Nils Wuytens

Scaleup Vlaanderen, the leading growth program by Agoria and Sirris, is evolving into Scaleup Flanders. With new partners Vlerick Business School and VITO, the programme is getting a fresh boost: its focus is expanding to include cleantech, and the range of services is significantly growing, allowing even more ambitious companies to be supported.

Start-up CIRCULIFE provides circular management of companies' electronic devices, through which they aim to minimise the e-waste and maximise the (re)use of devices, parts and raw materials. With their innovative tool, they act as the bridge between manufacturers, companies and repairers, creating added value for each party in the chain. Thus, CIRCULIFE's participation in VITO4STARTERS in March this year did not go unnoticed; they became runner-up and so began the collaboration with VITO.

The final of the second VITO4STARTERS competition in 2024 took place at the Love Tomorrow Conference on 25 July in the inspiring decors of Tomorrowland in Boom. From this, three winners emerged with innovative and sustainable business concepts: Breed Bio, Cylib and D-CRBN.

This year, there will be not one, but two editions of VITO4STARTERS, whereby VITO is aiming to get start-ups working around sustainability a leg up. On 19 March, the competition will descend upon Hasselt, where the final will be held during the Flanders Technology & Innovation Festival. And on 25 July, VITO4STARTERS – now part of the furniture – will again have a presence at Love Tomorrow in Boom. 

ImmuneSpec distinguishes itself with rapid and reliable identification of immunogenic peptides for the development of the next generation of vaccines, cancer therapies and protein medicines. This is how VITO is creating an economic and societal impact with technologies developed in-house.

Flexible and rapid recharging for your electric car, wherever it's parked in the city. That's what the Antwerp-based start-up Uze is offering. The company won the second edition of the VITO4STARTERS competition on the 27th of July, 2023. This competition by VITO aims to give a boost to start-ups working on sustainability.

For start-ups with a technological project or idea focusing on sustainability, it is not easy to gain an immediate foothold in a competitive entrepreneurial world. With the interactive pitch competition VITO4STARTERS, VITO links the ambitions of start-ups to recognised VITO technology in various cleantech domains such as sustainable materials, processes and energy. For the first time, start-ups dealing with sustainable digital applications for the construction sector can also enter this interactive pitch competition.