Debrief: A.SPIRE Community Day 2025

This year’s edition of our flagship event for our members, the A.SPIRE Community Day, took place on 10 April 2025. In this pivotal year for the European process industry, the association’s members and representatives from the European Commission gathered where it all began, in Brussels, in a unique venue - the Albert Hall Complexe, a former theatre in the art-deco architectural style of the 1920s and 1930s—another era of rapid technological change, modernisation, and bold visions for the future. 

The day started with an address from Ms Àngels Orduña, A.SPIRE’s Executive Director, who welcomed the attendees, introduced the agenda of the day, and focused on the complex landscape of European industries, addressing the latest initiatives, challenges and opportunities. Ms Orduña then gave the stage to Mr Sebastian Engell (TU Dortmund), A.SPIRE APG Chair, who talked about P4Planet and the topics of Horizon Europe Pillar 2, Cluster 4, in the context of the newly launched Clean Industrial Deal.  

Keeping the momentum going, in the next session, the stage was shared by expert voices from the industry, talking about ‘Process Industries Challenges to Scale up Innovation.’ The panellist represented different industrial sectors (chemicals, refining and steel), offering diverse and knowledgeable perspectives on the topic. Representatives from the 2DPLOY and LEADS projects addressed ‘Barriers to access the Innovation Fund.’ The two projects in which A.SPIRE is a consortium partner are Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs), aiming to open the gateway for general low-carbon (2DPLOY) and CCUS (LEADS) technologies to market deployment.  

The session was followed by two sessions of ‘Round Table Discussions.’ The A.SPIRE community engaged in vibrant and productive dialogue about the Processes4Planet partnership in the context of the Clean Industrial Deal and about the partnership’s topics. Between the two sessions, our members had a 30-minute ‘Coffee Break & Matchmaking Tables.’ This time wasn’t just about grabbing a coffee—it became a lively space where meaningful connections were made. The relaxed setting fostered a real sense of community, as members from diverse backgrounds and industries came together over shared interests and ideas.  

The lunch break was followed by the most anticipated part of the event: the A.SPIRE Brokerage (2025 topics). Different from the matchmaking, our Brokerage brings together potential partners to form strong consortia for projects (P4Planet and more) that will contribute to the decarbonisation of the European process industries while reinforcing their global competitiveness. Divided into ‘Topics’, ‘Pitches’ and ‘Networking Tables’, the Brokerage reflected the strength of a community built on collaboration, curiosity, and a shared passion for progress.  

After the Brokerage, during the session ‘Towards a Vision for a New Partnership Led by the Process Industry’, Mr Sebastian Engell took the stage to talk about the vision that could reshape the future of the European industrial sectors in the decades to come. The last session of the event brought together the members of the A.SPIRE Permanent Working Groups (PWGs) and Transversal Teams (TT) and created more networking opportunities for the attendees.  

Whether it meant reconnecting with familiar faces or meeting someone new, the A.SPIRE Community Day 2025 was a success that connected the association’s members at the forefront of the transformation of the European process industries.  

As a thank-you gift for their steadfast commitment, A.SPIRE renewed the collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute in Belgium, planting trees in Europe and in Africa. Since the launch of the Processes4Planet Partnership, we have planted over 1,350 trees across both continents. 

Would you like to be a part of this vibrant community, at the forefront of the transformation of the European process industry? Join A.SPIRE!