Guided Flanders Tech Tours 2026
Tech Tour Guide
Over the coming days, we look forward to inspire and engage you with the vision, technology, and groundbreaking innovations that define Flanders today.
Together, we will explore how ideas become impact — and how collaboration drives the future forward.
We are thrilled to have you with us.
Programme 24 & 25 march 2026
- Climate Tech Tour - Flanders in transition
- Health Tech Tour - Flanders as a life science hub
- Digitech Tour - Flanders as the digital engine of Europe
- Flanders Networking Dinner
This guide contains all relevant timetables for your visit. Our tour guides will welcome you at the main entrance of Antwerp Central Station. From there, we will depart together by bus.
Pick-up Point
Antwerp Central Station
Koningin Astridplein 27
2018 Antwerp
Belgium
Please note carefully that each tour departs at a different time. Make sure to check your assigned departure time in advance.
Tourguides
In case of questions, schedule changes, or late arrival, please kindly inform your tourguides
- Health Tech Tour: Nadine De Weirdt: +32 497 59 33 47
- Climate Tech Tour: Wout Bogaert: +32 492 74 06 35
- Digital Tech Tour: Evi Heyndrickx: +32 476 26 56 23
- Network Event MAS: Dries Mahieu: +32 476 60 66 72
Flanders Networking Dinner
Tuesday 24th March @the MAS(Museum aan de stroom) from 19h till 22h.
- Follow: One Eighty’
- An inspiring networking dinner to meet all participants to the tours and the Flemish ecosystem.
- Shuttles will loop between the central station (central pick up point for the tours) and the MAS event space.
- Enjoy your meal and ...the view!
Climate Tech Tour - Flanders in Transition
Day 1: Tuesday 24 March 2026
Theme: Circular chemistry & smart energy
Venue: Central Station, Antwerp
Bus number: 1
8,30 - 9,00: Transfer by bus
Venue: Port of Antwerp/Bruges, Zaha Hadidplein 1, 2030 Antwerp
9,00: Welcome by Elke VERBEELEN, Corporate Communication Advisor & Roel BOSSCHAERTS, NextGen Demo Manager, Port of Antwerp/Bruges
9,10: Presentations (hall "Marc Van Peel):
- 9,10 Speaker 1: Nadine MARISSEN, Hospitality organizer
Theme: Introduction to Port of Antwerp Bruges - 9,20 Speaker 2: Roel BOSSCHAERTS, NextGen Demo Manager
Theme: NextGen District: bringing circular innovation to commercial reality in Port of Antwerp-Bruges - 9,45 Speaker 3: Ann DIERCKX, Director Innovation & Circular Economy, essenscia
Theme: Driving the climate transition. The strenght of chemical innovation in Flanders
10,10: Q&A, networking & Coffee/tea
10,30: Transfer by bus
Venue: Bluechem, Olieweg 95, 2020 Antwerp
11,05: Welcome by Liesbet BOOGAERTS, General Manager
11,10: Presentation by Liesbet BOOGAERTS (Room: Boardroom)
Theme: Introduction to BlueChem, the hotspot for sustainable chemistry in Europe
11,30: Guided Tour
12,00: Network lunch offered by VLAIO
13,15-14,30 Transfer by bus
Venue: Thor Park, André Dumontlaan 67, 3600 Genk
14,35: Welcome by Bert GYSEN, COO EnergyVIlle
14,40: Presentations (Room: X)
- Speaker 1: Bert GYSEN
Theme: Introduction EnergyVille - Speaker 2: Filip VERCAUTEREN, General Manager Thorpark NV
Theme: Ecosystem Thor Park - Speaker 3: Patrice FLEURQUIN, General Manager Open Thor Living Lab
Theme: Thor Park & Test infrastructure Open Thor Living Lab - Speaker 4: Ariane DECRAMER, Internationalisation Pioneer
Theme: Introduction Flux50
15,50: Guided Tours
16,30: Transfer by bus
Day 2: Wednesday 25 March 2026
Theme: Blue Energy, Off-shore Innovation & Bio-based Economy
Venue: Central Station, Antwerp
Bus number: 1
7,30 - 9,30: Transfer by bus
Venue: BlueBridge (Ostend Science Park), Wetenschapspark 1, 8400 Oostende
9,30: Refresh & coffee/tea
9,40: Official Welcome & Introduction to Blue Valley Oostende - Alderwomen Judith OOMS, City of Ostend
9,45: Interactive sessions in the blue energy training hub, The Reef with:
(Room: Bluebridge)
- Speaker 1: Geert DANGREAU, CEO Bluebridge & Director Knowledge Economy and Internationalisation, POM West-Flanders. Theme: Welcome to Bluebridge
