CHEMSTREAM BVBA

Their core work

Chemstream is a Belgian specialty chemicals SME focused on developing bio-based materials and chemical formulations for industrial applications. They contribute chemical expertise to large R&D consortia — from oxidative biocatalysis and concrete additives to biorefinery conversion processes. Their most recent work centers on transitioning industrial value chains toward bio-based and circular economy models, including training the next generation of researchers in this field.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Chemstream's early H2020 work (2015–2017) was diversified: industrial biocatalysis (ROBOX) and construction chemistry (LORCENIS) suggest a company applying chemical know-how across unrelated sectors. From 2016 onward, a clear pivot toward bio-based and circular economy themes emerged — first through biorefinery (InDIRECT), then solidified with BioBased ValueCircle (2020), their most recent project. The trajectory shows a company that started as a generalist chemical supplier and is now positioning itself squarely in the bio-based materials transition.

Chemstream is moving decisively toward bio-based materials and circular economy, making them a strong fit for future BBI and Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE) consortia.

How they like to work

Chemstream always participates as a partner, never as coordinator — consistent with their profile as a small specialist SME contributing specific chemical expertise to larger consortia. With 61 unique partners across 16 countries in just 4 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia (averaging ~15 partners per project). This means they are comfortable working in complex multi-partner environments and bring a focused contribution rather than project management.

Despite only 4 projects, Chemstream has built an extensive network of 61 unique partners across 16 countries, reflecting participation in large European consortia. Their partnerships span Western and Northern Europe with no strong geographic concentration.

What sets them apart

Chemstream occupies a niche as a specialty chemicals SME that bridges the gap between laboratory chemical innovation and industrial-scale bio-based applications. Unlike large chemical companies, they are agile enough for R&D collaboration while bringing real commercial formulation experience. Their cross-sector versatility — from concrete additives to biorefinery products — makes them a flexible partner for any consortium needing applied chemistry expertise with a bio-based focus.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ROBOX
  Targeted industrialization of oxidative biocatalysts — a technically demanding area connecting enzymology with chemical manufacturing at scale.
• BioBased ValueCircle
  An MSCA Industrial Doctorate program (2020–2024), signaling Chemstream's commitment to building long-term research capacity in bio-based materials, not just short-term project work.
• InDIRECT
  Focused on converting organic side-streams into marketable bio-based products — directly aligned with their current strategic direction toward circular bioeconomy.