INNOVATEā„¢ Flanders

Innovations of the World

INNOVATEā„¢ Flanders

Introducing INNOVATEā„¢ Flanders šŸ‡§šŸ‡Ŗ

Discover the Innovation Hub of Europe’s Heartland!

Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern region of Belgium, has emerged as a powerhouse of innovation, setting the stage for groundbreaking advancements and transformative discoveries. In our latest addition to the Innovations of the World global network, INNOVATEā„¢ Flanders, we delve into the dynamic ecosystem driving innovation in this vibrant region.

Here’s a glimpse into the key facets of innovation shaping Flanders:

  1. Government Support: The Flemish government’s unwavering commitment to innovation is evident through its diverse policies, programs, and funding initiatives. Organizations like Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) play a pivotal role in providing financial support, expert guidance, and networking opportunities for pioneering projects and startups.
  2. Research and Development (R&D): Flanders boasts a robust network of world-class research institutions, prestigious universities, and industry clusters dedicated to R&D. Institutions like imec (Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre) stand at the forefront of nanotechnology, digital innovation, and semiconductor research, driving progress on a global scale.
  3. Clusters and Ecosystems: Flanders nurtures specialized industry clusters in biotechnology, logistics, materials, and ICT, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation within specific sectors.
  4. Startup Ecosystem: With thriving startup scenes in cities like Ghent, Antwerp, and Leuven, Flanders offers a supportive environment for emerging ventures. Incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces, and ample venture capital funding fuel the growth of innovative startups, driving economic dynamism and job creation.
  5. Open Innovation: Embracing open innovation models, Flanders encourages collaboration between companies, research institutions, universities, and startups to co-create novel solutions, products, and services, driving collective progress and competitiveness.
  6. Sustainable Innovation: Flanders prioritizes sustainable innovation, championing clean technologies, circular economy practices, and environmentally friendly solutions to address pressing global challenges and promote responsible stewardship of resources.
  7. Digital Innovation: Flanders’ strategic investments in digital innovation propel industries forward, fostering digital transformation, smart city initiatives, and the cultivation of digital skills essential for future success.
  8. International Collaboration: Actively engaged in international research and innovation collaborations, Flanders leverages partnerships with global industry leaders and participation in EU-funded projects to amplify its impact and drive innovation on a global scale.

Join us as we celebrate Flanders’ remarkable journey as a beacon of innovation, fueled by visionary leadership, cutting-edge research, and a dynamic entrepreneurial spirit. INNOVATEā„¢ Flanders showcases the region’s unwavering dedication to shaping the future and reaffirms its position as a pivotal player in Europe’s innovation landscape.

Ecosystem Champions

We Celebrate The Partnership With Living Tomorrow Largely Contributing To The Success Of This Book, They Are The Voice And Champion Of INNOVATEā„¢ Flanders That Unifies The Community!

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Innovators

Featured Innovators

CHEP

HOW ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY TRANSFORMS THE WAY TO GET PRODUCTS TO PEOPLE

The way the world makes, moves, and sells goods is changing. While technology has increased consumer choice, society expects businesses to reduce the environmental impact of meeting that demand. The time has come to transform how we get products to people. CHEP built one of the world’s most sustainable logistics...

TPR @ UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP

Your partner for research and training on transport and regional economi

TPR was founded as a research group within the University of Antwerp mid 1990’s. It is committed to be an international centre of excellence for fundamental and applied academic training, research and service provision in transport economics, logistics and regional economics. Its mission is to enhance transport and logistics for...

EXOVIBE

BACK TO THE FUTURE FROM SOFT EXOSKELETON TO SAAS PLATFORM AND BACK

OriginsThe idea for ExoVibe came to founder Gabriel Samlali in 2014, while he was struggling to carry a heavy box to his attic. Gabriel wondered how an elderly or disabled person would manage to complete the same task. A cursory google search for personal equipment solutions led Gabriel to exoskeletons....

