and the conditions needed to use CO₂ as a feedstock. On 11 June 2025, the topic was taken further during the WACK Community Event in Brussels. More than one hundred partners and pioneers from the chemicals and plastics sector came together around the broader question of how Flanders can accelerate the transition towards a circular chemicals and plastics industry. One of the key messages was clear: technology alone is not enough. Policy, financing and implementation also need to be better aligned.
Since then, the CCU working group has continued its work around three crucial conditions for scale-up:
- Legal & Policy: does the regulatory framework provide sufficient room and certainty to develop CCU projects?
- Technology: which technological pathways are ready for demonstration and scale-up, and what test, pilot and demonstration infrastructure is needed?
- Finance: how can we finance the step from technology development and demonstration to commercial scale?
One thing has become clear: technology alone is not enough. To use CO₂ as a feedstock at industrial scale, technology, regulation, infrastructure, financing and market development need to evolve together.
Programme
- 12:30 – 13:30: Registration & sandwich lunch
- 13:30 – 13:40: Welcome & introduction: A short look back at the CCU journey within the Chemicals & Plastics Work Agenda and the central question for the afternoon: what is needed to move CCU in Flanders from technology and demonstration to industrial application?
- 13:40 – 14:00: Setting the scene – From CO₂ to a circular feedstock, by Thomas Wyns (VUB)
- 14:00 – 14:30: Legal & Policy – What regulatory framework does CCU need? by Adrian Nicolae (European Commission), Martijn De Graaff (TNO)
- 14:30 – 15:10: Technology – From technology development to industrial application, by Miet Van Dael and Pieterjan Debergh (VITO), Mark Saeys (UGent)
- 15:10 – 15:30: Break
- 15:30 – 16:00: Finance – How do we finance the path to scale? by Gill Scheltjens (D-CRBN), Bart De Caesemaeker (VLAIO)
- 16:00 – 16:30: Panel – Financing the scale-up, with panel guests Gill Scheltjens (D-CRBN), Dieter Dirickx (BNP Paribas), Serge Colle (BXVentures), additional venture capital participant, and moderated by Jan Arends (CAPTURE)
- 16:30 – 16:35: Closing remarks
Practical information
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required.
This event is a collaboration between the strategic agenda for chemicals & plastics, Circular Flanders, OVAM, VEKA, VLAIO, Catalisti, CAPTURE and essenscia, with support from CO₂Net. Together, these partners bring expertise from policy, research, innovation, industry and finance to help shape the next steps for CCU in Flanders.