Genk, 15 October 2025 – The Energy Transmission Competence Hub (Etch) today kicks off its industrial partnership program, bringing together leading companies from Belgium and beyond to help shape the electricity grids of the future. The program represents a significant step in connecting academic research with industrial innovation, aiming to accelerate the energy transition towards 2050.
Based at Thor Park in Genk, a unique hub for energy innovation in Flanders, Etch positions itself as a market-neutral competence center. Here, research institutions, technology providers, manufacturers, and transmission system operators collaborate on key technologies such as high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and underground cable systems. These technologies are crucial for integrating large-scale renewable energy, enhancing grid reliability, and minimizing the societal impact of new infrastructure.
Strategic importance for the sector
With the European Grids Package expected at the end of 2025, this partnership program brings together the sector’s key players to accelerate innovation in the transmission grid. It bridges the gap between science and practice and directly supports Europe’s 2050 climate goals. By combining academic and industrial expertise, Etch lays the foundation for a stronger and more innovative ecosystem.
Fifteen companies have already confirmed their participation, with discussions ongoing with other interested parties. Participants include transmission system operators, cable manufacturers, and technology suppliers, ranging from multinationals to Flemish SMEs.
Added value for companies
Companies joining the program gain unique access to academic knowledge and research infrastructure. They can participate in joint research projects, utilize the HVDC simulation lab scheduled to open next year, and benefit from training and educational programs on HVDC and underground cable systems. This accelerates innovation cycles and provides a concrete platform to tackle shared challenges, such as integrating HVDC technology and underground cables into the existing transmission network, digitalization, cybersecurity, and smart grids. In this way, the program contributes to a more robust, sustainable, and cost-efficient energy system.
Societal impact
The benefits extend beyond the sector alone. Innovation in electricity transmission contributes to an affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy system while creating new economic opportunities and jobs in the energy sector. Furthermore, the program supports European energy independence and security, topical issues in today’s debate around energy affordability, grid reinforcement, and supply reliability.
"With this program, we want to give companies the opportunity to both contribute to and benefit from groundbreaking research," says Dirk van Hertem, Director of Etch. "By working closely with the most innovative companies in our sector, we can innovate faster and translate these innovations into solutions that deliver immediate value for both industry and society.
