STI in Flanders Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Key figures 2013 - Kooperation International
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STI in Flanders Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Key figures - 2013
Colophon
STI in Flanders is a publication of
the Flemish Government,
Department Economy, Science and Innovation
Flemish Government
Department Economy, Science and Innovation
Koning Albert II-laan 35, bus 10
1030 Brussels, Belgium
Tel.: +32 (0)2 553 59 80
info@ewi.vlaanderen.be
www.ewi-vlaanderen.be
Authors:
Niko Geerts, Monica Van Langenhove, Peter Viaene and
Pascale Dengis
Publisher:
Dirk Van Melkebeke, Secretary-general,
Department Economy, Science and Innovation
Flemish Government
Content finalised on 1st December 2013
The reproduction of content of the STI Publication is only
allowed when accompanied with a quotation of the source.
The Department Economy, Science and Innovation does
not accept any liability arising out or in connection with the
use of the information contained in this edition.
D/2013/3241/381
2
Table of contents
Colophon .................................................................................................................... 2
Table of contents ........................................................................................................ 3
Foreword .................................................................................................................... 7
Chapter 1 Science, Technology and Innovation system in Flanders .......................... 9
1 Competencies in the field of science, research and innovation ................................................. 10
1.1 Federalism in Belgium ....................................................................................................... 10
1.2 Competencies in the field of science, research and innovation ........................................ 11
1.2.1 Direct support for R&D and innovation in broad sense ................................................. 11
1.2.2 All research related to the community (= person-related) and the regional (= territorial
related) competencies ................................................................................................................ 12
1.2.3 Access to finance ........................................................................................................... 12
2 General orientations of Flemish STI policy ................................................................................. 12
3 Flanders, center of innovation ..................................................................................................... 14
3.1 More resources for R&D .................................................................................................... 15
3.2 Focusing on ‘spearhead’ areas ......................................................................................... 16
3.3 Output Monitoring Research .............................................................................................. 18
3.4 More opportunities for research talent ............................................................................... 18
4 Instruments and actors of the Flemish STI policy ...................................................................... 18
4.1 Government department .................................................................................................... 19
4.2 Policy advice ...................................................................................................................... 20
4.3 Other bodies of public interest in the field of science and innovation ............................... 20
4.4 Funding agencies .............................................................................................................. 21
4.4.1 Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) ............................................ 21
4.4.2 Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) ......................................................................... 22
4.4.3 Hercules Foundation...................................................................................................... 22
4.4.4 PMV – Flanders Holding Company ............................................................................... 23
4.5 Innovation intermediaries .................................................................................................. 23
4.5.1 Infrastructure: science parks and incubators ................................................................. 24
4.5.2 Financial intermediaries ................................................................................................. 24
4.5.3 Innovative networks ....................................................................................................... 24
5 Main research and innovation performers................................................................................... 25
5.1 Higher education institutions ............................................................................................. 25
5.2 Business Enterprise Sector ............................................................................................... 26
5.3 Strategic Research Centers .............................................................................................. 26
3
5.3.1 IMEC .............................................................................................................................. 26
5.3.2 VIB ................................................................................................................................. 27
5.3.3 VITO............................................................................................................................... 27
5.3.4 iMinds ............................................................................................................................ 27
5.4 Collective research ............................................................................................................ 28
5.5 Policy Research Centers ................................................................................................... 29
5.6 Scientific institutes ............................................................................................................. 29
5.7 Other research institutes and knowledge centers ............................................................. 29
5.8 Institutes from other authorities ......................................................................................... 30
5.8.1 Federal authority ............................................................................................................ 30
6 Flanders in the international STI field .......................................................................................... 32
6.1 Policy preparation, support and follow-up ......................................................................... 32
6.2 Bilateral and international co-operation and agreements .................................................. 33
6.2.1 STI actors: universities, university colleges, strategic research centres, scientific
institutes, other knowledge organisations................................................................................... 33
6.2.2 Public authority level: the EWI policy domain and the International Flanders (IV) policy
domain 34
6.3 Participation in various international programmes, networks and initiatives ..................... 36
Chapter 2 Funding of R&D ....................................................................................... 39
1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 40
2 GERD .......................................................................................................................................... 40
3 BERD........................................................................................................................................... 42
