ACCELERATING THE ENERGY TRANSITION: THE ROLE OF INDUSTRIAL PORT CLUSTERS
On 14 January, CLECAT joined a seminar organised by the Port of Rotterdam and Port of Antwerp-Bruges at the Solvay Library in Brussels, focusing on the critical role industrial port clusters play in accelerating the energy transition and strengthening the competitive position of European industries. The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss how Europe’s largest ports can contribute to sustainable growth and strategic autonomy.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of the study “Value Creation for Europe: A First Study on the Value Creation for Europe’s Sustainable and Competitive Position of the Combined Ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges,” conducted by Erasmus UPT and VUB. Larissa van der Lugt and Elvira Haezendonck presented the findings, emphasising how the synergy between these two major ports results in a combined impact that is “greater than the sum of its parts.” This collaborative scale not only drives sustainability but also secures Europe’s industrial future in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
The study underscores the ports’ unique contributions as valuable assets with scarce space, extensive connections, and critical competencies that support the EU’s energy and resource transitions while enhancing strategic autonomy. Keynote speaker Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra reinforced this point, highlighting how ports, their businesses, and industries are on the front lines of Europe’s clean industrial transition and growth challenges.
Read the full study here: Value Creation for Europe