- Speaker 2: Rebecca VERHAEGHE, Project Manager Blue Energy, POM West-Flanders
Theme: Offshore Wind: the general picture from the Belgian part of the North Sea - Speaker 3: Sven NACHTERGAELE, Cluster Manager Drones, POM West Flanders
Theme: Marine Drones & Robotica: the general picture: training & industry use cases - Speaker 4: Jan MEES, CEO, VLIZ
Theme: Marine robotica en data – Applied research for climate solutions - Speaker 5: Karen VANDERSTRAETEN, Program Manager Circular Water Technologies, VITO
Theme: Smart water solutions for climate sensitive environments, from inland waters to ports - Speaker 6: Ann OVERMEIRE, COO, The Blue Cluster
Theme: Innovation Pathways & Industry Collaboration
11,10: Guided tour - Walk to Flanders Maritime Laboratory with Coastal & Ocean Basin and Towing Tank for Manoeuvres in Shallow Water at Ostend Science Park
12,10: Group picture
12,15: Networking lunch offered by VLAIO & Speeddating
13,15: Transfer by bus
Venue: Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, Rodenhuizekaai 1, 9042 Gent
14,15: Refresh & coffee/tea
14,25: Welcome by Wim SOETAERT, CEO
14,30: Presentations (Showroom)
- Speaker 1: Wim SOETAERT
Theme: Introduction of Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant - Speaker 2: Stef DENAYER, Stakeholder Relations Manager
heme: The ProteInn Club and Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy - Q&A
15,30: Guided tour
16,15: Network reception offered by BBEU
17,30: Transfer by bus
Central Station Antwerp
Health Tech Tour - Flanders as a Life Science Hub
Day 1: Tuesday 24 march 2026
Theme: Biotech, Healthtech & Pharma
Venue: Central Station, Antwerp
Bus number 3
8,00: Transfer by bus
Venue: The Nucleus - Tech Lane Ghent Science Park, University of Ghent, Suzanne Tassierstraat 11, 9052 Gent
9.30: Refresh & coffee/tea
9.45: Welcome by Kristof BEUREN, General Manager Tech Transfer Office, Ghent University
9.55: Presentations (Room: Volt-Ampère)
- Speaker 1: Tessa JOHNSON, Business Development Biovia
Introduction to Biovia - Speaker 2: Erwin SABLON, Head of Business Development, VIB
Theme: Introduction to VIB - Speaker 3: Yannick WERNIERS, Operations Plant Assoc Director Legend Biotech
Theme: CAR-T Therapy - Speaker 4: Christoph PORTIER, director CESPE
Theme: CESPE
11.00: Coffee brea
11.15: Speaker 5: Philippe LEROUX, ID-Lab Ugent/imec
Theme: AI in Pharma
11,35: Guided Tour (clean rooms, labo, ..)
12,20: Network lunch offered by Ugent (Room X)
13,30: Transfer by bus
Venue: Vaccinopolis, Drie Eikenstraat 663, 2650 Antwerp
14,45: efresh & coffee/tea
14,55: Welcome by Professor Bart VAN MEERBERGEN, Head of Operations
15,00: Presentations (Room: X)
- Speaker 1: Fran VAN HEUVERSWYN, Project Manager, Immunity for Health
Theme: Immunity for Health: The Flemish vaccine ecosystem - Speaker 1: Owain WILSON, senior business development, P95
Theme: The role and capabilities of P95 to support clinical trials
15,40: Guided Tour
16,00: Transfer by bus
Venue: ViTalent, Isala Gebouw, Galileilaan 11, 2845 Niel
16,20: Welcome by Veerle VAN DER LINDEN, General Manager
16,25: Guided Tour
Closing remarks by Luk LEMMENS, Chairman POM Antwerp
16,45: Drinks offered by ViTalent & POM Antwerp
17,30: Transfer by bus
Day 2: Wednesday 25 March 2026
Theme: Digital Tech & Medtech/Healthtech
Venue: Central Station, Antwerp
Bus number: 3
8,00: Transfer by bus
Venue: Reval, UHasselt, Wetenschapspark 7, 3590 Diepenbeek
9,30: Refresh & coffee/tea
9,40: Welcome by Roeland BUCKINX – Health Campus manager (Room X)
9,45: Presentation Movelab – Yvette KERKUM – Business developer Reval
10,15: Transfer to Bioville (walk or bus)
Venue: Bioville, Building Abis, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek
10,30: Guided Tour Bioville - Laura VISCONTI – Business developer Bioville
11,10: HealthTech Panel discussion moderated by Roeland BUCKINX
Theme: From Innovation to Impact: Scaling HealthTech in Limburg
Panel members:
- Archer – Mieke TEMPELS – Clinical operations manager
- ZOL – Arne JAANSSEN – Innovatie en Future Health Manager