4 Non-BERD ................................................................................................................................... 43
5 GBAORD ..................................................................................................................................... 46
6 Estimate calculation method for publicly- financed R&D intensity (1% objective) ...................... 47
7 Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) ............ 49
7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 49
7.2 Participation of Flanders .................................................................................................... 49
7.3 Benchmark of Flanders ..................................................................................................... 50
7.4 Top participant organisations ............................................................................................ 51
8 EU Regional Policy R&D&I support ............................................................................................ 52
Chapter 3 Human resources in science and technology .......................................... 55
1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 56
2 S&T Students .............................................................................................................................. 56
3 S&T graduates ............................................................................................................................ 57
4 R&D personnel ............................................................................................................................ 58
5 Mobility of researchers ................................................................................................................ 60
4
6 Odysseus – excellent researchers .............................................................................................. 61
7 PhD.............................................................................................................................................. 62
Chapter 4 Innovation efforts of enterprises in Flanders (CIS results) ....................... 65
1 CIS: global results ....................................................................................................................... 66
2 Process and product innovation .................................................................................................. 66
3 Organizational and marketing innovation .................................................................................... 67
Chapter 5 STI productivity or STI output................................................................... 69
1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 70
2 Scientific publications .................................................................................................................. 70
3 Citations....................................................................................................................................... 72
4 Co-publications ............................................................................................................................ 72
5 Social sciences & humanities ...................................................................................................... 73
6 Patents ........................................................................................................................................ 74
Acronyms and abbreviations .................................................................................... 78
Websites (non- comprehensive list) .......................................................................... 81
5
Foreword The department of Economy, Science and Innovation of the Flemish Government would like to present its very first version of the “STI in Flanders” publication. The aim is to present in depth information on Science, Technology and Innovation policy in Flanders, display important figures or indicators, describe the broad context and the performance of the research and innovation landscape, and list the main actors as well as public entities in the field of R&D and innovation. The Government of Flanders is aware of the importance of research and innovation as a necessary condition for maintaining wealth and well-being in Flanders. Already since the mid-1990s it started to develop a broad-based strategy on STI policy, which is developed through a whole set of treaties, acts, decrees, agreements, decisions, MoU’s, statements to strive towards a common goal or other legislative measures that shape, implement and evaluate policy in the broad field of science, research and innovation. This is underpinned by a substantial public budget for research and innovation: total STI-budget of the Flemish Government reached almost 2 billion euro in 2013. This represents over 80% of the total public budget available for research and innovation, with another 277 million euro federal sources and 195 million euro EU (FP7, CIP, SF) sources. Hence, the total public budget available to various R&D&I actors in Flanders in 2013 reached +- 2450 million euro. On the other hand, public and private actors spent in total 5.1 billion euro on R&D (GERD) in 2011, which represents an R&D-intensity of 2.4% for Flanders. Although Flanders is part of the innovation leaders in the Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS), and performs well in various output-based criteria (e.g. patenting), its ambition to be among the top innovative regions in Europe needs further effort. The variety of initiatives and policy measures in the field of STI has changed and broadened considerably. Gone are the days that innovation was only technology based. Today, social innovation, public procurement of innovation, eco-innovation or energy innovation are discussed at international top committees such as ERAC and EPG and rank high on the policy agenda. STI-policy has moved towards the core of political focus in the EU as well as at other governmental levels since the outbreak of the crisis end 2008. Indeed, the importance of innovation as a crucial factor of competitiveness of companies, economic systems, regions and countries is now widely recognized. In many cases, various stakeholders from government, civil society, business organisations and STI- actors in Flanders have been joining forces to develop various initiatives, set policy targets, or persist in maintaining important efforts on the long term in the field of R&D and innovation. This is not a recent or new paradigm for Flanders. Such was already the case with the “Innovation Pact” of 2003, whereby Flemish public and private stakeholders committed themselves to strive towards the 3% R&D- expenditure / GDP target. The “Vlaanderen in Actie” (Flanders in Action), or ViA, future plan aims to rank Flanders among the top-5 EU regions by 2020. It defined several thematic breakthroughs, one being the “Innovatiecentrum Vlaanderen” (Innovation Centre Flanders). The “Pact 2020” has set specific indicators to monitor the progress towards these strategic ViA-goals. At present, a lot of information on the policy initiatives and budgets of Flanders in the field of scientific research, technology and innovation exists already, yet in a fragmented way, and in Dutch as well as in English, and either as a part of a separate Flemish input or an overall Belgian report. There exist policy documents, evaluation reports, the “Vlaams Indicatorenboek” (Flanders’ Indicator Book), the annual “Speurgids” (or Budget Browser), the Flemish and Belgian Reform Programmes for the EU 2020 strategy, the Belgian ERA watch follow-up report, or the OECD STI Outlook. Yet a separate overview in English language on the science and innovation policy and figures in Flanders was not published before. This publication aims to give an in depth overview of Science, Technology and Innovation policy in Flanders. We wish you a pleasant reading of the first “STI in Flanders”!
