Belgium's Innovation Success: Strong Performance Lacks Regional Balance
Brussels, Friday, 18 July 2025.
Belgium excels in innovation within Europe, with strengths in research and collaborations. However, regional disparities hinder its full potential, necessitating targeted strategies for balanced growth.
Belgium’s Innovation Strengths Unveiled
Belgium has emerged as a strong contender in the European innovation landscape, ranking 6th among EU member states in terms of innovation performance, with a score of 122.6% above the EU average. This achievement is highlighted in the European Innovation Scoreboard, which measures innovation capacity across various indicators, including research activities, collaborations among SMEs, and public-private publications. The country excels particularly in international scientific collaborations and public-private partnerships, positioning itself as a pivotal knowledge hub in Europe [1].
Challenges and Regional Disparities
Despite these strengths, Belgium faces significant challenges due to regional disparities that hamper its overall innovation potential. The country’s economic focus on unfinished intermediate goods limits the export of final products, and productivity growth in manufacturing has stagnated over recent years. Additionally, Belgium’s technological imports from non-European countries and applications for design and trademarks lag behind optimal levels, highlighting areas requiring policy interventions [1].
Innovation in Regions: A Tale of Three Strategies
Belgium’s innovation policy diverges across its three main regions—Brussels, Flanders, and Wallonia. Brussels stands out as a prominent knowledge center, excelling in international and public-private publications. However, it struggles with intellectual property applications and technology exports. Flanders, hailed as an innovation leader, boasts robust SME performance but also faces hurdles in intellectual property and startup growth. Wallonia, meanwhile, has made significant strides since 2018, particularly in investments and SME development, yet lags in public investments and digital adoption [1].
Future Outlook and Strategic Recommendations
Looking forward, Belgium is expected to overcome recent innovation growth slowdowns, with forecasts indicating a resumption of growth from 2025 despite budgetary constraints and global uncertainties. Strategic recommendations to spur innovation include enhancing digitalization efforts, advocating for sustainable production to meet climate targets by 2030, and reinforcing support structures for startups and scale-ups. Such measures are deemed essential to maintain Belgium’s status as a powerhouse of innovation in Europe [1].