Belgium – Recycling technology company Umicore, together with three major Belgian universities, technology institute VITO and the Centre de Recherche Métallurgique, are working towards the foundation of a recycling knowledge centre to be co-financed by the European Commission. To be based on the University of Leuven campus, the centre is intended to help Belgium become ‘the global hot spot for recycling innovation’, according to the country’s technology industry federation Agoria.
Possible research projects will include finding ways to improve recycling and production efficiency. Agoria also sees plenty of ′further opportunities′ for the Belgian recycling industry ′in terms of the development of new recycling technology and design for recycling′.
Agoria′s ceo Marc Lambotte comments: ′Access to raw materials for recycling is of international strategic importance, with Belgium playing a leading role.′
Umicore already has several projects running in concert with universities. ′Thanks to companies such as Umicore, our country is already playing a prominent role when it comes to recycling technology,′ Agoria maintains.
′In addition, many research institutions such as KU Leuven and Ghent University are well known for their expertise in raw materials.′
For more information, visit: www.agoria.be
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