8
Chapter 1 Science, Technology and Innovation system in Flanders
1 Competencies in the field of
science, research and innovation
1.1 Federalism in Belgium
Flanders is the autonomous region located in the northern part of Belgium, with Brussels as its capital.
It manages important competencies and budgets in many policy fields. This is the result of a gradual
process since 1970, whereby several state reforms have turned Belgium into a far-going federal
country, where many competences have been transferred to the federalised authorities. Institutionally,
Belgium is divided into four language-areas (the Dutch-speaking, the bilingual Dutch/French, the
French-speaking and the German-speaking), and is composed of three Communities (the Flemish, the
French, the German-speaking) and three Regions (Flemish, Brussels Capital, Walloon).
Consequently, policy-making within the country is being prepared and executed by various authorities,
based on three pillars: a federal, a Community and a Regional competencies’ pillar. The federalism as
it is setup in Belgium is unique in the world. Its main characteristics are briefly:
- each entity has exclusive powers and competencies in a number of areas (no shared
competencies);
- each entity has its own separately elected parliament, government, administration,
legislation, advisory bodies, etc.;
- no hierarchy exists between the different entities regarding their competencies (no
overruling is possible);
- since the 4th state reform of 1993, the principle of “in foro interno, in fore externo” is
applied, meaning that each entity executes its competencies both within and outside
Belgium.
In 1980, the Regional authorities were established. Thereby, the Flemish authorities merged the
institutions of the existing Flemish Community and the Flemish Region. Hence, a single Flemish
Parliament, Flemish Government, official consultative bodies and an administration, supported by
specific agencies, manage and oversee both community and regional competencies in the various
policy domains. The Flemish Parliament debates and legitimates all official legal decisions pertaining
to both community and regional competence. Likewise, the Government of Flanders is charged with
the execution and implementation of policy decisions and includes a minister who manages both the
Community and the Regional competencies. This situation differs from the French-speaking part of the
country where the French Community and the Walloon Region are separate institutional entities with
different authorities.
10Table 1: Key figures on Flanders, Belgium and EU-27 (EU-28 data not yet available)
year unity Flanders Belgium EU-27
2
Surface km 13,521 30,528 4,324,782
Population 1/1/2012 million 6.37 11.07 506.8
246.452
GERD 2011 billion euro 5.088 7.488
(2010)
GDP per capita 2012 euro PPP 30,200 30,500 25,700
Employment rate (20-64
2012 % 71.5 67.2 68.5
year)
Flanders’ population counts for about 58% of Belgium, whilst its surface is about 44% of the country’s.
