Now that Antwerp has been selected to host the EU Cleantech Forum in 2018, the Flanders Cleantech Association and VITO are continuing their efforts to enable Flanders’ cleantech industry to become active on an international stage.
Each year, the Cleantech Group organises a European forum for start-ups, expanding companies and venture capitalists that are active within the cleantech sector. On 17 May at the EU Cleantech Forum in Helsinki, Antwerp’s alderman, Koen Kennis, announced that this international conference will be taking place in Antwerp next year.
As Koen Kennis, the Alderman for Finance, Mobility, Tourism, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Municipal Decentralisation, explained: “Selecting Antwerp and Flanders to host this event is an obvious choice – cleantech, sustainable chemistry and the circular economy all represent strategic growth sectors in Antwerp and Flanders. In Antwerp, we are now witnessing considerable growth in this sector. This includes organisations such as Kebony, FRX Polymers and Avantium, who have discovered the benefits of co-siting within Europe's largest chemical cluster. We are pleased that we will be able to welcome this prestigious event here in our city. ”