- MHU – Julie VRANKEN – Projectcoördinator Mobile Health Unit
- VLAIO – Mieke MARTENS - bedrijfsadviseur
- DSI – Tina SMETS – BD Data science institute
12,00: Networking lunch offered by HealthCampus
13,00: Transfer by bus
Venue: imec tower, remisebosweg 1, 3001 Heverlee
14,15: Welcome by Tom HEIRBAUT, Head Communication
14,20: Presentation by Peter PEUMANS, Senior Vice President, CTO Health
14,50: Transfer by bus
Venue: Leuven Health Technology Centre (L‑HTC), Kapucijnenvoer 7, 3000 Leuven
15,10: Welcome by Dr. Maria Teresa FRANCOMANO - Innovation Manager
15,20: Presentations (RAS Lab, 4th floor)
- Speaker 1 & 2: Maarten SCHOOVAERTS (Senior PhD student) & Wim EERAERTS (Entrepreneur in Residence)
Theme: Eye surgery - Speaker 3 & 4: Dr. Mirza AWAIS AHMAD & Dr. Beatriz BARATA (Postdoctoral Researchers)
Theme: Robotic and Intelligent Catheterization Systems for Endovascular Procedures - Speaker 5 & 6: Kaat VAN ASSCHE & AYOOB DAVOODI (Senior PhD students)
Theme: Ultrasound-guided spine surgery - Speaker 7: Ewald URY (PhD student)
Theme: Extended reality (XR) for surgical applications
16,45: Transfer by bus
17,00: Network reception offered by Imec & L-HTC
Venue: Prinsenzaal (Room 01.01) – Arenberg Castle (KU Leuven), Kasteelpark Arenberg 1, 3001 Heverlee
17,30: Transfer by bus
Central Station Antwerp
Digitech Tour - Flanders as the digital engine of Europe
Day 1: Tuesday 24 March 2026
Theme: AI, Semiconductors, Smart Logistics & Data-driven Innovation
Venue: Central Station Antwerp
Bus number: 2
7,30: Transfer by bus
Venue: Flanders Make, Gaston Geenslaan 8, 3001 Heverlee
9.30: Welcome with coffee by Marc ENGELS
9,32: Presentation by Marc ENGELS, Chief Devision Officer, Application Research Division (Experience Room)
Theme: Machines of the Future
9,45: Guided Tour
10,45: Transfer by bus
Venue: imec tower, remisebosweg 1, 3001 Heverlee
10,55: Welcome by Tom HEIRBAUT, Head of Communication
11,00: Presentations by Axel NACKAERTS & Bartek KOZICKI + guided Tours in Cleanroom (3 groups)
12,30: Network lunch offered by imec
13,15: Transfer by bus
Venue: Corda Campus, University of Hasselt, Kempische Steenweg 293/16, 3500 Hasselt
14,25: Refresh & coffee/tea
14,30: Welcome by Raf DEGENS, CEO Corda Campus
14,32: Presentation by Raf DEGENS
Theme: CORDA Campus and Arena: Belgium’s biggest and most appealing Technology Campus – beyond reality…
16,45: Transfer by bus
Day 2: Wednesday 25 March 2026
Theme: AI & Digital Transformations across Industries
Venue: Central Station Antwerp
Bus number: 2
7,45: Transfer by bus
Venue: Flega/Hangar K, Nelson Mandelaplein 2, 8500 Kortrijk
9,45: Welcome by Orphee VANHOVE, Community Manager Hangar K
9,50: Presentations
- Speaker 1: Natascha ROMMENS, general manager FLEGA
- Speaker 2: Michel HOUWEN, general manager Flanders Game Hub
Theme: Games and Gametech in Flanders: keeping up with fast-evolving consumer trends and tech markets
Guided tour
10,30: Walk (or transfer by bus)
Venue: Flanders Make, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 16, 8500 Kortrijk
10,35: Welcome by Grisja LOBBESTAEL
10,40: Presentation by Grisja LOBBESTAEL, CEO & Hans DESCAMPS, CCO
Theme: Manufacturing of the Future
11,40: Labtour Flanders Make & Infinity Lab KULeuven (digital twins)
12,15: Network lunch offered by Flanders Make
13,30: Transfer by bus
Venue: The Nucleus, Tech Lane Science Park, University of Ghent, Suzanne Tassierstraat 11, 9052 Gent
14.30: Welcome by Kristof BEUREN, General Manager Tech Transfer Office Ghent University
14.40: Presentations (Room: Volt-Ampère)
- Speakers 1 & 2: Wim DE WISPELAERE & Philippe LEROUX, Ghent University ID-Lab/imec
Theme: Deep Dive in AI
15.45: Coffee break
- Speaker 3: Prof. Ashish KUMAR - Ghent University Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Theme: AI and digital twinning in pharma manufacturing - Speaker 4: Erik VERSCHUEREN, Head of AI Studio
Theme: Data driven biotech innovation at VIB
17,00: Network reception offered by Ugent
18.00: Transfer by bus
Central Station Antwerp