Sightera

Complex Patient-Derived Biology Meets AI-Drug Design

Sightera Biosciences accelerates drug discovery with an innovative approach that combines chemical structure analysis with complex patient-relevant preclinical models to design novel therapies. Due to the organization’s exclusive research collaboration with the DrugVision.AI screening platform of the University of Antwerp/UZA, it can produce exclusive datasets from patient-derived models to train...

THE UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP

GATEWAY FOR FUTURE INNOVATIONS

The University of Antwerp serves as a gateway for future innovations, playing a pivotal role within Antwerp’s thriving innovation ecosystem and beyond. It contributes significantly to driving innovation and fostering societal and economic impact, further solidifying its position as a pioneer in cutting-edge research and innovation. A key driver in...

Delta Care

Transforming Healthcare Efficiency with Seamless Technology Integration

In an era where healthcare systems face growing challenges, including aging populations, chronic health issues, and workforce shortages, technology offers a solution. However, the key to success lies not in technology itself but in how seamlessly it integrates into care environments. Delta Care, a Belgian innovator, bridges this gap with...

FOUR & FIVE

Business Advisors Disguised as Lawyers

In a rapidly evolving world where technology consistently outpaces the law, bridging the divide between legal frameworks and innovation has become more critical than ever. At the heart of this intersection lies Four & Five, a boutique law firm founded six years ago by Dimitri Coun and Anneleen Vander Elstraeten...

B4PLASTICS

Redesigning tomorrow’s plastics. Today.

B4Plastics is a Belgian Biopolymer Tech Company specialised in: Creating (R&D), Producing (up to kton), Selling and Licensing novel biomaterials, based on a unique range of Bio Based Building Blocks (hence the B4), tailored to an extended variety of applications. This Belgian-based company, located in Limburg, is a pioneer in...

Antwerp City

Antwerp is a city in full change, once again, as it has been so many times over the past centuries. Now it is mobility shaping the future of the city, in the form of the Oosterweel works. For about two decades the plans for the completion of the ring road...

University of Antwerp

A driver for innovation ecosystems.

The University of Antwerp plays a central role in driving innovation in Flanders. Located in the heart of Europe, Antwerp is a prime economic hub, powered by its second largest port, and the largest chemical cluster in Europe. As a result, its university is uniquely positioned to provide well-trained professionals...

MOTRAC

SUSTAINABLE INTRALOGISTICS AND CLEANING, IN EVERY POSSIBLE SENSE

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MOTRACSimply put: whether you’re a small starter company or an industry giant, you can expect Motrac to offer tailor-made solutions in the fields of intralogistics and cleaning. As an Antwerp-based products & services provider with over 50 years of experience, they use their expertise to assist...

ZAS

The leading hospital network of the City of Antwerp

Two hospital networks merged in July 2024 in order to create ZAS, the largest healthcare organization in Belgium. ZAS stands for ā€˜Ziekenhuis aan de Stroom’ (ā€˜Hospital by the river’), a reference to the Schelde, the river of commercial and strategic importance that defines the city. In similar fashion, ZAS plays...

INDUVER

insuring your company – intensely involved

INDUVER SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURS AND COMPANIES IN CONTROLLING THE RISKS THAT ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP. INTENSELY INVOLVED IS WHAT WE PROMISE AND ARE. In a changing world, the right insurance forms a solid foundation for companies and employees. For more than 30 years, induver is the insurance broker for companies,...

NOVELYEAST

SUPERIOR YEAST AS A TARGET AND A TOOL

NovelYeast is an R&D company with world-leading expertise in the design and development of superior industrial yeast strains. Our superior yeast strains for bioethanol and isobutanol production support the transition to a more sustainable bio-based economy in the sectors of automobile and aviation transport. Superior yeast strains for production of...

iFLUX

Future-proof groundwater monitoring solutions in uncertain and dynamic times.

How do you tackle groundwater contamination in a targeted, swift, and efficient manner? How do you prevent nature reserves and cities from running dry? These are the questions that iFLUX experts answer with the help of objective data coming from state-of-the-art sensor technology. Groundwater constitutes just 0,65% of Earth’s water,...

