Deputy Prime Minister and Minister David Clarinval visits Centexbel in Kortrijk
On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Centexbel welcomes David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Employment, Economy and Agriculture, to its site in Kortrijk. During the visit, the minister gains insight into the role Centexbel plays as the Belgian competence center for the textile and plastics industry. The focus is on how research and innovation contribute to strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of the sector.
Bridge between research and industry
The Kortrijk site serves as a center of expertise for polymer processing into textile and plastic products. With a strong focus on material understanding, industrial applications and certification, Centexbel supports companies in developing and implementing innovative solutions.
By combining advanced laboratories with practical pilot lines, Centexbel guides companies through every stage of the innovation process: from material analysis to processing, optimization, certification and scaling up to industrial applications. Companies not only gain insight into the properties of their materials, but also the opportunity to test and validate them in a real-world environment.
“In Kortrijk, we not only help companies understand their materials, but also test them effectively and scale them up to production. In this way, we shorten the distance between research and industry and accelerate innovation toward the market.” - Pol Lombaert, CEO Centexbel
The importance of innovation for the sector
The importance of such infrastructure and expertise is also emphasized by the sector.
“There is only one way for our companies to remain at the top, and that is to innovate again and again. Centexbel is the right partner for this. They help the textile and plastics industry develop innovative products and prepare them for the market.”
- Karla Basselier, CEO Fedustria
Dialogue on challenges and opportunities
The visit of Minister Clarinval also provides a valuable opportunity for dialogue on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector, including the need for sustainable solutions, the transition to circular materials and the key role of innovation as a driver of economic growth.
Through its infrastructure, expertise and close collaboration with companies and sector organizations, Centexbel plays a key role in supporting this transition and delivering concrete, future-oriented applications.
During the visit, the Minister is given a tour of the laboratories and demonstrations of recent innovations.
From left to right (front row): Myriam Vanneste and Isabel De Schrijver (second row): Stefaan Verhamme, Pol Lombaert, David Clarinval, Karla Basselier, Davy Van Cauwenbergh, Diederik Demuynck, Frederik Jocqué, Tiny Sterck
