Peter Roose is the new chairman of Catalisti and Moonshot

A month after the appointment of Tine Schaerlaekens as managing director of Catalisti, there is also a successor to Wouter De Geest, the chairman of the board of directors. Peter Roose now takes over this task from him to help realise the sustainable and competitive transformation of the chemical and plastics processing industry through collaboration and innovation.  

Peter Roose graduated with a PhD in Chemistry from Ghent University in 1997. He also obtained a postgraduate master's degree in industrial management from the European Management School in Brussels. After a career start at Texaco Global Products, he joined UCB Chemicals. He was given increasing business development and R&D responsibilities for the global Functional Amines, Derivative Specialty Amines and Crop Protection divisions within the Taminco group. In this role, he worked to implement an open innovation model with several long-term scientific collaborations with universities and research institutes around the world. After integrating into Eastman, his responsibilities included becoming site director for Eastman's new EMEA technology centre in Ghent at the university's science park. In May 2021, he was given responsibility for both EMEA Technology operations and the role of sustainability director of functional films. Peter has been one of the driving forces on Catalisti's board of directors for many years.

"I believe enormously in the power of collaboration as an answer to the massive transformation we face," said chairman Peter Roose. "It is by bringing people together that innovative ideas are transformed into concrete change. That is exactly the essence of what Catalisti is trying to do. I strongly believe that, together with other clusters, and across borders, we have all the assets here in the EU to make the sustainable transformation work. It is with great purpose and ambition that I therefore take up the role of chairman at Catalisti."

Former chairman Wouter De Geest thanks his successor: "With Peter Roose as new chairman and brand-new managing director Tine Schaerlaekens, Catalisti is led by the strongest possible tandem. They both have in-depth knowledge of the R&D landscape in Flanders and in particular of the chemical industry. Like no other, they can properly deploy strategic resources to help achieve a necessary transformation in our region. With Peter and Tine at the helm, I am confident about the future of Catalisti and Moonshot Flanders."

"I am delighted that an active company member will now become president of Catalisti," states managing director Tine Schaerlaekens. "Peter Roose, who works for US-listed multinational Eastman, has been a strong ambassador for Flemish innovation for years. Now he can also take up that role as chairman of Catalisti. We face major challenges: a difficult economic climate, ambitious climate and environmental goals, intense competition for raw and source materials. We need to take Catalisti to the next level and generate even more impact. I look forward to working hard on that with Peter."

About Catalisti and Moonshot

As a spearhead cluster, Catalisti spends around 10 million euros a year. Catalisti's innovation brokers initiate and support partnerships between companies, universities, research institutions, associations and governments in Flanders. Through high-impact projects, they support Catalisti members in accelerating innovation into business. Catilisti currently has 26 active projects. Flanders Industry Innovation Moonshot, counts 25 active projects and invests 20 million euros annually in research and innovation projects of Flemish universities and recognised, independent research institutes. Through innovative research, the Moonshot initiative aims to develop pioneering, climate-friendly technologies by 2040.