The majority of the companies and the working population of Belgium are located in its northern region
which has a higher employment rate too. As a result, the economy of Flanders represents about 57%
of the Belgian economy (as measured in GDP). It is also a very open economy: according to EU-
definition, the exports from Flanders are worth 126% of its GDP (partly due to the trade of goods
arriving in the Antwerp harbour). On the other hand, the relative wealth - as measured in GDP per
capita – of Flanders is higher than the EU27 average but slightly lower than the Belgian average. The
main reason for the latter is the capital-effect of the small Brussels’ region with its strong presence of
company headquarters and public administrations. If the wealth generated by the daily commuters
from Flanders towards the Brussels Capital Region were attributed to their residence in the Flemish
Region, the Flemish GDP per capita rises above the Belgian value (32,600 euro versus 30,200). Total
expenditures on R&D (GERD) in Flanders are over 60% of those in Belgium, and the Flemish R&D
intensity is slightly higher than the value for Belgium (details see chapter 2).
1.2 Competencies in the field of science, research and innovation
While certain policy domains remain exclusively federal (e.g. defence policy, monetary policy, nuclear
power research, social security), other domains have largely or even completely been transferred to
either the Communities or the Regions. The latter is the case for the Science, Technology and
Innovation (STI)-domain: scientific research is mainly (in terms of legislation and budget) a Community
competence, whereas innovation is almost completely a Regional competence.
More specifically, the federal authority remains responsible for a limited number of research
programmes (notably in the field of climate and sustainable development), the support of research
infrastructures of national interest, a number of federal scientific institutes, and a small number of
exclusively attributed research themes including the Belgian space policy, ‘sustainable’ nuclear energy
and polar research at the Antarctic station. In addition, framework conditions such as IPR,
normalization, standardization, tax credits and scientific visas for researchers also are exclusively
managed by the federal authority.
The various competencies as well as the types of institutes that Flanders is responsible for in the field
of science, research and innovation in practice represent these topics:
1.2.1 Direct support for R&D and innovation in broad sense
- grants, fees, PhD and subsidies or other support channels for basic, fundamental,
cutting- edge, and applied research that is conducted by researchers at universities,
institutes, companies, networks of knowledge and businesses, etc.;
- all business-oriented support (e.g. technology transfer, technology advice, technology
scans, networking, dissemination of innovation, knowledge and technology,
valorisation or research results, feasibility studies, knowledge vouchers,…);
11- various forms of collective research (joint industry-science research, innovative
networks, clustering);
- promotion and popularisation of STI (in education, society, business, science centres),
mobility of researchers,...
1.2.2 All research related to the community (= person-related) and the regional (= territorial
related) competencies
This includes:
the broad innovation policy as well as the scientific research policy (fundamental,
applied and strategic basic research);
(research at) higher education institutes (university colleges, universities);
(research at) public research organisations (PROs);
(research at) Community scientific institutes and policy research centres;
(research at) various institutes that generate knowledge or scientific output;
infrastructure in the field of research and innovation (small, medium-scale and large-
scale research infrastructure (e.g. supercomputers, data collections, networks, clean
rooms, etc.))
science parks, technology parks, incubator sites,...
research in the policy fields of Flanders: economic support, industrial policy,
entrepreneurship, social economy, public works, employment, environment, nature
conservation, forestry, agriculture, energy (except for nuclear energy), heritage,
(primary, secondary and higher) education, water management, transport, vocational
training, health, culture, tourism, care, health and well-being, data transmission,
sports, media, youth,…
1.2.3 Access to finance
Support for start-ups, spin-offs, participations, seed capital, risk capital, guarantees, fast-
growing or technology-oriented businesses, business angels, loans,…;
Thus apart from a number of exclusively-reserved competencies at the federal level (space, nuclear
energy research, IPR, normalization) and certain institutes (federal scientific centers and various
knowledge institutes), all competences and activities in the field of R&D and innovation are granted to
and executed or implemented by Flanders.
2 General orientations of Flemish STI policy
As stated before, at the governmental level, one minister is charged with both scientific research and
innovation. The public authority at the administrative level which is responsible for STI policy is the
EWI (Economie, Wetenschap en Innovatie) policy-domain. This manages the fields of Economy,
Science and Innovation, and is composed of the EWI Department for the preparation, monitoring and
follow-up of and a number of agencies that execute and implement policy measures in the fields of
scientific research, innovation, entrepreneurship and industrial policy (see 4. in this chapter).
