In July 2026, Antwerp welcomed the 10th EuChemS Chemistry Congress (ECC10), bringing together 1,408 delegates from 66 countries for five days of scientific exchange, international networking and new connections between research and industry.
Hosted at A Room with a ZOO, in the heart of Antwerp, the congress demonstrated how the right destination can offer much more than excellent meeting facilities. It can connect delegates with local expertise, open doors to new collaborations and create an experience that extends far beyond the conference programme.
Discover the highlights of ECC10 in Antwerp.
For an international chemistry congress, Antwerp offered a particularly compelling setting.
Home to one of the world's leading integrated chemical clusters, the city brings together global industry players, academic research and a growing ecosystem dedicated to sustainable chemistry and innovation.
Initiatives such as BlueChem, BlueApp and NextGen District demonstrate how Antwerp is translating scientific research into real-world applications.
For ECC10, this ecosystem became part of the congress experience itself.
The programme brought researchers and industry leaders together during a dedicated Industry Day, while visits to BlueChem and BlueApp gave delegates the opportunity to discover Antwerp's innovation landscape first-hand.
Rather than simply hosting the congress, the city became an extension of its scientific programme.
Accessibility and convenience were equally important to the congress experience.
Located next to Antwerp Central Station, A Room with a ZOO offered an easily accessible meeting venue in the heart of the city. International delegates could reach Antwerp via Brussels Airport and Europe's extensive rail network.
Once in the city, its compact and walkable character made it easy to move between the congress venue, hotels, restaurants and cultural attractions.
The social programme added another dimension to the experience. A congress dinner at the historic Handelsbeurs brought delegates together in one of Antwerp's most distinctive heritage venues, while access to Antwerp ZOO offered an additional opportunity to explore the destination.
The result was a congress experience that combined scientific excellence with the character and hospitality of the host city.
Bringing ECC10 to Antwerp was the result of a close collaboration between the Royal Flemish Chemical Society (KVCV), EuChemS, Antwerp Convention Bureau and local partners.
Antwerp Convention Bureau supported KVCV during the bidding process with a letter of support and a site visit for EuChemS, helping position the city as a compelling destination for the tenth edition of the congress.
Following Antwerp's selection, that collaboration continued through connections with local stakeholders, coordination of visits to the innovation ecosystem, support for accommodation arrangements and assistance with the social programme.
As an independent destination partner, ACB helped connect the congress organisers with the people, places and expertise that could add value to their event.
ECC10 offered a scientific programme of international standing. Among the plenary speakers was Susumu Kitagawa of Kyoto University, who shared the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
With 1,408 delegates from 66 countries, ECC10 brought an international scientific community to Antwerp and generated an estimated €1.4 million or more in direct local spending.
But its value extended beyond visitor expenditure.
The congress gave Antwerp's chemistry and innovation ecosystem a platform to connect with international researchers, businesses, and emerging scientific talent.
With 449 students participating, many of them PhD researchers, ECC10 also created opportunities to engage the next generation of scientists and innovators.
That value did not end when the congress closed. Together with ECC10, Flanders Convention Bureau facilitated an impact journey to explore how the congress could create lasting value for Antwerp and beyond. A key milestone was a stakeholder workshop that brought together around 30 representatives from across the city and regional ecosystem, including academia, industry, entrepreneurship networks, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, city stakeholders and destination partners.
The process fostered new connections, identified shared ambitions and planted the seeds for future initiatives, including the ambition to organise a public event day in Antwerp where citizens can discover how chemistry contributes to everyday life, innovation and sustainable solutions. It showed how an international congress can act as a catalyst for collaboration and societal impact long after the event has ended.
Every successful congress begins with the right connections.
Whether you are planning a scientific association congress or an international professional gathering, Antwerp Convention Bureau can help you explore the city's venues, local expertise and opportunities for collaboration.
Let's explore what Antwerp could bring to your next event.
