The Highlights of the Asset Performance Conference 2025

On November 4 & 5, BEMAS, the Belgian Maintenance Association, hosted the sixth edition of the Asset Performance conference at the Flanders Meeting & Convention Center in Antwerp. This year's event attracted over 325 professionals from more than 27 countries.

The two-day conference featured more than 50 expert sessions, including keynotes, real-world use cases, and interactive workshops. In a vibrant Networking Hall, 21 sponsors showcased cutting-edge innovations and engaged with participants. All sessions were recorded and are made available on the conference’s online platform, enabling attendees to revisit presentations and explore additional webinars in the months ahead. Attendees also benefit from access to a comprehensive library of over 200 recordings from past editions.

The conference opened with an insightful keynote by Dr Sebastian Opriel, CTO of sovity, titled “How to Solve the Industrial Data Dilemma?”. He explored how industrial companies can overcome data silos and build trusted, interoperable ecosystems, stressing that the challenge is not collecting data but transforming it into actionable insights that drive performance, reliability and sustainability.

In the evening, Prof. Dr Cind Du Bois delivered a thought-provoking address on “Economic Resilience and Industrial Sovereignty in a Changing Geopolitical World.” She underlined the need for European industries to balance openness with strategic autonomy and resilience, setting the stage for an engaging debate on Europe’s industrial future.

The keynote was followed by a high-level panel discussion titled “How to Make the European Industry Great Again?”, featuring Georges-Louis Bouchez, Chairman of the liberal MR party and advocate for European competitiveness; Wim De Vos, CEO of Campine, who shared pragmatic insights on how industries can overcome regulatory and operational challenges; Fabrice Brion, CEO & Co-Founder of I-care Group, highlighting how innovation in maintenance and asset management enhances resilience; and Prof. Dr Du Bois, adding her economic perspective on strategic autonomy and sustainable growth.

Together, the panel debated how European and Belgian industries can reinforce competitiveness, tackle supply-chain dependencies and invest in innovation, skills and reliability to ensure long-term resilience. The audience responded enthusiastically. As one of our participants reflected: “It was a great opportunity to step back from the technical details and look at the bigger picture of where our sector is heading, and how reliability and maintenance play a crucial role in that vision.”

The evening concluded on an inspiring note, highlighting the shared ambition to strengthen Europe’s industrial base through collaboration, innovation and resilience.

This year’s programme brought together five core themes capturing the innovations reshaping maintenance and asset management. Sessions explored how AI, sensor data and advanced analytics enable predictive and prescriptive maintenance, while better data governance and interoperability turn industrial information into actionable insights.

Speakers also discussed the evolution toward Asset Management 5.0, where digital technologies and human-centric strategies combine to create smarter, more resilient organisations. Leading companies shared success stories in digital transformation, using digital twins, IoT connectivity and reliability-driven cultures to boost performance.

An additional highlight were the Innovation Pitches, where experts from companies delivered ten-minute presentations to share innovative ideas and solutions with the audience, followed by interactive Q&A sessions. The format encouraged lively discussion and provided fresh insight into the developments shaping the future of maintenance and asset management. Interactive workshops further complemented the programme, offering participants hands-on experience and opportunities for peer learning.

Together, these sessions reflected the conference’s commitment to advancing sustainable asset performance and preparing professionals for a rapidly digitalising industrial world.

The 2025 edition attracted a diverse and international audience, with strong representation from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States. Attendees engaged with 25 sponsors showcasing the latest innovations in smart maintenance, data-driven reliability, and sustainable asset performance.

“It’s encouraging to see such a broad international community come together around the shared challenges of digital transformation and sustainability,” said Wim Vancauwenberghe, Conference Director. “The conversations this year clearly showed that maintenance and reliability professionals across Europe are not only embracing new technologies such as AI and digital twins, but also using them to build more resilient and competitive industries.”

Beyond the two-day event, participants continue to benefit from access to the Asset Performance online platform, featuring all recorded sessions, upcoming webinars, and a growing library of over 200 expert presentations from previous editions. The platform extends the learning experience, offering a continuous source of knowledge and inspiration for asset-intensive organisations.

“Asset Performance has evolved into a year-round knowledge network,” noted Vancauwenberghe. “Our goal is to make top-quality insights on digitalisation and reliability accessible to every professional who wants to future-proof their assets and contribute to a smarter, more sustainable industry.”

Participants who were unable to attend certain sessions, or who wish to revisit specific presentations, are invited to access the session recordings available on the Asset Performance website. All recordings can be viewed at your convenience, ensuring that valuable insights and discussions remain accessible to the entire community.

Non-participants who wish to benefit from the event’s content can purchase an online ticket, which provides full access to all session recordings.

The Belgian Maintenance Association (BEMAS) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing maintenance and asset management practices. Through events like the Asset Performance Conference, BEMAS fosters knowledge exchange and professional development among industry leaders.