Technology for ecology and economy

The Flemish business community associates VITO in the first place with high quality knowledge and expertise, technological innovation, competent employees, independence and objectivity. With respect to the expectations regarding technological support: high quality knowledge and expertise as well as practically applicable solutions are at the top of the list. VITO has also an established track record in providing relevant economic and social information to policy-making authorities at all levels.

VITO launched recently with the chemical industry federation essenscia the Flemish Initiative for Sustainable Chemistry (FISCH). Via this program and its cleantech initative (Flanders Cleantech Association) one of the key topics at VITO are biomass and biotechnology related research. VITO pays attention to the whole value chain of biomass up to food/feed – materials/chemicals – energy (cascade approach). Research goes to biomass availability, analytics and technology. The cleantech approach brings VITO to work on the integration of conversion and separation processes. We can name in situ product recovery, enzyme bioreactors, biomass harvesting and fractionation, microbial electrochemical systems, membrane separation, combination with chemical processes etc. The process intensification of integrated downstream processes is the final objective to support sustainable and competitive biorefeneries for the future.