Ten new Moonshot Flanders projects approved for the call of 2024

Ten new Moonshot projects have been approved in 2024 and will start researching technologies, processes and products that will help Flemish companies become more sustainable and will contribute to reduce CO2 emissions by 2050. Flanders has earmarked over €24 million to fund the projects. Eight of the projects focus on Early Stage Innovation (ESI), two projects are Later Stage Innovation (LSI) projects. The projects will start in the first quarter of 2025. 

Back to overview
Moonshot lunar eclipse ESA. CREDIT ESA/CESAR; M. Pérez Ayúcar; M. Castillo; M. Breitfellner

From 2020 to 2040, the Flemish government intends to invest approximately €20 million per year in the Flanders Industry Innovation Moonshot, for a total of €400 million. The funds will enable the development of breakthrough technologies by 2040 through innovative research. Thanks to these technologies, Flemish industry will be able to implement new processes and produce climate-friendly products that will help Flanders to make the big leap: to make its industry circular and carbon-neutral by 2050, and to meet its climate commitments.

Eight Early Stage Innovation (ESI) projects approved

HYDROPLAST

  • Hydroprocessing for Plastics Circularity
  • Project budget: € 2.872.577
  • Coordinator: Joris Thybaut (Ghent University)

RECYCLEX

  • integRativE approach towards the valorization and Chemical recYCling of poLymers in tEXtiles
  • Project budget: € 2.997.406
  • Coordinator: Kathy Elst (VITO)

ALOHA

  • Allylic Oxidation of Hydrocarbons on Anodes
  • Project budget: € 1.843.475
  • Coordinator: Dirk De Vos (KU Leuven)

ATLANTIS

  • Integrated Hydroformylation and Oxidative coupling of methane to C2 and C3 base chemicals
  • Project budget: € 2.067.927
  • Coordinator: Kevin Van Geem (Ghent University)

EDLCO2

  • Electrical Double Layer Modulated Catalysts for conversion of CO2 to methanol
  • Project budget: € 2.730.177​
  • Coordinator: Philippe Vereecken (IMEC)

EFFORT

  • Development of GDE-MEA for CO2-electrolysis with low anolyte contribution
  • Project budget: € 2.977.614
  • Coordinator: Ivo Vankelecom (KU Leuven)

SAFARI

  • Sustainable Aviation Fuels from (bio)Alcohols through Reactor Integration
  • Project budget: € 2.661.385
  • Coordinator: Mark Saeys (Ghent University)

SUSPLASM

  • Platform for sustainable thermal plasma processing and valorization of challenging waste
  • Project budget: € 2.997.633
  • Coordinator: Erik Meers (Ghent University)

 

Two Later Stage Innovation (LSI) projects approved

ELECTRA

  • Development of a TRL6 CO2 electrolysis testing facility at industrial scale
  • Project budget: € 1.466.970
  • Coordinator: Tom Breugelmans (University of Antwerp)

OPTIMA

  • Optimal CO2 post-combustion capture process through advanced thermal integration and vortex technology
  • Project budget: € 1.998.461​
  • Coordinator: LCT group (Ghent University)

 

Why Moonshot Flanders focuses on strategic basic research?

The strategic basic research within Moonshot Flanders is carried out at Flemish universities and knowledge institutes, which are responsible for the scientific development of the disruptive and innovative Moonshot technologies. In a later phase these technologies will find applications on an industrial scale and will be implemented by companies. The Moonshot Flanders Initiative actively involves the Flemish industry, in particular from the chemical, petrochemical and steel sectors, and with the active support of the Industrial Advisory Board.

Call 2025 is open

The Moonshot Flanders Call 2025 has been launched with an increased focus on LSI projects. All relevant details about the call here. 

 

The Moonshot program is coordinated by Catalisti. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Moonshot team at moonshotatcatalisti.be (moonshot[at]catalisti[dot]be).