The Government of Flanders is aware of the importance of STI as a necessary condition for
maintaining wealth and well-being in Flanders. Already since the mid-1990s it has started to develop a
broad-based strategy on STI policy. This is developed through a number of agreements, initiatives and
statements, including:
the government agreement in which the various political parties that take part in the
governing coalition outline their priorities for the five-yearly parliamentary term;
12 the policy note of the minister charged with scientific research and innovation for the
five-year governing period;
the annual policy letter of the minister, which further elaborate and specify the general
policy framework announced in the policy note.
Moreover, a number of multi-annual strategic plans and targets have been agreed upon by a broad-
ranging group of stakeholders from government, civil society and industry. These plans set out a set of
targets across a range of policy fields, amongst which STI is assigned a clear priority. Major plans
include:
the Innovation Pact (2003), a commitment by Flemish public and private stakeholders
to meet the EU’s Barcelona target (GERD/GDP ratio of 3% by 2020);
the Flemish Reform Programmes for the Lisbon strategy on Growth and Jobs (in
2005-2010), and currently the Reform Programmes for the Europe 2020 strategy;
Flanders in Action (Vlaanderen in Actie, ViA), the future plan for 2020, that is
composed by several Breakthrough initiatives including “Innovation Centre Flanders”,
and the related Pact 2020 that sets specific targets and strategic objectives for the ViA
Breakthroughs;
the Concept Note “Innovation Centre Flanders” of May 2011, which elaborates a
framework for the future of oriented innovation in Flanders;
all relevant treaties, acts, decrees, agreements, MoU’s or other legislation designed
for shaping and implementing policy in the field of science, research and innovation.
Through the ViA action plan, Flanders aims to rank among the top-5 EU regions by 2020 and strategic
breakthroughs, crucial for the future wealth and well-being of all in Flanders, are identified. These
breakthroughs in various fields are: the open entrepreneur; Flanders learning society; Innovation
centre Flanders; Green and dynamic urban region; Europe’s smart hub; Caring society; Decisive
governance. STI is not just the major theme of the ”Innovation Centre Flanders” Breakthrough, but
also plays a transversal role across the various other themes and policy initiatives designed to match
the overall goals of the ViA framework.
The importance of STI in ViA is not only reflected by the target to spend 3% of GDP on R&D (idem in
the governing agreement and policy note), but also in different targets of the 2020 Pact, which include:
Flanders will progress towards a competitive and multi-faceted knowledge economy
distinguished by the generation of sustainable prosperity and welfare. In terms of
prosperity and welfare, and investments, it will rank among the top five knowledge-
intensive European regions;
Innovation will be more widely and better distributed across all sectors, types of
businesses, and segments of society.
In concrete terms, targets set include: a year-on-year increase of the number of patent applications, to
be amongst the EU’s top-5 regions for public spending on eco-innovation, an increase of turnover from
new or improved products and services, and a higher share of ‘spearhead’ areas such as ICT and
health, logistics, smart electricity networks (GRID) in the economy.
The 2009-2014 Flemish Government coalition agreement explicitly restates that Flanders aims to
reach the 3% R&D expenditure to GDP target, reconfirmed as a EU objective in the Europe 2020
strategy in March 2010, and includes the intention to draw up a new Innovation Pact (as a successor
to the 2003 pact).
The annual policy letter on innovation lists 5 strategic targets that each consist of a number of
operational targets. These strategic targets are determined by the objectives of the policy note for the
governing period 2009-2014 and are:
13 Focussed innovation strategies;
More innovative strength for the Flemish economy;
Flanders as an innovation-friendly top region;
Strengthen the fundaments of science policy;
Increase the impact, persist in more inputs for research and innovation, and improve
efficiency.
