DESTINY proposes a joint and concerted effort of several VUB research groups, EVERGi, ETRO,
SUME, FLOW, MOBI, CHIS and one strategic external partner, the Green Energy Park (GEP) in Zellik,
that have recently teamed up as the Flemish Institute for Decarbonisation Technologies (FIDT). FIDT
aims to become the reference institute to design and showcase technologies and infrastructure for
a future-fit net-zero carbon society, that is sustainable from a social, environmental and economic
perspective. The ambition of the consortium of DESTINY is to further develop in the outskirts of
Brussels an innovation campus of the VUB where the decarbonisation technologies are tested and
demonstrated to a broad audience. The DESTINY proposal for the NSIS Call should allow the FIDT
to achieve a level of societal impact that is critical to expedite real world changes “that are destined
to happen” to safeguard the world as we know it and get a grip on our common destiny. Activities
proposed for the NSIS-network aim to significantly augment outreach beyond academia, as well as
strengthen and integrate the participating research teams’ network activities to maximize the
potential for synergies. The ambition is to further develop the living lab at GEP into a Decarbonization
Valley where the newest technologies and solution are showcased and tested in a tangible and
participatory manner. This will allow the integrated network to generate a virtuous cycle, that
accelerates the development of increasingly performant technologies, and informs the design,
advocacy and implementation of uptake policies that enable society to more quickly move beyond
the use of fossil fuels and starkly reduce CO2 emissions. Once this level of traction is attained, the
FIDT may expand to more (sub)disciplines, have its expertise systematically called upon in policy
debate, and ensure its societal impact network-building is self-sustained by end of project term.

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