Common Interest Groups (CIG)

What is a Common Interest Group?

A MateriNex Common Interest Group is a collaborative forum focused on a specific innovation theme. CIGs connect experts and organisations with complementary expertise and interests, enabling them to exchange insights, contribute to innovation roadmaps, and explore opportunities for cooperation within the MateriNex ecosystem.

What do CIGs do?

CIGs organise and support a range of activities, including:

• Open events around a MateriNex (sub-)theme, open to the wider public and offering opportunities for knowledge exchange and networking

• Closed events for CIG members, such as:

  • Focus groups to contribute to the development and updating of innovation roadmaps and to share project results

  • In-depth sessions on specific technical or strategic topics

  • Expert forums that bring together research and industry perspectives

Our Common Interest Groups

CIG Materials for Battery Technology (mobility and storage)

• Chair: Dr. Fanny Bardé, Founder and CTO SOLiTHOR
• Co- Chair: Professor Annick Hubin, VUB (SUME)

CIG Strategic and Critical Raw Materials (ensuring supply, sustainable and circular value chains)

• Chair: Ir. Dirk Inghels, Consultant and VU Amsterdam
• Co-Chair: Dr. Ir. Peter Tom Jones, KU Leuven (SIM2)

CIG Materials for Building and Construction ( low-carbon construction and resource efficiencies)

• Chair: Ir. Koenraad De Rycke, De Rycke Beton
• Co-Chair: Jan Desmyter, Buildwise

Why participate in a CIG?

By joining a Common Interest Group, participants can:

• Contribute actively to the shaping and updating of innovation roadmaps

• Exchange knowledge and insights with experts from research and industry

• Exchange and reflect on project results

• Connect with relevant partners across the innovation ecosystem

• Participate in a community working towards sustainable and impactful innovation

Who can participate?

CIGs are open to all stakeholders involved in or connected to a MateriNex innovation theme. Participation is particularly encouraged from representatives of:

• Companies

• Research groups from knowledge institutions

• Collective research centres and RTO's

• Spearhead Clusters (SPCs), Innovative Business Networks (IBNs), and cluster organisations active in complementary innovation domains

• Sector organisations

This open approach ensures broad collaboration and diverse perspectives.

Membership and Commitment

Participation in a MateriNex Common Interest Group is free of charge. There is no financial compensation associated with participation.

To join a CIG, organisations are asked to confirm their engagement through a Letter of Commitment (LoC). This written commitment expresses the intention to actively participate in CIG activities and serves as the basis for access to open and closed events.

CIG members may also take on an active role in focus groups and other collaborative activities, in line with the governance arrangements described in the CIG Charter.

Practical Information

• Upcoming CIG meetings and activities, click here.

• Past CIG events and activities, explore examples of previous sessions and events, including photos

• CIG Charter: details on the structure, governance, and conditions for participation, consult the CIG Charter.

• Letter of Commitment (LoC),  download the LoC required to participate in a CIG

• Contact:  for questions about participation or CIG operations, please contact us.

Note: The lists of CIG members is being compiled. (See below)