These objectives, based on an interaction of research and innovation with other specific policy
domains and with overall socio-economic objectives (as set e.g. in the ViA action plan), clearly
demonstrates the relative importance of STI in the Flemish policy-agenda. These must take into
account the significant societal as well as economic challenges, and be in line with a number of major
EU initiatives, such as the EU 2020 strategy, the Commission’s Flagship initiative on “Innovation
Union”, the objectives of the European Research Area (ERA), and the principles in the EU’s (future)
Horizon 2020 programme on R&D and innovation.
3 Flanders, center of innovation
Various knowledge actors from Flanders are recognized as excellence centers in their field and
conduct research with partners throughout the world, or even have setup establishments in the US or
Asia, as did several universities, IMEC, VITO etc. (see 6.2 in this chapter for examples).
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings lists 2 Belgian (Flemish) universities in the
top-100, namely KU Leuven and UGent.
th
In the 2013 EU Innovation Union Scoreboard (IUS) Belgium is listed as the 7 best country and the
third among the second set of “Innovation followers” countries. It is classified behind the “Innovation
Leaders” countries of Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Finland, and behind “Innovation followers” the
Netherlands and Luxemburg, but ahead of the United Kingdom Austria, Ireland and France. Based on
the methodology of the IUS, there also exists a Regional Innovation Scoreboard, RIS. This covers 190
regions across the EU, Croatia, Norway and Switzerland. In de RIS 2012 there are 41 regions that
belong to the top group of "innovation leaders", including Flanders. Figure 32 displays a map with both
the country rankings in the IUS and the regional scores from the RIS.
Flanders in Action (ViA) is the future project for Flanders, aimed to lever the region to the top five of
the European regions by 2020. This endeavor is not a goal in itself, but is part of the desire to secure
and improve the prosperity and welfare of the people. More transversal relations must be made in
order to achieve a bigger leverage. The challenges of the so-called ViA breakthroughs are very
diverse : the necessary economic transformation, poverty alleviation, renewable energy, sustainable
materials management, transportation and logistics. To realize these challenges, innovation will
always play a major role.
Innovative solutions to social challenges ensure the creation of jobs, allow our companies to grow
internationally, and bring Flanders at the top of the European regions. In order to achieve this,
researchers, businesses and government have to work together very closely. This concept is called
'open innovation'.
14The ViA breakthrough "Innovation Centre Flanders" contains four action lines:
1. More resources for R&D
2. Focusing on ‘spearhead’ areas
3. Output Monitoring Research
4. More opportunities for research talent
3.1 More resources for R&D
Flanders is committed to the EU 2020-target to invest 3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in R&D,
one-third being funded by the government (the so-called 1% objective), and two-thirds by the private
(business) sector. Total expenditures on research and development reached 5.088 billion euro in
2011, which represents almost two-thirds of all R&D expenditures in Belgium (GERD). Of this amount,
3.474 billion euro were business expenditures on R&D (BERD), in which the chemical and
pharmaceutical sector represented with 34% (2011) the major share and other main performers were
motion picture, video and TV production, computer programs, engineering and technical testing and
analysis activities
In 2013 budgetary allocations for R&D of the Government of Flanders reached 1.271 billion euro. This
amount represents almost half of Belgium’s total allocations, the remaining half stemming from the
other four authorities altogether (namely the sum of the budgets from the federal, French Community,
Walloon Region and Brussels Capital Region authorities). To calculate the total public efforts in the
Flemish Region on R&D, the federal and EU efforts on R&D in the Flemish Region must be added.
This federal part is 277.3 million euro (based on 35.5% of the federal ESA budget plus 56% of the
remaining federal allocations), and the EU share reaches 176 million euro (based on the return for
Flanders from the participation in the EU FP on RTD). In this EU share, the EU budgets for R&D&I
towards actors in Flanders from the CIP (+- 7 million euro) and the EU Cohesion Fund (+- 12 million
euro) were not taken into account. Hence, total public R&D efforts in Flanders (sum of Flemish,
federal and EU outlays) are estimated to be 1.725 billion euro in 2013. Apart from the efforts for R&D
(as defined by the OECD), the Government of Flanders allocated another 700 million euro for science
and innovation that is not R&D in a strict sense. Consequently, the total available Flemish public
budget for R&D&I reaches almost 2 billion euro, which is the sum of 1.27 billion euro R&D budgets
and 0.70 billion euro non-R&D science and innovation budget. If one adds the budgets that origin from
the federal and the EU, total public R&D&I budget available in Flanders is about 2.43 billion euro.
