Location

Flanders is located in the north of Belgium and is surrounded by the Netherlands (Limburg), France (North of France), Germany and Southern Belgium (Wallonia). Capital of Flanders is Brussels, other main cities are : Leuven, Antwerp, Ghent

Partner

IWT-Flanders
Bischoffsheimlaan 25
1000 Brussels
BELGIUM

Contact : Bernard De Potter, Annie Renders

Tel.: 0032 2 20 90 900; Fax: 0032 2 22 31 181
e-mail: bdp@iwt.be; http://www.iwt.be

Business Location

The industrial history of Flanders can be found in the textile industry, back in the Middle Ages. Today, about 70% of Flemish employment is generated in one of the following sectors : Chemicals/Pharmaceuticals, Metal products & machines, Electrotechnics, Food products and Textiles. Investments in new technology and re-orientation towards more favourable "niche markets" are restoring confidence in these more traditional sectors. At the same time, typical "high-tech" technologies such as biotechnology and information technology (IT) are gradually gaining importance. Flanders also maintains a strong position in the transport and communication sector. This is obviously related to the presence of the dynamic seaports of Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Ghent and Ostend, an important international airport in Brussels, the regional airports of Antwerp and Ostend and an extensive motorway and rail network. Only about 3% of the Flemish GRP is provided by agriculture. This share is continually on the decline, just as in other industrialised countries, which means that an industrial basis is of vital importance for Flanders.

Flanders is also known for its highly educated work force, with one of the highest productivity rates in the world. This attracts a large number of multinationals that choose Flanders as a base for their European operations. The backbone of Flanders' economic structure is however the SME. On a total of about 167.000 companies, over 99% have less than 250 employees, 89% count less than 10 employees. Large companies (less than 0,5%) are usually part of a multinational group.

Economic Data

Participation in EU-Programmes

The Flemish representatives on the programme management committees of most of the technology programmes of the Fifth and Sixth Framework Programme are appointed by IWT. IWT stimulates industrial participation in European research, and encourages the exploitation of RTD results. IWT is the EUREKA contact office in Flanders, and is co-ordinator of the JIISS project. Furthermore, IWT is a member of several European networks (IRC, TAFTIE, TRN, SRN,…) for promotion of transnational technological collaboration.

As a consequence of the new programme EFRD 2000-2006, the following subregions in Flanders are eligible for funding in the framework of the objective 2 programmes:

Industrial district in development: province of Limburg, completed with 3 cities in the arrondissement Turnhout;
Rural area : region in the south of the province of Limburg (Tongeren);
Parts of the megacities Antwerp ant Ghent;
Coastal area : fish industry.

Besides that, areas located in the regions which were eligle for funding in the former programmes during the period 1994-1999 in the framework of objective 2 and 5b, but who are no longer eligle in the actual objective 2, e.g. parts in the regions Limburg, Turnhout and the West-Midcoast and the integral ‘Meetjesland’, are eligle for funding in the ‘phasing out’ context.

The region Flanders is also active in other initiatives of the European Commission

Interreg: transregional en interregional cooperation;
Urban: programmes for city development;
Leader +: programmes for development of rural areas
Equal: transnational cooperation for stimulating of equality (gender issues).

Economy Sectors

• Metal processing (especially Automobile production)
• Chemicals manufacturing
• Textile industry
• Biotechnology
• Information technology
• Transport and communication

Main Companies

• Alcatel Bell
• Barco, Barco Graphics, Barcoview
• Union Miniere
• Bekaert
• Agfa Gevaert
• Janssen Pharmaceutica
• Master Foods
• Milliken Europe
• LMS International
• Tenneco Automotive
• Tibotec

IMEC

Studies of the IWT Observatory: see http://www.iwt.be/obs/obsdefeng.htm

VIB

VIB - Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology - is an autonomous biotech research institute, founded in 1995 by the Government of Flanders. VIB combines 9 university departments and 5 associated laboratories. More than 750 researchers and technicians are active within various areas of biotech research. VIB has 3 major objectives: to perform high quality research, to validate research results and technology and to stimulate a well-structured social dialogue on biotechnology. (www.vib.be )