AZ Zeno

Innovation with a heart: Merging Technology and Compassionate Care

In a constantly evolving healthcare environment, the general hospital AZ Zeno takes a resolute, forward-thinking approach in which innovation and humanity go hand in hand. From robotic surgery to integrative care, from artificial intelligence to health hubs – AZ Zeno combines cutting-edge technology with genuine attention to the human being...

ODTH FIRST CLASS LOGISTICS

ODTH FIRST CLASS LOGISTICS-WHERE PEOPLE AND TECHNOLOGY JOIN FORCES

WHERE PEOPLE AND TECHNOLOGY JOIN FORCES

Logistics service provider ODTH First Class Logistics offers tailor-made, flexible logistics services with well-trained employees and global multimodal possibilities. All sites are easily accessible and the Willebroek location is adjacent to the Hutchison Ports Terminal, a trimodal container terminal with direct connections to the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam. ODTH...

Monsana

AI finds the options, doctors choose the right one.

Doctors make treatment decisions every day. But sometimes, the most promising option isn’t part of the standard treatment, it is part of a clinical trial. In Belgium alone, over 1,400 clinical trials run each year. Yet with doctors seeing 30 or more patients a day, keeping up with them is...

TRANSPORT EN LOGISTIEK VLAANDEREN

UNLOCKING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SECTOR

Every year, the number of transport and logistics companies in Belgium keeps growing. All projections show that the transportation of goods by the road will also continue to grow in the following 20 years. The sector thus plays a vital role in the Belgian economy. However, with rising costs, stricter...

BETTERFLYBOX

BIODIVERSITY RESTAURATION

Biodiversity Biodiversity, short for ā€˜biological diversity’, refers to the variety and variability of life forms on Earth. It encompasses the full range of species of plants, animals, micro-organisms and ecosystems, as well as the genetic differences within these species. Biodiversity encompasses not only the diversity of species, but also their...

CITY OF GHENT

Imagine a city where centuries-old architecture seamlessly blends with cutting-edge innovation—where creativity, dynamism, and growth are the norm. Welcome to Ghent, the European technology capital that attracts entrepreneurs from around the globe. Ghent’s strength lies in its strategic alliances across biotech, healthtech, digital tech, and cleantech. This collaborative community is...

TPR @ UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP

Your partner for research and training on transport and regional economics

TPR was founded as a research group within the University of Antwerp in the mid-1990s. It is committed to being an international center of excellence for fundamental and applied academic training, research, and service provision in transport economics, logistics, and regional economics. Its mission is to enhance transport and logistics...

RAVAS MOBILE WEIGHING

revolutionizing efficiency and accuracy in material handling

Established in the 1970s, RAVAS Mobile Weighing (RAVAS) is a pioneering organization at the forefront of revolutionizing efficiency and accuracy in mobile weighing in material handling. RAVAS started as a small-scale operation in the Netherlands. The company’s founder recognized the need for mobile weighing solutions that could enhance productivity and...

ADPO

REVOLUTIONIZING CHEMICAL LOGISTICS IN EUROPE

Future-forward. Future-focused. ADPO is committed to accelerating the energy transition by decarbonizing the supply chain for its customers. ā€œIf you want to begin to reduce your environmental footprint, the quickest way to start is to find those suppliers who’ve already reduced theirs,ā€ says Filip De Dijcker, Managing Director at ADPO....

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The Publisher

Freddy Arnauts

International networking was a logical result of my profession during my long career mainly in the Pharma and Medical World. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to start B19 Antwerp, a selective business club in this city, allowing me to get in touch with many visionary enablers, entrepreneurs, politicians, and other key opinion... click to read more

The Publisher

Freddy Arnauts

International networking was a logical result of my profession during my long career mainly in the Pharma and Medical World. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to start B19 Antwerp, a selective business club in this city, allowing me to get in touch with many visionary enablers, entrepreneurs, politicians, and other key opinion... click to read more

Other Ecosystems