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With the highly appreciated support of our Service for Economic Interests, the Diplomatic Circle visited BlueChem in Antwerp on 7 April as part of its third activity of the year.
BlueChem is a leading incubator and innovation hub for sustainable chemistry in Antwerp. The initiative provides start-ups and scale-ups with state-of-the-art infrastructure and a stimulating environment to develop, test and scale up innovative chemical technologies. BlueChem serves as an essential bridge between academic research, entrepreneurship and industrial applications within the Flemish and Belgian chemical ecosystem.
The site offers an extensive and flexible infrastructure, including fully equipped and adaptable laboratories, office spaces, meeting rooms and shared workspaces. In total, BlueChem covers more than 3,300 m², of which approximately 900 m² are laboratory facilities. Thanks to financial support from the City of Antwerp, companies also benefit from significant assistance in fitting out their laboratories.
BlueChem focuses specifically on start-ups and scale-ups active in sustainable chemistry and acts as a meeting place for open innovation, technology exploration and investment opportunities. One of its key thematic areas is urban mining—the recovery of valuable raw materials from existing urban streams such as waste, industrial by-products, end-of-life products and infrastructure. Cities are thus regarded as “urban mines,” where materials are reused as resources rather than discarded.
Within this context, companies develop solutions in areas such as urban mining, CO₂ and hydrogen chemistry, biotechnology, waste valorisation and process development. A concrete example is Triple Helix, a company specialising in the recycling of polyurethane foams originating from products such as mattresses and car seats. Each vehicle contains on average about 25 kg of this type of foam. By chemically valorising these difficult-to-recycle materials, Triple Helix contributes to a more circular and low-carbon materials policy.
Since its establishment, BlueChem has experienced strong growth and achieved a tangible impact. More than 20 start-ups have been supported, accounting for over 200 jobs created and a strongly international profile with more than 25 nationalities represented. Over a five-year period, companies based at BlueChem collectively raised more than €100 million in investment capital.
BlueChem is an integral part of the broader Belgian innovation ecosystem in chemistry and life sciences, working closely with industrial partners, research institutions and innovation clusters such as Catalisti, and aligning with the sectoral ambitions of essenscia. In this way, BlueChem actively contributes to the transition towards a climate-neutral, circular and safe chemical industry.
The visit was greatly appreciated by the approximately thirty participants, who showed a particularly strong interest in topics related to innovation and science.
