OUR STORY

Unlocking zeolite’s full potential for a cleaner future

Zeopore was born with a bold vision: to transform traditional zeolite catalysts into high-performance enablers of a more efficient and sustainable chemical industry. Our journey began in the labs of KU Leuven, where Dr. Danny Verboekend conducted groundbreaking research at the Center for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis under supervision of Prof. Dr. Bert Sels. The findings enabled to couple the benefits of high-quality accessible zeolites with a low-cost process of manufacturing.

The ambition of Zeopore always linked with an industrial and commercial focus: to make cleaner, more efficient catalytic processes an economical and scalable reality for industries around the world. To achieve this, we combine advanced materials science with real-world impact. By enhancing standard zeolites through mesoporization - creating additional mesopores to improve feed molecule accessibility and diffusion - we enable breakthroughs in refining processes, advanced plastics recycling, biomass conversion, low-carbon fuel production, etc. Today, our patented technology platform is validated by some of the world’s leading energy and chemical players.

Behind the innovation lies an entrepreneurial story of steady growth, resilience, and people-driven progress.

Chronology & milestones

Production capacity & strategic growth

2025

Execution meets ambition

Bert Gorinsek is hired as Senior Process Operator, supporting full operation of Zeopore’s 175-ton/year semi-industrial unit.

Organizational maturity & production start

2024

From start-up to scale-up

Dr. Tatiana Sanchez Motta joins as Quality Assurance Manager, formalizing QA practices and managing the ISO certification process.
Ing. Leen Spooren joins as Operations Manager to ensure robust process management as production ramps up.
A new organizational structure is introduced to cope with a growing team, more intensified operations, and allow for personal growth and development.

Team transitions and functional growth

2023

New faces and evolving roles

Ing. Lucas Bourgoing joins as Lab Technician and evolves into Process Development Engineer. He takes part in the actual assembly and operation of the production unit before evolving towards operating and exploiting the unit
Gil Morieras joins as business development manager after a commercial career in plastics. He focuses on emerging circular applications and opportunities in sustainable refining and chemical industries.

Scaling and market traction

2020-2022

Investor confidence and industrial momentum

Investment round led by Capricorn Partners, with continued financial and business support from earlier investors, enables Zeopore to move towards pilot scale process optimisation.
Major industrial partners begin engaging in co-development projects, accelerating the path toward industrial scaling.
Strengthening the team with extended capabilities and expertise to move into the next phase.
- Ing. Natalia Gonzalez-Ogliastri joins as Quality Assurance Engineer to manage analytical and quality management capabilities, Ing. Stijn De Broyer joins as Process Operator to support lab and pilot-scale production activities
- Dr. Henk Janssen enters as Senior Operations Consultant, guiding the development of Zeopore’s semi-industrial production unit, and establishing a manufacturing mindset within the company.
Sandra De Clercq joins as Executive Assistant to support expanding administrative and organizational needs. She will further move into an Office Manager role securing professional HR, purchasing and finance requirements.

First technical validation

2019

Proof of concept turns into proof of value

The catalytic benefits of mesoporous zeolites are successfully demonstrated in several key refining processes, a turning point for market interest.
Ir. Peter Vancampenhout joins the engineering team, to cope with the growing customer interest and requirements.

First investment & core team formation

2018

Gaining traction and assembling talent

Seed funding from Innovation Fund and Gemma Frisius Fund, with strong expertise and network in chemical industry, investor landscape and value proposition building.
Ir. Kurt Du Mong is appointed CEO, joining the academic co-founders who bring the fundamental chemical background and catalytic expertise, Dr. Danny Verboekend and Dr. Martin d’Halluin.
Kurt has 25+ years of experience in innovation, business management and venture capital on an international level, including setting up and growing start-up companies.

Scientific foundations

2015 - 2017

Laying the groundwork for innovation

Core mesoporization technologies are developed within KU Leuven, laying the groundwork for what would become Zeopore's patented catalyst enhancement process.
December 2017) Zeopore Technologies NV is officially founded to bring academic innovation into the industrial arena.

Where we stand today

Today, Zeopore is at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6-7 and growing fast. With pilot validation from global players, and with a view toward scaling production beyond 1,000 tons/year, we are catalyzing a cleaner chemical industry, literally.

As we expand into refining, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), chemical recycling, biorefineries, etc. we are proud to build from within Belgium and make a sustainable impact to the world. Our goal remains: to make sustainability scalable and commercially viable.