Hosts and Partners
 

Finindus is an investment company funded by ArcelorMittal and the Flemish Region and is linked to OCAS, a world class metal research center with campuses in Zelzate and Zwijnaarde (Belgium).

They provide early stage and growth financing (both equity and debt) to innovative companies active across the metal value chain and that focus on:

• materials: new alloys, surface functionalization, composite materials
• material processing: forming, joining, coating, cutting
• sustainable manufacturing: technologies for energy efficient manufacturing and energy recuperation, CO₂ capturing, valorization of waste streams, recyling

EIT RawMaterials, initiated by the EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) and funded by the European Commission, is the largest and strongest consortium in the raw materials sector worldwide. Its vision is a European Union where raw materials are a strategic strength. Its mission is to boost competitiveness, growth and attractiveness of the European raw materials sector via radical innovation and guided entrepreneurship.

EIT RawMaterials unites more than 100 partners – academic and research institutions as well as businesses – from more than 20 EU countries. They collaborate on finding new, innovative solutions to secure the supplies and improve the raw materials sector all along its value chain – from extraction to processing, from recycling to reuse.

Capricorn Venture Partners is an independent European manager of venture capital and equity funds, investing in innovative companies with technology as competitive advantage. Capricorn’s dedicated investment teams are composed of experienced investment managers with deep technology expertise and a broad industrial experience. Capricorn Venture Partners is investing out of its Capricorn Cleantech Fund, its Capricorn Health-tech Fund and its Capricorn ICT Arkiv Fund. Capricorn Venture Partners is also the asset manager of Quest for Growth, quoted on EuroNext Brussels, and is investment manager to the Quest Cleantech Fund.

The Flanders Investment & Trade agency promotes sustainable international business, in the interest of both Flanders-based companies and overseas enterprises.

Whatever sector you are involved in, Flanders Investment & Trade will help you establish contact with the Flemish companies you are looking for. This includes not only products or services you may be sourcing, but also various types of business relationships, from joint ventures to technology transfers.At another level Flanders Investment & Trade enhances Flanders' position as the gateway to Europe for inward investors. The agency identifies, informs, advises and supports overseas enterprises by establishing production and research facilities, contact centers, headquarters, logistics operations and the like in Flanders, the northern region of Belgium. This broad focus on international entrepreneurship, involving outward trade as well as inward investments, requires not only a thorough knowledge of the Flemish economy, but also an extensive network outside of Flanders.

City of Ghent
Ghent is a historic city, yet at the same time a contemporary one. The modern daily life of the city’s active inhabitants plays itself out against a gorgeous historical backdrop. In Ghent, they live, work and enjoy life over and over again each day.

Ghent University is a top 100 university and one of the major universities in Belgium. Our 11 faculties offer a wide range of courses and conduct in-depth research in both exact and social sciences.

Ghent University, abbreviated to UGent, was founded in 1817 by King William I of Orange. The past 200 years, Ghent University employed many eminent scientists such as Nobel Prize winners Corneille Heymans and Maurice Maeterlinck, Leo Baekeland, Joseph Guislain, Walter Fiers, Marc Van Montagu, Peter Piot.

ArcelorMittal Gent belongs to the ArcelorMittal group. We make innovative and sustainable steel products suitable for a wide range of applications. With the vast experience and extended knowledge of our 4.700 employees, we not only make the difference towards our customers but also contribute to a better society.

Gent BC is a non profit organisation, founded by Ghent University, the city of Ghent, the Development Agency East-Flanders and other local knowledge institutions. In cooperation with the industry, entrepreneurs & researchers, Gent BC amplifies the innovative potential in Ghent and the surrounding region. The team fulfils its mission in the region by matchmaking the creativity and passion of our entrepreneurs with new knowledge and technology of our academic and public institutes.

VITO is a leading European independent research and technology organisation in the areas of cleantech and sustainable development, elaborating solutions for the large societal challenges of today.

VITO provides innovative and high-quality solutions, whereby large and small companies can gain a competitive advantage, and advises industry and governments on determining their policy for the future. VITO has 750 highly-qualified employees who work on international projects all around the world. VITO’s headquarters are located in Mol, Belgium, and the company has a subsidiary in China. The total turnover of VITO amounted to about 140 million euros in 2014.

VITO’s areas of expertise: climate change, food security, resource scarcity, sustainable energy, ageing population… VITO’s research agenda tackles the major societal challenges we are facing today.

Flanders Cleantech Association (FCA) is the internationalization platform of the Flemish cleantech industry. It brings together more than 230 companies developing and offering sustainable technologies to the world.
Focus is on Energy, Materials and Chemistry & Environment.
Backed by the Flanders based but globally operating strategic research organization VITO, and with partners such as Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) and relevant internationally operating cleantech community platforms, it helps to set up co-operations between Flemish and foreign companies. The ultimate goal is to  create win-wins and contribute to sustainable development.

Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship is a government agency, charged with implementing the economic, innovation and enterprise policy in Flanders, the Dutch speaking northern part of Belgium.

We help companies with the startup of their activities, the grow and continuity of their business, but also with the search for the right location, information on permits, financing, investments in innovation and ecological technologies, and other topics. In short, we confidentially guide entrepreneurs throughout the government landscape.