NOVUM Innovation Network 5 June

• Since 1976, Poppies Bakeries has grown into an international confectionery manufacturer, driven by innovation in production and sustainable optimisation. Griet Popelier, HR Officer and co-owner, explains how the company continues to innovate from its new headquarters through new technology and process improvements. Architect Sander Verhanneman provides an insight into the innovative offices.
  
• Housing association Ons Onderdak is renovating and making social housing more sustainable, including installing solar panels on 1,000 homes and carrying out energy-efficient replacement builds. Tim Fastré, director, focuses on the process and how residents are supported during these major transitions.
  
• Bart Degryse, innovation project manager at Wit-Gele Kruis West-Vlaanderen, presents EMA, an innovative insulin pen holder that helps prevent incorrect use of insulin. The solution was conceived by three home nurses and developed through an internal innovation process. EMA was recently launched at the Health & Care fair and demonstrates how healthcare innovation can effectively originate from the front line.
  
• The start-up ZYGO develops software for autonomous robots, ranging from robot dogs to inspection drones. Co-founder Arne Depuydt explains how their robots can quickly learn new skills through ‘physical AI’ and thus take on tasks in industry and infrastructure.

You will have the opportunity to bring a guest to the session.

Friday 5 June 2026
7.45 am to 9.30 am

Poppies Bakeries
Kasteelstraat 29, 8980 Zonnebeke

For just €25 per person (excl. VAT), you’ll enjoy a delicious breakfast, be treated to a dose of inspiration and motivation, and meet a select network of people.

The NOVUM innovation network brings together inspiring innovators twice a year.

In this way, we foster cross-fertilisation between the business world, government, education, health and welfare, and the cultural sector in the region comprising Ypres, Poperinge, Wervik, Heuvelland, Mesen, Zonnebeke, Langemark-Poelkapelle and Vleteren. It is an initiative of Loy Clynckemaillie, Sandrin Coorevits, Stijn Debaillie, Steven Dehollander, Bern Paret, Pieter Roets, Hilde Vandaele, Tom Vermeersch and Ilse Vieren, supported by Voka West Flanders and Designregio Kortrijk.