Society

On 13 May 2025, the European Environment Agency (EEA) announced a major milestone within the Pan-European component of the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS). For the first time, the portfolio of High Resolution Layers (HRL) is being expanded with a brand-new thematic layer: HRL Cropland. This development, in close collaboration with VITO, marks a significant leap forward in the detailed monitoring of agricultural land across Europe.

Genk, 15 May 2025 – With Mayor Wim Dries in attendance, the groundbreaking thermal network CollecThor was officially inaugurated today at Thor Park in Genk. This state-of-the-art collective energy system, capable of exchanging both heat and cold, will provide sustainable heating and cooling to both current and future buildings on the site.

The European project VIVALDI, led by the UAB, has developed an innovative and sustainable way to turn carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from bio-based companies in industries such as the pulp/paper and food sectors into high added-value organic acids, mainly for the chemical industry sector.

The eighth edition of the G-STIC conference will take place from 8 to 10 October 2025 at the International Convention Centre in Pretoria, South Africa. This year's event is hosted in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2025.

Personal prevention app BIBOPP won a MyData Award in the ‘Technology’ category. MyData is an international organisation that is working towards fair and sustainable data use in a human-centric way.

Today is World Intellectual Property Day, a moment to raise global awareness of the importance of intellectual property as a driver of innovation and technological progress. At VITO, it is above all an opportunity to thank our researchers who are helping to build the innovations of tomorrow.