On Wednesday, November 27, the brand-new academic chair focusing on energy transition was officially annonced at KU Leuven, with ArcelorMittal Belgium as a partner.
As leading scientific and technological forces in Flanders and beyond, KU Leuven and ArcelorMittal Belgium will work together to promote sustainable innovation and talent development. The chair confirms the close ties between the two parties. There are currently 200 KU Leuven alumni working at various ArcelorMittal sites, representing a wide variety of disciplines. These range from scientists and industrial engineers to linguists, economists and engineers. ArcelorMittal is donating this chair as part of KU Leuven's 600th anniversary celebrations in 2025.
ArcelorMittal will support the chair, managed by Professor Johan Driesen of the KU Leuven Institute for Energy and Society (KIEM), for a period of four years. This institute provides scientifically based answers to the social questions and challenges associated with energy transition. KIEM will not only establish a collaboration with the campuses in Leuven, but also with KU Leuven – Ghent campus.
ArcelorMittal Belgium is at the heart of the circular economy and is taking responsibility for significantly reducing CO2 emissions by achieving climate-neutral production by 2050. Both as a product and as a process, steel as a base material is truly at the center of the transformation to a climate-neutral world. The goal is to achieve CO2-neutral production, which requires cooperation with many stakeholders to make this transition together.
Professor Johan Driesen, KU Leuven: “Our energy system is undergoing a complete transformation, driven by the focus on renewable energy, but also by external shocks and conflicts. This puts our European industry under pressure. To prepare for a climate-neutral future, we will examine how to integrate heavy industry into a sustainable Belgian energy system.”
Manfred Van Vlierberghe, CEO ArcelorMittal Belgium: “The transformation of the steel industry to net-zero emissions production is a major challenge for the coming decades. Closer cooperation with KU Leuven and participation in innovative research projects will contribute to achieving this transformation. At the same time, KU Leuven students will get to know our company better and gain an insight into the many exciting career opportunities at ArcelorMittal Belgium."
