Stefan Van Laer

Job Title: Senior Climate Transition Developer
Company: Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Country: Belgium

Stefan works at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Europe's second largest port hosting the largest petrochemical cluster, in the Sustainable Transition team where he is focusing mainly on hydrogen and CO2 and in particular the connection of the port with the German hinterland. He also holds a sherpa role to the President of the Belgian Hydrogen, Mr. Tom Hautekiet.

Before he was already active for 2,5 years in the hydrogen sector at WaterstofNet, a nonprofit organization that founded and coordinated a hydrogen cluster of 180 Dutch and Belgian companies active in the BeNeLux. In this role, he co-founded the Belgian Hydrogen Council (BHC) in 2022. Stefan was in charge of public affairs and international relations for both WaterstofNet and the BHC. In 2020 he started his career at the Belgian Steel Industry Association, where he followed up European and Belgian climate and energy policy for two years.

Stefan graduated in 2016 as a Master of Laws and subsequently completed a Master's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy at the University of Antwerp. In 2021 he followed the Postgraduate Diploma in Climate and Energy at the same university.

June 25, 2026Panel Discussion

Sessions

Session

Between Rearm EU and Repower EU - What Strategic Role Does Hydrogen Play for Europe?

Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:00 am - 11:30 am

ICM München Room 14 B

Please note that this session will be conducted in English. Europe is fighting for its position in the global hydrogen race. Caught between the Green Deal and geopolitical tensions, the EU needs to find a balance. How can we achieve technological sovereignty while diversifying our sources of imports? The second day of the conference is dedicated to the big strategic questions of the European and global hydrogen economies, from the competitiveness of European electrolyzers with those from Asian manufacturers to the question of a European H2 Local and international partnerships. The discussions will show how Europe can keep its industrial basis and build new partnerships while asserting local hydrogen technology against the superiority of the Far East. Why? Hydrogen is not only a climate-neutral energy carrier, it is also becoming a geopolitical power factor in the context of global political and economic upheaval. At the start of the second conference day, we will ask key questions about Europe's energy supply and discuss the need for a policy fostering greater energy autonomy, such as: How can hydrogen be positioned as a European sovereignty project balancing the objectives of ReArm EU and RePower EU? How can we achieve technological sovereignty while diversifying our sources of imports? What practical steps are needed to geopolitically bolster the hydrogen economy in Europe? And will reinforcing national and European defenses help speed up the establishment of key markets and infrastructure for climate-neutral hydrogen?