Are you a pioneer for circular and climate-neutral industry? Do you value innovation highly? Discover NextGen Demo, the testing ground for innovators who – like you – want to transform traditional industry into something new, better and – above all – sustainable.
For instance, storage of renewable energy or the use of alternative raw materials such as CO₂, plastic waste and biomass to create new building blocks for the chemical industry.
As an innovation hub, NextGen Demo aims to be the ideal catalyst for sustainable innovations in the field of resource and energy transition. The two companies that will be the first to launch their project are perfectly in line with this ambition.
Power to Hydrogen aims to accelerate the transition to a green hydrogen economy through AEM (anion exchange membrane) electrolysis. This technology represents a possible solution to reduce the cost of green hydrogen production. The technology has never been applied on an industrial scale before and the electrolysis system to be installed at NextGen Demo in the fourth quarter of 2024 is the largest in the world.
TripleW has developed an industrial process to produce lactic acid made entirely from food waste. The lactic acid serves as a feedstock for biodegradable plastics and biochemicals. TripleW aims to expand the application of this innovative technology to various food waste streams and end products by demonstrating its scalability and adaptability with the project in NextGen Demo. Construction of the plant started in late 2024. By 2025, TripleW aims to be operational at NextGen Demo.
Besides Power to Hydrogen and TripleW, which will start construction of their project at NextGen Demo this year, 3 other companies have embarked on a preparation process to start their project in the medium term (2026-2027). These companies will be supported for up to 1 year to maturise their promising project. Agreements on the support within the preparation process are laid down in a Letter of Intent.
H2SITE is building a membrane reactor to produce high-purity hydrogen from renewable ammonia as feedstock. With this demo project, the company aims to demonstrate that this breakthrough technology is the most cost-effective technology to enable the sustainable hydrogen supply chain from ammonia.
HSL Technologies has developed an innovative hydrogen carrier, called Hydrosil, to transport and store hydrogen like any conventional liquid, at ambient temperature and pressure. The technology developed by the company is particularly advantageous for overseas transport of hydrogen. With this demo project, the company aims to demonstrate the release of hydrogen from Hydrosil at the Port of Antwerp, which has positioned itself as a hydrogen import hub.
Aquature wants to build a demonstration plant at NextGen Demo to purify wastewater while extracting green hydrogen and chemicals from it. The treated water can then be reused by industry to save water. The company wants to implement a circular approach to wastewater treatment with this demo project.
NextGen Demo, the innovation hub of the circular hotspot NextGen District, has received a €750,000 subsidy from the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) and €1,250,000 in support from the Flemish FIO (Fund for Innovation & Entrepreneurship). Given the perfect alignment with ERDF’s ambitions, which focus on a ‘smarter’ and ‘greener’ Europe, the subsidy was granted. It will be used for investments during the start-up phase, such as preparing the demonstration sites and setting up shared office facilities, thereby making a significant contribution to the transition towards a climate-neutral industry.
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