Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy 2026
Cross-border Pitching, Matchmaking and Networking Event
30 November 2026: Satellite Events, Keynote Session, Investor Pitches, Informal Walking Dinner, Speed Dating, Cosy Pitch Perfect Networking Lounge & Matchmaking
10 am - 11 pm, Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel
View Full ScheduleSCROLL DOWN to see the detailed programme for Day 1: 30 November 2026
10:00 - 13:00: Satellite Events
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.00 - 13.00 | Check out our webpage to find out all about our online and physical Satellite Events: Click "What's going on" followed by "Satellite Events". | Download |
13:30 - 13:40: OPENING by Organiser BIO BASE EUROPE PILOT PLANT, supported by The ProteInn Club and Pilots4U
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:30 - 13:40 | Short Engaging Opening of Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy 2026 | Speakers – TBC | Download |
13:40 - 15:45: KEYNOTE SESSION: THE EUROPEAN BIOECONOMY in 2026: SINK OR SWIM?
13:40 - 14:45: KEYNOTE SESSION PART 1: SUCCESSFUL DEPLOYMENT of INDUSTRIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY BUSINESS CASES
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In this part of the keynote, we want to inspire our ecosystem by showcasing successes based on reality, not on pipe dreams. Both a start-up and a corporate will share details on their scale-up journey and production plans with focus on the success factors, the hurdles and how to overcome them, and how to handle the shift from “Green is the Dream” to “Techno-Economics is the Name of the Game”. This part will be concluded by a panel discussion adding contributions by an investor and a pilot facility to the discussion. | Download | |||
| 13:40 - 13:45 | Introduction | Moderator: Melina Gerdts – bioCircular Loop | Download | |
| 13:45 - 14:00 | Keynote Presentation by a Start-up | Start-up & Speaker – TBC | Download | |
| 14:00 - 14:15 | Steelanol: When Microbiology Meets Steel: Scaling Innovation in the Real World | Kristof Verbeeck – Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, ArcelorMittal Belgium | Download | |
| 14:15 - 14:45 | Panel Discussion 1: “Feet on the ground” proves to be a key driver for successful commercialisation of industrial biotechnology innovations | Panellists: TBC – Moderator: Melina Gerdts, bioCircular Loop | Download |
14:45 - 14:55: Short Engaging Reflections & Q&A with Co-Organiser DI Biosolutions (DK)
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:45 - 14:55 | Short Engaging Q&A with Co-Organiser DI Biosolutions (DK) | Mikael Wraae Valsted, Head of DI Biolsoutions – Moderator: Melina Gerdts, bioCircular Loop | Download |
14:55 - 15:45: KEYNOTE SESSION PART 2: THE 2026 TOOLBOX: WILL IT TURN THE TIDE for the EUROPEAN BIOECONOMY SECTOR?
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:55 - 15:55 | With the launch of the new bioeconomy strategy late last year, the European Commission has shifted its focus towards industrial deployment, market scale-up, competitiveness, and resilience. Various support mechanisms have since been established to bridge the innovation gap between the laboratory and commercial-scale production, improve the appetite of private investors and stimulate market demand for bio-based products. The key question, however, is whether these instruments will be capable of delivering tangible results in the near term? | Download | ||
| 14:55 - 15:05 | Introduction and Presentation of the Panel Members | Moderator and Panelists – TBC | Download | |
| 15:05 - 15:45 | Panel Discussion: The 2026 Toolbox: Will it Turn the Tide for the Bioeconomy Sector? | Moderator & Panelists – TBC | Download |
15:45 - 16:15: INVESTOR HIGH TEA kindly offered by Flanders Investment and Trade
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:45 - 16:15 | Enjoy a fresh coffee or tea and a tasty sweet or salty bite, and brace yourselves for the upcoming Investor Pitch Sessions! | Download |
16:15 - 16:25: Short Engaging Reflections & Q&A with Co-Organiser Flanders Investment & Trade
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:15 - 16:25 | Short Engaging Q&A with Co-Organiser Flanders Investment & Trade | Moderator & Speaker – TBC | Download |
16:25 - 17:15: INVESTOR PITCH SESSION 1
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:25 - 17:15 | Several pitches by investors, exact content TBA & TBC | Download |
17:15 - 17:25: Short Engaging Reflections & Q&A with Co-Organiser Brabantse Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij (BOM, NL)
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:15 - 17:25 | Short Engaging Q&A with Co-Organiser Brabantse Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij (BOM, NL) | Moderator & Speaker – TBC | Download |
17:25 - 18:00: INVESTOR APPETITE DRINK kindly offered by Brabantse Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij (BOM)
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:25 - 18:00 | Enjoy a fresh "Brabant Drink" and tasty "Brabant Bite" and fuel up for the last session of the day! | Supported by – BOM | Download |
18:00 - 18:50: INVESTOR PITCH SESSION 2
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 - 18:50 | Several pitches by investors, exact content TBA & TBC | Download |
18:50 - 19:00: Short Engaging Reflections & Q&A with Co-Organiser Planet b.io (NL)
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:50 - 19:00 | Short Engaging Q&A with Co-Organiser Planet b.io (NL) | Moderartor & Speaker – TBC | Download |
19:00 - 19:05: SURPRISE ACT
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:00 - 19:10 | Surprise Act Hollywoord Style! | Actors – TBC | Download |
19:05 - 21:00: INFORMAL WALKING DINNER kindly supported by Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC)
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:00 - 21:00 | Enjoy a tasty and copious informal walking dinner while networking! (Included in the registration fee for Day 1) | Supported by – BIC | Download |
19:45 - 20.15: SPEED DATING - Session 1
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:45 - 20.15 | Expand your network rapidly by enjoying five surprise one-on-one conversations in just 30 minutes. Max 60p per session, register via registration form. | Moderators: – Katrien Molders & Stef Denayer | Download |
20:30 - 21:00: SPEED DATING - Session 2
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:30 - 21:00 | Expand your network rapidly by enjoying five surprise one-on-one conversations in just 30 minutes. Max 60p per session, register via registration form. | Moderators – Katrien Molders & Stef Denayer | Download |
21:00 - 23:00: COSY Pitch Perfect NETWORKING LOUNGE
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21:00 - 23:00 | Continue networking in our cosy networking lounge and/or at the matchmaking tables (available as of 7.20 pm) | Download |