Rotterdam, 18th November 2025

Rotterdam, November 18, 2025 – Yesterday, Platform Zero officially opened SubZero in the Merwe- Vierhavens (M4H) in Rotterdam, creating a dynamic environment for climate-tech and circular solutions in the port and industrial sector. The hub is developed in collaboration with the Port of Rotterdam Authority, reinforcing Rotterdam’s position as a global leader in sustainable industrial innovation.

Europe faces rising geopolitical tensions, increasing raw material costs, and growing competition, prompting the need to bring production and technology closer to home. SubZero addresses this challenge by providing test, pilot, and production facilities where startups, scale-ups, and industrial partners can validate and scale technologies under real-world conditions. Its strategic location in the M4H district, developed alongside the RDM Campus, positions SubZero as a bridge between the city, the port, and innovation.

Auke Ferwerda, Founder of SubZero and Platform Zero:“SubZero was created to remove one of the biggest bottlenecks in climate-tech: the lack of real environments where new technologies can be built, tested, and scaled. By bringing entrepreneurs, industry partners, financiers, and public institutions together in one place, we can accelerate solutions that matter — not only for the port of Rotterdam, but for Europe’s industrial transition as a whole.”

Technologies shaping the port of the future

SubZero focuses on solutions that accelerate the transition to a clean, circular, and efficient port, including:

• Hydrogen and ammonia systems for clean fuels
• Circular materials and industrial residue upcycling
• Solar and battery solutions for maritime and port logistics
• Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS)
• Digitalisation and autonomous systems for operational efficiency and safety

These technologies not only support climate goals but also strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy, reducing reliance on overseas supply chains.

First pioneers

The first companies to join SubZero demonstrate the hub’s diverse innovation potential:

• Compone transforms decommissioned wind turbine blades into high-quality materials, closing a critical circularity loop.
• Everox converts concrete waste into construction materials that drastically reduce cement-related CO₂ emissions, with potential for net-negative output.
• Wattlab develops solar panels integrated into hatch covers for inland and seagoing vessels, reducing fuel consumption by an average of 3%.

A flying start: Opening event and partnerships

Economic Affairs, Vincent Karremans, accompanied by a delegation of twelve scale-up founders, and Rotterdam Vice Mayor Chantal Zeegers, responsible for climate, construction, and housing.

Also  the opening event itself brought together innovators, investors, industry leaders, and policymakers for an afternoon of presentations, panels, and demonstrations. It started with opening statements from Oscar van Veen, Director of Innovation at the Port of Rotterdam Authority, and Peter Goedvolk chairman of the Rotterdam Maritime Capital Board, emphasizing the hub’s value to the port cluster;

Oscar van Veen – “To build the port of the future, we need innovation to move from ideas to implementation much faster. SubZero provides exactly the kind of testing and scaling environment that our industrial ecosystem needs. Developing this hub in the Merwe-Vierhavens innovation district, together with RDM, strengthens the bridge between the city, the port, knowledge institutions and the companies developing the next generation of clean and circular technologies.”

A panel on “Climate-tech Scaling in Europe” featured Derk te Bokkel (CEO of Royal IHC – a leading supplier of maritime technology), Oscar van Veen (Rotterdam Port Authority), Irma Belgraver (Maritime Sector management from Rabobank), and Thomas Petithuguenin (Everox), discussing the opportunities and challenges for scaling innovative technologies. Attendees also saw innovation pitches from pioneering startups and were guided through SubZero’s production halls, and offices.

During the event, Platform Zero announced a new partnership with Rabobank, focusing on financing and supporting early-stage climate-tech companies. Additionally, In addition, the Province of South Holland announced its support for the Carbon Zero initiative, a regional effort aimed at building a complete Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) value chain — from carbon capture to utilisation and storage. Several companies located in and around SubZero play a central role in advancing this emerging ecosystem.

About SubZero

SubZero is an initiative by Platform Zero in collaboration with the Port of Rotterdam Authority. The hub accelerates sustainable innovation in the Rotterdam port cluster by providing facilities and networks for startups, scale-ups, and industrial partners working on circular, energy, and maritime solutions.

About Platform Zero

Platform Zero is an innovation network dedicated to accelerating sustainable industrial technologies. By connecting startups, scale-ups, knowledge institutions, and industrial partners, it helps bring innovations to market faster through pilot projects, investment support, and international collaborations.

About the Port of Rotterdam Authority

The Port of Rotterdam Authority manages Europe’s largest port, supporting innovation and sustainability in energy, circularity, digitalisation, and sustainable transport, providing facilities and partnerships to accelerate climate-friendly and efficient port operations.

Interested in joining Sub Zero? Please contact: [email protected]