» Context

The Brussels Capital Region promotes and supports research related to economic and energy policy, engineering, the environment and transport. A decision to pinpoint these specific sectors was articulated after the reform of Belgian institutions in 1980, which has subsequently been amended.

The Brussels-Capital Region helps provide funding for basic technological and industrial research, which includes the development of prototypes, new products and production processes, as well as the dissemination and transfer of technologies and technological innovation. Financial support is granted to companies, universities and research centres.

The region is one of the European hubs of scientific research and advanced technologies. It has adopted a proactive policy based on its natural assets: the presence of four university centres of excellence and four industrial higher education institutes, three faculties of medicine and university hospitals, as well as several public and private research centres. In this highly intellectual context, university research centres are closely linked with the Brussels-based companies involved in the high-tech sector.

Scientific research in the Brussels-Capital Region is mainly geared towards highly specialised sectors and advanced technologies such as information technology, state-of-the-art equipment and procedures, electromechanical engineering, biotechnology and life sciences, medical research and environmental protection.


» Strategic key areas

Scientific research in the Brussels-Capital Region focuses on two key areas:

• Applied Scientific Research supports basic industrial research, the development of prototypes, collective, inter-regional initiatives and technological guidance.
  
• Pure Scientific research concentrates on two framework programmes (besides other European and regional programmes):
• Research in Brussels - a one-year project aimed at integrating the know-how of non-Belgians by granting scholarships to highly qualified young researchers working in university research centres in Brussels; 
• Prospective Research for Brussels - offering four-year scholarships to promising young researchers or three-year scholarships to post-doctoral researchers, with a view to developing research in sectors deemed crucial by the Brussels Region.

The Brussels-Capital Region adheres to a legal framework for encouraging and funding industrial research and pre-competitive development projects. A new bill is now under consideration that would enhance the support the region can provide for scientific research and technological innovation. In order to meet the challenge of the future, the region will continue to evolve new strategies.


» The partners of scientific research

• At the political level
  
  The Minister for Economy of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region is in charge of the entire research policy in the Brussels Region.
  
  
• At the administrative level
  
  IRSIB, a newly created body has been entrusted with the following tasks :
  
• to promote the development of new initiatives such as prototypes, new products and manufacturing processes in the Brussels-Capital Region through grants or interest-free loans;
• to reinforce the existing innovative projects;
• to pursue international programmes for scientific and technical research, such as UE, EUREKA, COST, etc. and encourage the Brussels-Capital Region to take part in them.
  
  
• At advisory level
  
  The main task of the Committee in charge of scientific policy is that of improving the co-ordination and communication of initiatives launched by the various parties involved. This Committee provides the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region with advice concerning its regional scientific policy. It is therefore the government's main representative vis-à-vis other national or foreign advisory panels.
  
  
• First entry point for EU funded research and transitional technology co-operation
  
  The Brussels Enterprise Agency (BEA) is funded by the Brussels-Capital Region. Among its missions are to assist economic or research initiatives in the process  of transnational technology cooperation.  The BEA also provides tailored made assistance to actual and potential participants in EU Research and Development Framework Programmes. Assistance can include partner searches, project validation, contractual financial and intellectual property issues, etc.  
  
  The BEA is the host organization for the regionally based Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), know as Enterprise Europe Brussels (EEB). There are more than 40 countries in the EEN: the largest technology transfer network in the world. It also acts as the National Contact Point (NCP) for SME activities within the EU framework programme.