VITO

Vito, the Flemish institute for technological research, is an independent research centre, a crossroads of knowledge where the latest technologies and practical applications meet. Vito conducts customer oriented contract research and develops innovative products and processes in the fields of energy, environment and materials, and this for both the public and the private sector. Central to all projects are protecting the environment and encouraging sustainable use of energy and raw materials, because we think that everyone, including those to come after us, has the right to a healthy living and working environment. (www.vito.be)

Education

7 universities and 24 institutes of Higher Education

K.U.Leuven Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, LUC Limburgs Universitair Centrum, K.U.Brussel Katholieke Universiteit Brussel, RUCA Universitair Centrum Antwerpen, UFSIA Universitaire Faculteiten Sint-Ignatius Antwerpen , UIA Universitaire Instelling Antwerpen, RUG Universiteit Gent, VUB Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Katholieke Hogeschool Brussel Nieuwland 198 1000 Brussel
IRIS Hogeschool Brussel Prinsenstraat 8-10 1000 Brussel
Economische Hogeschool Sint-Al oysius Stormstraat 2 1000 Brussel
Hogeschool Sint-Lukas Brussel Paleizenstraat 70 1030 Brussel
Hogeschool voor Wetenschap & Kunst Koningsstraat 328 1030 Schaarbeek
Erasmushogeschool Brussel Nijverheidskaai 170 1070 Anderlecht
Hogeschool Antwerpen Keizerstraat 15 2000 Antwerpen
Plantijn-Hogeschool van de pro vincie Antwerpen Meistraat 5 2000 Antwerpen
Karel de Grote-Hogeschool-Kath olieke Hogeschool Antwerpen Van Schoonbekestraat 143 2018 Antwerpen
Lessius Hogeschool Jozef De Bomstraat 11 2018 Antwerpen
Hogere Zeevaartschool Noordkasteel Oost 6 2030 Antwerpen
Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen Kleinhoefstraat 4 2440 Geel
Katholieke Hogeschool Mechelen Zandpoortvest 13 2800 Mechelen
Groep T-Hogeschool Leuven Vesaliusstraat 13 3000 Leuven
Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven Abdij van Park 9 3001 Leuven
Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg Elfde Liniestraat 24 3500 Hasselt
Hogeschool Limburg Universitaire Campus-gebouw H 3590 Diepenbeek
Katholieke Hogeschool Limburg Universitaire campus gebouw B 1 3590 Diepenbeek
Katholieke Hogeschool Brugge-O ostende Oostmeers 27 8000 Brugge
Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen Sint-Martens-Latemlaan 2A 8500 Kortrijk
Katholieke Hogeschool Zuid-Wes t-Vlaanderen Doorniksesteenweg 145
500 Kortrijk
Hogeschool Gent Jozef Kluyskensstraat 2 9000 Gent
Katholieke Hogeschool Sint-Lie ven Gebroeders Desmetstraat 1 9000 Gent
Arteveldehogeschool Hoogpoort 15 9000 Gent

Incubators

Incubators are associated with the greater universities and research institutes.

Technology Transfer

IWT is member of different network organisations active in the field of technology transfer, including:

• IRC Network
• SRN Network
• TII network

Other actors active in technology transfer are

• Transfer offices at the universities and research institutes
• Persons working at the regional development agencies

Services offered by Innovation support for existing SME´s: STRINNOP – Partner IWT

Technology funding: IWT is your ideal partner. Companies, large and small, can count on financial support for research, technology advice, partner search and information about international subsidy options. IWT acts as your professional sounding board for the counselling of your industrial research projects.

Technology transfer: Valorisation of research results, done by the company itself as well as through technology transfer, constitute an important task of IWT.
The choice between developing something yourself or actually buying technologies is a dilemma. IWT offers companies professional help in making the right choice.

Partner search: Due to frequent foreign contacts and due to participation in technology transfer networks, IWT has at its disposal much valued information needed to identify possible partners inside as well as outside Europe.
Guidance with international subsidies : IWT encourages companies in Flanders to participate in research programmes of the European Commission and in research projects within the framework of Eureka or Cost. IWT provides SME's with timely information regarding upcoming activities and guides companies with the formulation and preparation of their proposals.

Coordination of technological assistance: IWT coordinates the activities of all authorities in Flanders involved in technology assistance

Publications

• Metal processing (especially Automobile production)
• Chemicals manufacturing
• Textile industry
• Biotechnology
• Information technology
• Transport and communicati