Industrial Engagement in Moonshot

To make sure Moonshot research at universities and knowledge institutes will lead to an actual reduction of industrial CO₂ emissions, Moonshot actively involves companies in its operations through, amongst others, industrial Advisory Boards. During these meetings, the academic consortia behind Moonshot projects present the status of their research to interested companies and share relevant results obtained thus far. Meanwhile, participating companies have the opportunity to follow up on Moonshot projects from a front-row seat, guide the research towards maximal industrial relevance by providing industrial input, discover innovative technologies in an early stage, and identify business opportunities for the future. In short, it is a unique opportunity for companies to actively participate in the transition towards a more sustainable Flemish industry.

Each year, a new series of Moonshot project proposals are prepared. In order to receive approval and funding, the proposals have to show that the technology, process or product to be studied is of sufficient industrial interest and/or has industrial valorisation potential in Flanders.

To gauge whether this is the fact, companies are invited to already express their interest in the project proposals during the preparation phase. How? By filling out and signing a Letter of Intent (LOI). As part of the LOI, your company will be asked to describe how each project of interest fits into your company’s innovation roadmap, as well as how the project results could contribute to your company’s existing and future activities. This input will provide Moonshot’s knowledge partners with valuable information when writing the valorisation aspect of their project proposals.

Moonshot LOIs do not impose rigid obligations on your company. A subsequent Advisory Board Agreement (ABA) to be signed upon project start will allow your company to actively engage with the selected projects through participation in Advisory Board meetings. This participation is free of charge.

Across all four Moonshot Research Trajectories (MOTs), a number of project proposals are in the process of elaboration every year. Specifically, companies can sign an LOI for one or more project proposals.

The LOI templates which can be used to express your company’s wish to be involved in one or more of the new projects, will be provided (April-May). In case your company wants to be involved in one of the already approved projects, please contact moonshot@catalisti.be.

All submitted LOIs will be added to the project files to strengthen the valorisation aspect of the project proposals and increase their chances of final approval. The proposals will be evaluated over the coming months in a multi-phase evaluation process. The final decision will be made in November. This decision will be communicated to interested companies.

Approved projects will then take off as of 1 January. The first industrial Advisory Board meetings for this series of projects will take place in the Fall.

For more information about Moonshot’s industrial Advisory Boards or the Letter of Intent, please contact moonshot@catalisti.be.

For additional information about the MOTs or substantive questions about a particular project proposal, please contact the relevant MOT representative:

• MOT1: Isabelle Monnaie (imonnaie@catalisti.be)
• MOT2: Kathleen Smolders (ksmolders@catalisti.be)
• MOT3: Luc Van Ginneken (lvanginneken@catalisti.be)
• MOT4: Luc Van Ginneken (lvanginneken@catalisti.be) or Guy Vekemans (guy.vekemans@flux50.com)