Evening keynote and debate: How to make European & Belgian Industry Great Again?

In a world increasingly defined by geopolitical instability, disrupted supply chains, and economic uncertainty, industrial leaders face more than just operational and technical challenges. Ensuring business continuity and long-term competitiveness now requires a strategic focus on industrial sovereignty and economic security.

Critical dependencies on foreign technologies and resources, once considered manageable, have become key vulnerabilities. As Europe rethinks its role on the global stage, how can you prepare your organisation for turbulence while contributing to a stronger, more resilient industrial base? What does strategic autonomy mean in practice – and how can economic resilience be built into your operations?

Programme

In this keynote session, Prof. Dr. Cind Du Bois invites you to look beyond efficiency and innovation, and to consider the growing intersection between industry, security, and defence economics. Drawing on her academic research and policy work at the Belgian Ministry of Defence, she shares a compelling vision for how economic resilience, technological autonomy, and cross-sector collaboration can position Europe for a more secure and competitive future.

• Strategic Landscape 2025–2035: Europe and Belgium in an Uncertain World
  • Importance of openness and trade for Europe/Belgium
  • Shifting geopolitical power blocs (US–China–Russia) and their impact on open economies.
  • Consequences of conflicts, trade restrictions, and energy dependencies on European industrial supply chains.
     
• Economic Security as a New Strategic Framework for Industry
  • Transition from “efficiency and just-in-time” to “security and strategic stockpiling”.
  • Protecting critical technologies and knowledge without stifling innovation.
     
• It’s a balancing act
  • Balance between openness and security “as open as possible, as closed as necessary”
  • Balance between “protect, promote and partner “ (reference to EU Economic Security Strategy)
  • Balance between role of government and role of industry
     
• Innovation and Maintenance as Resilience Multipliers
  • The strategic importance of maintenance & reliability
  • Examples on how innovations in maintenance also can contribute?
  • Importance of MRO (Maintenance – Repair – Overhaul) activities
     
• What industry can learn from defence and vica versa?
   
• Practical key take-aways

The keynote is followed by a high-level panel debate featuring:

• Georges-Louis Bouchez, Chairman of the liberal MR party and strong advocate for European competitiveness.
• Wim De Vos, CEO of Campine, bringing critical insights on the challenges industries in Belgium and Europe face and how to overcome these challenges.
• Fabrice Brion, CEO and Co-founder of I-care Group, talking about how innovative solutions in maintenance and asset management improve resilience and competitiveness of our industries.
• Prof. Dr. Cind Du Bois , who delivered the keynote prior to the debate.

Together, they explore how Europe can navigate the current challenging times and emerge stronger. Here are some topics that will be addressed:

• The importance Securing Critical Technologies, Raw Materials and Energy Supplies
• Industrial Competitiveness in a High-Cost Region
• Innovation & Maintenance as Resilience Multipliers
• Talent & Skills for a Sovereign Industrial Base
• How to finance Resilience and Industrial Sovereignty?
• Key takeaways for decision-makers and industry leaders

This keynote session takes place at Asset Performance 2025, Europe’s leading conference on digital transformation in Maintenance and Asset Management, organised by BEMAS. The conference brings together professionals from across Europe to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and showcase innovations that address today’s most pressing economic and sustainability challenges.