Cleantech, short for ´clean technology´, is an important growth sector because it can offer an answer to important social challenges such as climate change and shortages of raw materials. It deals with products, processes and services that, thanks to the use of innovative technology, create both an economic and a social added value through the efficient use of - as far as possible renewable - energy sources and materials.

Closing cycles is the number one task. An important element of this is the transformation of waste into new raw materials or energy. The valorisation of waste and by-product flows is oriented towards adapting or organising (industrial) processes so that waste from a given process is turned into raw material either for its own process once again or for a different process. This produces a significant cost advantage, reduces dependency on external economies and offers important environmental benefits.

Waste management

Waste management thus forms an important European and Flemish focus of attention. Under the Flemish Materials Decree, waste is no longer regarded as an end point (this is only still allowed under very strict conditions) but rather a secondary raw material or source of energy. Flanders is thus a trendsetter in materials management and an absolute leader in recycling. Flanders is number one in Europe, with 66% recycling of household waste.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Antwerp?

Thanks to the presence of leading companies and organisations, Antwerp is the ideal location for companies and organisations that are active in waste management and cleantech.

Rich ecosystem

Antwerp has a rich and highly diversified ecosystem of specialised waste processing companies ranging from mass processing, via processing of organic/biological waste, ship waste, hazardous/toxic waste to metals. For example, Umicore is the world´s market leader in the recycling of metals: in 2012, the company was number one on the list of the 100 most sustainable companies in the world published by Corporate Knights, a Canadian independent research agency.

High industry concentration

Along with these renowned waste processing companies, Antwerp also has a high concentration of industry. Industry seeks to limit waste as much as possible or even to convert it for reuse as raw material or energy, but in addition must also often call upon the specialised knowledge and technology of the waste processing companies. Consequently, industry is a major supplier of and purchaser for the waste processing companies.

Chemical industry

One of the most important industrial suppliers and buyers for the waste processing companies is the chemical industry - which just happens to be the single largest industry in Antwerp. The chemical cluster in Antwerp is not only the second largest cluster in the world, it is also very highly integrated. Companies work together closely, including for the recovery of by-product flows.

Logistics and metal

Another important supplier for the waste processing companies is the logistics sector (packaging materials, etc.), which is also strongly present in Antwerp, in part thanks to the port, which is the second largest in Europe.

Furthermore, the metal sector is a major supplier of and above all purchaser for the waste processing companies. Here, too, Antwerp holds an important position, given that the port of Antwerp-Bruges is the number one steel port in Europe.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

BlueChem, Blue Gate Antwerp, Blue App and NextGen

The Blue Gate Antwerp and BlueChem projects are going all in on cleantech and waste management in Antwerp.

 

Blue Gate Antwerp

Blue Gate Antwerp is Belgium's first circular, eco-effective, waterbound business park. Sustainable, innovative businesses in chemicals, cleantech and logistics will find the breeding ground for their future growth here.

The site is located next to the river Scheldt, close to the centre of Antwerp. Blue Gate Antwerp is a ground-breaking public-private partnership for businesses wanting to take control of the future, starting today. These goals will be achieved by resolutely choosing innovation.

Together with like-minded entrepreneurs, Blue Gate Antwerp activates circular flows at micro and macro levels. This results in cost efficiency and environmentally-friendly collaborations both on and off site.

Businesses located at Blue Gate Antwerp are committed to eco-effective industry: how can we reduce the consumption of raw materials while producing the same or even better products? These ideas will be familiar to anyone making the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The site's location along the river Scheldt offers significant strategic, economic and environmental advantages. Barges provide a sound alternative to road transport, with the opportunity to reduce air pollution, noise and traffic gridlock.

BlueChem

BlueChem is the incubator for sustainable chemistry. BlueChem helps promising start-ups and ambitious scale-ups in the field of sustainable chemistry to accelerate, bring products to market faster and reach their full commercial potential as quickly as possible.

