Circular City Ports - Workbook 1, Circular initiatives in the Delta
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3 BlueChem Antwerpen, Blue Gate<br />
23<br />
What is <strong>the</strong> relation with <strong>the</strong> port and water?<br />
The port of Antwerp has one of <strong>the</strong> biggest chemical<br />
clusters <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> world. (The sector accounts for one<br />
third of <strong>the</strong> added value, one third of <strong>the</strong> exports and<br />
almost half of all <strong>in</strong>dustrial expenditure on research<br />
and development <strong>in</strong> Flanders.)<br />
The <strong>in</strong>cubator tries to provide an <strong>in</strong>novative environment,<br />
connect<strong>in</strong>g knowledge networks with <strong>the</strong>se<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternationally operat<strong>in</strong>g chemical companies.<br />
What is <strong>the</strong> relation with <strong>the</strong> city?<br />
No direct l<strong>in</strong>ks or synergies are created with <strong>the</strong> (surround<strong>in</strong>g)<br />
city.<br />
What are <strong>the</strong> ambitions?<br />
To accelerate <strong>the</strong> transition of <strong>the</strong> chemical <strong>in</strong>dustry<br />
to a more susta<strong>in</strong>able circular operation. To connect<br />
new <strong>in</strong>novations (com<strong>in</strong>g from knowledge <strong>in</strong>stitutes)<br />
with <strong>the</strong> exist<strong>in</strong>g chemical companies active <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
port. The target group consists of start-ups and <strong>in</strong>novative<br />
SMEs with growth potential. In <strong>the</strong> chemical<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustry <strong>in</strong> particular, start-ups often encounter difficulties<br />
<strong>in</strong> bridg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> so-called ‘valley of death’, <strong>the</strong><br />
high-risk period between <strong>the</strong> development phase of<br />
new ideas and effective <strong>in</strong>dustrial production.<br />
Who is beh<strong>in</strong>d it?<br />
Knowledge <strong>in</strong>stitutes, <strong>in</strong>dustrial federations and public<br />
partners. Through a PPP, with public partners AG<br />
Vespa, PMV, city of Antwerp and POM Antwerpen<br />
work<strong>in</strong>g toge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> consortium Blue O’pen,<br />
Essenscia (federation chemistry) and knowledge <strong>in</strong>stitutes<br />
like VITO and universities.<br />
Catalisti, <strong>the</strong> new Flemish spearhead cluster for<br />
chemistry and plastics, is tak<strong>in</strong>g an active role <strong>in</strong><br />
BlueChem to start up and support new promis<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>novation projects. There is also an important synergy<br />
with Blue_App, an open <strong>in</strong>novation hub for research<br />
projects of <strong>the</strong> University of Antwerp <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
field of susta<strong>in</strong>able chemistry.<br />
Sources<br />
www.bluechem.be<br />
What is <strong>the</strong><br />
timeframe?<br />
Preparation of a<br />
feasibility study<br />
Publication of tender for <strong>the</strong><br />
construction of BlueChem<br />
Open<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
<strong>in</strong>cubator<br />
2012<br />
2017 2020<br />
Incubator for susta<strong>in</strong>able chemistry.<br />
The <strong>in</strong>cubator is <strong>the</strong> result of a PPP.
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