The R&D-intensity (total R&D expenditures as % of GDP) of Flanders reached 2.40% in 2011. The
R&D expenditure in the private sector was 1.64% of GDP, and in the public sector 0.76% while 1.70%
is privately funded and 0.70% is publicly funded. It is essential that the 1% objective (public funding) is
reached by 2020. In 2011, the Flemish Government reached an agreement on a minimum growth path
for this objective. Achieving the 1% public R&D/GDP target has been an important focus of attention.
Already since the mid-1990s, substantial budget increases for R&D&I were allocated by the Flemish
st
Government. Depending the available public budget, this effort has further continued in the 21
century. In the period 2006-2009, an additional budget of 525 million euro was earmarked for R&D&I.
The annual net increases of the public R&D budget from the Flemish Government thereafter have
been (in million euro): 160 (2010), 65 (2011), 60 (2012) and 59.5 (2013). These include a number of
one-off public investments, for example in the new research vessel “Simon Stevin” of the VLIZ.
Studies have shown that achieving the 1% objective has, through leveraging, a positive impact on
private investment in innovation. A higher government R&D funding leads to more private investment
in R&D. A causal relationship between both was established and no crowding-out effects would occur.
153.2 Focusing on ‘spearhead’ areas
A basis for policy priorities was proposed in a recommendation of the Flemish Research Council in
2006. This recommendation described six strategic clusters based on a SWOT analysis of Flanders
versus the EU - assessing scientific, technological, innovative and economic characteristics of the
Flemish region - , combined with a European foresight study of 15 key areas. The strategic clusters
were redefined into these following ‘spearheads’ for technology and innovation: (a) Transportation -
Logistics - Services - Supply chain management; (b) ICT and Services in Healthcare; (c) Healthcare;
(d) New Materials - Nanotechnology - Manufacturing industry; (e) ICT for Socio-economic innovation;
(f) Energy and Environment.
In the course of 2012-2013 the Flemish Council for Science and Innovation (VRWI) performs a
foresight study with a time horizon up to 2025. This study – building on the foresight study completed
in 2006 - aims at establishing scientific, technological and innovation priorities to help address grand
societal challenges such as energy, mobility, ageing population, health, environment and climate
change. An inventory has been made of both national and international (1) societal trends and (2)
trends with regard to Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). Subsequently, a matching exercise
has been performed on the basis of a foresight workshop to link (1) and (2) resulting in a model with
different transition areas. Parallel, a strengths/weaknesses analysis of the current situation in Flanders
was performed with regard to scientific research, technological development, innovation, economic
activity and societal developments.
On the basis of the results of this preparatory phase, (i.e. transition areas and strengths/weakness
analysis) a steering committee consisting of Captains of Industry and Captains of Society has set a
number of priority transition areas for Flanders. This resulted in a transition model consisting of:
- one horizontal transition area: Society 2.0;
- six vertical transition areas: (a) E-Society, (b) Food, (c) Health - Well-being, (d) Smart
Resources Management & Manufacturing Industries, (e) Urban Planning, Mobility
Dynamics & Logistics, (f) New Energy Demand and Delivery.
The aim is to set up, for each of the selected transition areas, a panel with experts from knowledge
centres, enterprise and civil society. These expert panels will be supported by consultants in close
collaboration with the VRWI staff. Each expert panel will set scientific, technological and innovation
priorities and opportunities that can address the societal challenges within the transition areas and will
discuss the factors of success to realize the different transitions.
