Belgium: The Health & Biotech Valley of Today and Tomorrow

In recent years, Belgium has firmly established itself as a frontrunner in biotech. Strong biotech clusters have emerged in multiple Belgian hubs, including Ghent, Charleroi, Leuven, and Liège. These clusters are hotspots for collaboration between world-class universities, research centers, hospitals, start-ups, SMEs, and large international companies. The cross-pollination in this fertile ecosystem has led to exceptional local expertise, especially in technologies such as messenger RNA (mRNA), plasmid DNA, cell and gene therapy, and monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies.

The health and biotech industries are already vitally important to the Belgian economy and workforce. The country currently ranks third in the EU for biopharmaceutical exports, with a total of €56 billion generated in 2020. Belgian biotech and pharma companies directly employ more than 40,000 people – twice the European average – and many more indirectly.