Dear ECTA members, delegates, guests and friends,

Like diamonds, IP has many facets. At the ECTA Annual Conference, we will discuss the most topical ones with a focus on sustainability – a key for a better future.

The event will take place at the Flanders Meeting and Convention Centre Antwerp, located next to one of the most beautiful train stations worldwide, with high-speed rail connections to Paris, London, Amsterdam and Cologne, and only a 30-minute train trip to / from Brussels Airport. The venue is connected to the Antwerp Zoo, an award-winning science and research centre, managed according to the highest animal welfare standards. All profits from the Convention Centre are donated to the ZOO Foundation. Thus, the Conference will directly contribute to nature conservation, animal welfare and zoological research. The evening events will take place within walking distance of the Conference venue.

Antwerp, also known for its historic centre and its maritime port, has always been a major international trade hub which made the city flourish throughout the Golden Age in the 16th century. The historic shipping lines to the new world as from the 19th century helped it to develop into a unique, vibrant and diverse city. The Handelsbeurs, the oldest purpose-built commodity exchange in the world, has been recently renovated to its old grandeur. If you wish to discover the hidden gems of Antwerp, do not hesitate to join one of the tours on Saturday.

Get ready to shine bright at the ECTA 42nd Annual Conference in Antwerp!