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Bluechem: incubator for sustainable chemistry

  • Real estate projects
  • Social real estate
  • Real estate
Vastgoed - Maatschappelijk vastgoed

BlueChem is the incubator for sustainable chemistry being realised at the Blue Gate Antwerp business park in a public-private partnership between the City of Antwerp, Essenscia, VITO, POM Antwerp, DEME, Bopro, AG Vespa and PMV.

BlueChem’s mission is to ensure the future of the chemical industry in Belgium by offering infrastructure, financial and go-to-market services to start-ups and chemistry projects in sustainable chemistry. In this way, the incubator aims to give these start-ups and projects the best possible chance of success. BlueChem operates within the ecosystem of the chemical industry present in Antwerp. The city has an international pioneering role in the industrial development of that sector. Yet that available knowledge and experience does not easily lead to new companies or business models. They are particularly vulnerable in the start-up phase. Start-ups and innovation projects therefore need a location where they can find infrastructure, services, guidance and even financing: BlueChem is an answer to that need.

European development

BlueChem will be the first real estate realisation at Blue Gate Antwerp and will thus help drive the further development of that sustainable business park. The project was put on the market as a Design & Build contract through a negotiated procedure with publication. It was awarded to MBG (CFE) with LOW Architects, Ingenium and ELD. The project receives a financial contribution from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the ‘ERDF Flanders 2014-2020’ programme. The fund is one of the so-called ‘structural funds’ aimed at increasing economic, social and territorial cohesion in the European Union and levelling out regional imbalances. They finance projects that contribute to sustainable economic development and job creation, and the realisation of the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The Flemish government (Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) also gives a grant.

PMV’s role

PMV is in charge of legal, financial and tax structuring. In this way, the real estate risk was separated from the operation of the incubator. The partners of Blue Gate Antwerp, through the SPV BlueChem Building nv, are responsible for the realisation and provision of the building to the SPV Bluechem nv, via a usufruct for thirty years. In order to obtain the ERDF subsidies, the project had to be put out to tender in accordance with the Public Procurement Act. Together with AG Vespa, PMV was responsible for the correct application of the procedure, and the Flemish Investment Company is taking care of the financial-legal management of the activities.

The project in numbers

  • Programme: approx. 3,300 m² gross floor area for labs, individual offices, flex spaces.
  • Investment value: 11 million euros (excl. VAT).
  • Commissioning: spring 2020.
Steven Adons Principal Investment Manager steven.adons@pmv.eu