Research - Belgium

Updated 10/2012

Legal requirements

The European target set out in the Lisbon Strategy is to bring investment in research and development (R&D) to 3% of GDP by 2010. To achieve this goal, Belgium encourages companies to invest in research and innovation, both of which are engines of growth and employment.

R&D Institutes

The Research and Development sector (R&D) is primarily organised on a regional basis, although the Federal Public Service Economy, SMEs, Self-Employed and Energy encourages activities in this area.

R&D in the Brussels-Capital Region
Innovation in the Flemish Region
Walloon research and technology portal
Federal Public Service Economy, SMEs, Self-Employed and Energy

The federal level remains active in the areas of data collection, the calculation of indicators, and policy-making through the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO).

Belgian Federal Science Policy

The communities are also responsible for research and development at the higher education level (universities, colleges and independent university research centres).

The Council of Deans of French-speaking universities
The Flemish Inter-university Council

The registered collective research centres contribute to the dissemination and integration of emerging technologies throughout Belgium's industrial fabric and are thus essential to our economic expansion.

Registered collective research centres - Walloon Region
Registered Collective Research Centres - Flemish Region

Alongside R&D, innovation is essential for businesses to develop and stay competitive.

New ideas — Belgium

Intellectual property must be protected to encourage research.

Intellectual property — Belgium

Resources

The Unit for Production and Analysis of R&D Indicators at the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) is the source for all research-related statistics in Belgium. The bodies listed above should be consulted for regional or community statistics.