R&D and Innovation in Wallonia-Brussels

BELGIUM, IN THE HEART OF EUROPE

3 REGIONS IN BELGIUM

WALLONIA -BRUSSELS: A COMMUNITY WITH A HIGH CAPACITY FOR R&D&I 300 public and private R&D units and over researchers 9 university centers and more than 70 spin-offs in activity €480 million of public R&D expenditure ( ) 130 fully-equipped Business Parks 6 Science Parks and 6 Competitiveness Clusters which are vectors for partnerships between research institutes and industry 2.22% of GDP engaged in Business R&D activities (2010)

THE WALLOON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY  Progressive building of an integrated and shared strategy, based on synergies and networking between actors and policies : industrial and RDI policies, training and education, employment, infrastructures, integration of the ‘green’ dimension.

THE WALLOON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY Marshall Plan ( ) Objectives : Create more enterprises, more competitiveness and more attractiveness, strengthen the economic base Targeting of actions and resources on priority sectors, holders of innovation and added value 5 priority axis: 1.To create Competitiveness Clusters (280 million €) 2.To stimulate the creation of activities : (872 million €) 3.To reduce and remove some taxes on companies at local level (147,3 million €) 4.To promote research and innovation, in close linkage with enterprises (150 million €) 5.To improve the skills of the workforce (160 million €) Results: enterprises beneficiaries, direct jobs created, people trained, new researchers

THE WALLOON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY Marshall Plan 2. Green ( ) Continuation and reinforcement of the first Plan, with up-to-date priorities :  New challenges and opportunities: climate change and greening of the economy, globalisation  Europe 2020 Strategy  Stronger synergies between regional and community (education and learning) priorities Budget : 2,75 billion € (additional to regional « recurring » budget);

THE WALLOON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY Marshall Plan 2. Green ( ) 6 priority axis:  Human capital, an asset to develop (337 million €)  Competitiveness Clusters and business networks : a success to amplify (388 million €)  Strengthening scientific research as an engine for future development (142 millions €)  A favorable framework for creating businesses and quality jobs (592 million €)  Employment-Environment Alliances : a new strategy for the future (879,6 million €)  Mixing-up employment and social welfare (422 million €) + 2 transversal dynamics in public action :  public governance efficiency  sustainable development

COMPETITIVENESS CLUSTER POLICY Competitiveness clusters = the mix of  3 actors  enterprises  research units  training centres  4 areas of action :  research  training  investment  international development  3 decisive factors :  partnerships  joint innovative projects  critical mass and international visibility

COMPETITIVENESS CLUSTER POLICY Within the framework of the Marshall Plan 2.Green, priority is given to the 6 most promising growth sectors: 1. Life sciences (Biowin) 2. Aeronautics and aerospace (Skywin) 3. Mechanical engineering (Mecatech) 4. Transport and logistics (Logistics in Wallonia) 5. Food-processing industry (Wagralim) 6. Environmental technologies (Greenwin)

WALLOON INNOVATION STRATEGY SINCE 2000 Walloon Strategy: Stimulate economic growth in a sustainable and inclusive way Stimulate creation of high value added activities and open innovation : - Private R&D - Innovative products and SME's - Knowledge transfers - Priority sectors Encourage the development of existing companies and creation of new companies: - Stimulation of private and public investments - Creation of networks Facilitate the spatial redeployment of economic activity Enhancing the attractiveness - Development of immaterial capital - Accompanying structures - Development of physical capital - Development of infrastructures - Development of human capital (competencies) - Greening economy

THE WALLOON INNOVATION POLICY The Walloon Government is the relevant regional authority responsible for regional economic development and RD&I policies. Mainly developed through Competitiveness and Business Clusters in strategic economic sectors.

THE RESEARCH & INNOVATION PLATEFORM Research and Innovation Platform

OPPORTUNITIES FOR COOPERATION : 1. WBI and MOST work together and focus on the following fields: -Biotechnologies and Life sciences -Agriculture : main projects on strategies to fight against parasites and on research of new methods to improve agricultural production. -Microelectronics 2. Bilateral agreement on cooperation in the fields of education and scientific cooperation between the China Scholarship Council and WBI. Scholarships for Masters, Phd’s or reasearchers are granted every year for chinese scholars in different fields. 3. Funding and scholarships are also available for projects focusing on the three main fields of interest! Write to us if you have a specific project or questions! 4. Of course, european funding can support cooperation with a WB partner!

LIVING, LEARNING AND SHARING Brussels, at the heart of Europe Cosmopolitan population Multi-lingual Open-minded English in higher education and society Quality of life Health care Safety Cultural heritage and cuisine Mobility Belgium is a great place to live and study

RESEARCH: AT THE HEART OF UNIVERSITIES Research at the core of the education system in universities Research networks World-class research institutes Members of leading global and Asian research networks Innovative fields of research Stem cell, regenerative medicine, nanotechnology, e-health, aging, energy, etc. Expertise in European joint research programmes (FP7, ERC, EIT, etc.) Know-how in technology transfer

RESEARCH: AT THE HEART OF UNIVERSITIES Euraxess : Universities adhere to the European Charter for Researchers Researcher’s status : Social security Fair pay Close link with social economic sphere Protection of intellectual property rights

RESEARCH: AT THE HEART OF UNIVERSITIES Main stakeholders : Universities & National Research Fund (FNRS) 25% of universities public operating budget dedicated to research More than 30% of universities total research expenditures dedicated to fundamental research High Quality guaranteed by the close link between Teaching & Research National Research Fund (FNRS) : a label of quality Presently ~ 92% of public funding Support and development of Fundamental Research in the 6 Universities of Wallonia Brussels, through various funding instruments through financing schemes : Fellowships & Grants for PhDs, Post-docs, Qualified Researchers Infrastructure International Mobility & Networking Coordination of Thematic Doctoral Schools

RESEARCH: AT THE HEART OF UNIVERSITIES Key issues Freedom in research policy and research management; bottom-up process! Long-term (funding and vision) Quality of ex-ante and ex-post evaluation procedures Level of funding (compare to applied research) Incomes : ~200 M€ (FNRS: ~150 M€) Outcomes ~2500 F.R.S.-FNRS researchers hosted in universities of FWB, among which ~1300 PhD students In the top ten European countries in # of publications - citations per inhabitant Wallonia Brussels and China : mobility scheme for researchers in the framework of the agreement between the FNRS/WBI/China Scholarship Council

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Contacts in Beijing: Wallonia-Brussels Delegation LB Liangmaqiao Diplomatic Compound 19, Dongfangdong Road, Chaoyang District Beijing Tel: (+86) Interested in studying in W-B ? Have a look at Interested in researching in W-B ? Have a look at cfwb.be/

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