MateriNex: strengthening sustainable materials research in Flanders
May, 15 2024 – Flemish companies engaged in materials research receive support for high-risk long-term research. In collaboration with VLAIO and the Department of Economy, Science, and Innovation of the Flemish government, MateriNex facilitates and manages sustainable materials research in Flanders by fostering collaboration between industrial and academic stakeholders with the aim of strengthening the materials research ecosystem in Flanders.
Materials are a source of prosperity and form the backbone of an industrial society. They also play a key role in transformations such as climate change, energy transition, and digitalisation. Flemish companies active in materials research require support for high-risk long-term research. Therefore, VLAIO and the Department of Economy, Science, and Innovation of the Flemish government have commissioned VITO to facilitate and manage sustainable materials research in Flanders. The MateriNex team within VITO will stimulate collaboration between industrial and academic stakeholders. The goal is to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in materials research.
From the outset, MateriNex sets a clear direction by selecting three innovation themes in consultation with industrial and academic stakeholders:
- Materials for battery technology (mobility and storage)
- Materials for construction and building (low-carbon construction and resource efficiency)
- Strategic and critical raw materials (ensuring supply, sustainable and circular value chains)
Each of these themes aligns with both the European research agenda and Flemish policy priorities. Companies and knowledge institutions will be able to submit project proposals within the roadmap of these innovation themes. Each roadmap contains a limited number of application domains and several common ‘transversal’ challenges in digitalisation and ‘safe & sustainable by design’ (which encompasses circularity).
MateriNex will be officially launched on Tuesday, 18th June, in the afternoon, with various interesting keynotes and breakout sessions diving deeper into the roadmaps, and stakeholders will have the opportunity to give a brief pitch.
