Discover the key takeaways of What’s Next MateriNex 2025

Wake-Up Session

We kicked off with the avant-premiere screening of Dr. Peter Tom Jones’  latest documentary, "Europe's Lithium Paradox".

This was followed by a powerful and balanced debate featuring the following panellists and moderated by Francesca Vanthielen:

• Geert Olbrechts, CTO & Executive Vice President Recycling, Umicore
• Kira Van den Ende, Policy Expert and Spokeswoman, Bond Beter Leefmilieu
• Kris Broos, Senior Expert Sustainable Materials, VITO
• Yanaika Denoyelle, Climate Consultant Ortelius/Econopolis and co-author of De Klimaatschok/ The Climate Shock

These are our three key takeaways from the panel discussion:

• Flanders and Europe have the full Critical Raw Materials Circular Value Chain — let’s keep it locally, not export it to regions with lower sustainability standards.

• Umicore is well placed and ready for sustainable battery recycling within Europe. 

• If mining is necessary it should be done with local communities, not around them.

Afternoon Session

In the afternoon, we shifted gears and tapped into the insights of top Flemish academics in Material Sciences. Here is what stood out:

• Collaboration is the catalyst for innovation — as demonstrated by Prof. Dr. Ing.Mesfin Haile Mamme, VUB SUME
• AI is not a black box. It requires training with the right data and mathematical models — even small data can be powerful when used wisely. Prof. Dr. Dr.Danny Vanpoucke, University Hasselt - IMO-IMOMEC
• Human intelligence remains essential to validate, interpret, and guide AI outcomes. Prof. Dr. Sara Bals, University Antwerp - EMAT

New and Notable

The pitches from emerging young enterprises presented promising innovations and Kurt Peys, General Director of Team Bedrijfstrajecten at VLAIO (Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) struck the right note with his sharp, targeted questions.

Here is the list of young enterprises:

• ePotentia : Data Science Cloud
• ReqCon: Tender Intelligence
• USP3D: Light weight electrical Machines
• ResultX : See your ESG performance in minutes, without lifting a finger
• Curf : Vision with data

See you in 2026!

If you would like to receive the presentation slides, please contact us here: