Belgium

Flanders combines an established industrial base with universities, research centres and companies working on new technologies. Its strengths include chemicals and life sciences, advanced manufacturing and digital technology. The Antwerp chemical cluster is one example of how production, specialist suppliers and logistics can operate close to one another.

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The region has four strategic research centres: imec for microelectronics and digital technology, VIB for life sciences, Flanders Make for manufacturing, and VITO for technological and sustainability research. They work with universities and industry on applied challenges. As a broader indicator of research activity, Eurostat reported that Belgium spent 3.3% of GDP on research and development in 2023, compared with 2.2% across the EU. Those figures describe Belgium as a whole, not Flanders alone.

For an international business, this setting may offer opportunities to find technical partners, test a market or develop a new activity. The first step is to understand the relevant sector, identify suitable contacts and assess whether the proposed project has a credible commercial and operational basis.

Sources: Flanders Investment & Trade: research centres; Flanders Investment & Trade: chemicals; Eurostat: 2023 R&D comparison.