BlueChem focuses on four key areas in the field of sustainable chemistry, which are necessary to achieve a circular economy: the valorisation of waste and side streams, renewable chemicals, advanced sustainable products and process optimisation.

BlueChem offers its residents a mix of fully-equipped and customisable laboratories, office spaces and flexible workplaces as well as a variety of supporting services, such as financial advice, legal support and advice in business development, industrial upscaling and big data, AI and machine learning. The incubator provides direct access to knowledge and expertise through its extensive network of (inter)national chemical companies, renowned research centres and all five Flemish universities. Additionally, the BlueChem Kickstart Fund gives financial support to companies to help customise their lab space.

BlueChem is a unique public-private partnership between government, industry and knowledge institutions with the joint ambition to strengthen the future of sustainable chemistry in Flanders and to become an inspiring model for the EU. The incubator is located at Blue Gate Antwerp, an innovative and circular business park at the heart of the largest chemical cluster in Europe.

BlueApp

Opening in March 2022, BlueApp will be an open innovation and training hub for potential entrepreneurs and innovators from scientific institutions, large and smaller industries, which focuses on water and air, reactors for sustainable (bio)chemical conversions and material characterization.

With BlueApp, the City of Antwerp aims to strengthen the conversion of knowledge and technology into innovation in a sustainable way. BlueApp offers a physical location where state-of-the-art infrastructure including analytical instruments and pilot facilities, technical personnel and expertise are brought together and offered to researchers, starting entrepreneurs and established companies.

Located in Blue Gate Antwerp a sanitised brownfield, it is in combination with BlueChem, the beating heart of innovation in sustainable chemistry.

NextGen District

The NextGen District is an industrial site in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, where ‘end-of-life products’ will be given a second or third life, where circular carbon solutions will be researched and where experiments will be conducted with renewable energy. It will be setting an example by giving the Circular Economy a pivotal role in its operations.

Innovators in the process and manufacturing industry bring their vision to life in the NextGen District. They design, develop and implement projects that give the circular economy a boost and are an example of real change. NextGen District is a hub where pioneers have the space to grow. Here, they are connected to a network where they exchange ideas and share resources. Think of it as a hotspot, bubbling with ideas to disrupt traditional industry, while benefiting from the same infrastructure, skilled workforce and world-class logistics services. NextGen District is the ground on which innovation manifests itself. Whether you give a second (or third) life to waste, explore circular carbon solutions, or experiment with renewable energy. NextGen District is there for those who are ready to make a difference.

Preparations for the site are ongoing. It is expected that the first industrial plan will be active by early 2023.

Find your location
 

Click the zones on the map to discover the business parks in Antwerp.

Companies in the cluster

Indaver, Sita, Groep Op de Beeck, Biogas solutions, Compofert, Kayak, Martens, Galloo, SGS EWACS, Mac², De Neef Chemical Processing (DNCP), Comet, Belgian Scrap Terminal (BST), DEME Group – Purazur, IMDC, Umicore…

Support for reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions

Hysopt is a partner of “Samen Klimaatactief”, the initiative of the City of Antwerp to inspire and support entrepreneurs to undertake carbon-neutral activities together. Samen Klimaatactief supports the business world with a public website for each business segment.
By contacting Jan Jaeken, the head of Samen Klimaatactief, entrepreneurs are already getting their first free guiding advice on the energy-saving measures they can take. Companies also receive a quick and objective overview of providers that offer concrete solutions. Hysopt is one of them.

At BlueChem, the city of Antwerp helps start-ups to grow

In times of energy transition, sustainable chemistry is an important factor for the future. BlueChem in Antwerp is one of the few incubators in Europe to focus on sustainable chemistry. Now, the City of Antwerp also invests in laboratory space, facilities and equipment. These measures are intended to accelerate the growth of start-ups in BlueChem. The support provides a boost for their innovation capacity.