In May 2011, the Flemish Government adopted a Concept Note on “Innovation Centre Flanders”. This
elaborates a conceptual framework and a long-term vision on the future of oriented innovation in
Flanders in order to achieve major projects oriented towards the grand future economic and societal
challenges, including in the above ‘spearhead’ areas. To this aim, two transversal and four vertical so-
called “innovatieknooppunten” (innovation hubs) have been defined . The paradigm is based upon the
assumption that external funding sources, the government, knowledge centers and the business
sector jointly act to develop and implement research results and innovations that arise from the
innovation ‘spearheads’. The various (existing and new) cooperation projects and initiatives will be
bundled into so-called “Lichte Structuren”, literally “Light Structures” or “innovation platforms”.
International research infrastructure is thereby a differentiating factor. Concurrently, the Government of
Flanders strives to create an integrated innovation system across borders of various policy domains by
putting the “systemic” character of innovation at the core.
16The six innovation hubs are listed below.
Innovation hub Strategic focus
Economic transformation through Embedding economic activity with sustainable and diversified
innovation employment; This transversal innovation hub has four sub hubs
in various industries: manufacturing, construction, sustainable
chemistry, creative industries
Eco-innovation Sustainable material management, cyclical economy, clean-
tech
Green / sustainable energy Renewable energy, energy-efficiency, clean-tech (energy)
Health care innovation Ageing, health, emancipation
Sustainable mobility and logistics Sustainable and efficient mobility and logistics
Social innovation Creative entrepreneurship for new solutions to societal and
economic challenges and needs
The scheme hereunder presents the linkages between the scientific and innovative basis, whereby the
“innovation platforms” connect with the 6 innovation hubs that were defined in the Concept Note and
that are oriented towards the topics of the “Grand Societal and Economic Challenges”:
For a number of themes, so-called “Innovatieregiegroepen” (IRG, innovation steering groups) have
been established since 2010. The main task of these IRG is to elaborate - within their area of activity –
strategic innovation agendas (SIAs). These are mid-term innovation strategies aimed at dealing with
the major societal challenges, and at developing a roadmap for the valorisation of innovation and
research results in that particular field. At present, the focus has been on these domains: automotives,
sustainable chemistry, social innovation, construction, green energy, and eco-innovation.
The initiatives that are taken in the oriented innovation concept tackling merely the industry sector are
being developed taking into account the actions listed in the White Paper on New Industrial Policy
(NIB) that relate to the innovation field. This NIB white paper has been approved by the Flemish
Government in 2011 and consists of 50 actions in a broad sense. Transformation of the economy
through innovation represents in particular the topic in which both the initiatives of the Concept Note
(focus on innovation) and of the White Paper (focus on industrial policy) will strive concurrently (or be
17streamlined) to reach this ambitious goal. Moreover, within the policy domain of industrial policy and
entrepreneurship in Flanders, a number of round tables in different sectors have been among
stakeholders held in the past. Wherever the possibility will arise, coordinated strategies and a common
initiative between the Concept Note and the White Paper initiatives can be developed into an
innovation platform.
3.3 Output Monitoring Research
In general, research is mainly measured by the amount of resources provided. But also the results
from the research should be evaluated. Evaluation of research and innovation policy will therefore
focus both on output and input. Data on patent applications per inhabitant and the science citation
index demonstrate that Flanders is doing relatively well, taking into account its size. Also, there exist a
more-than-average cooperation with foreign researchers, and the impact of the research results is
among the best in the EU.
The innovation instruments should be made more output-driven. The Government of Flanders will
develop new evaluation and control mechanisms for the innovation instruments in order to improve the
efficiency and effectiveness. The focus will be broadened to a full output monitoring rather than just
input monitoring system. Currently, innovation is part of the monitoring of the progress towards the ViA
goals and Pact 2020 targets, whilst a biannual Flemish Indicator book (“Vlaams Indicatorenboek”) is
being published in which for a wide set of indicators, Flanders is benchmarked with other EU-
countries.
3.4 More opportunities for research talent
Too few young people opt for science and technology disciplines. Therefore, great care has to go to
science communication and popularization. Working as a researcher would be made more attractive
by more transparent career paths and specific programs to attract foreign talent. The careers of our
researchers should be attractive, and offer perspectives. Flanders' ambition to be a successful
knowledge society can be realized if it continues to invest in high-level research and good
researchers. To meet the challenges of the future, there is need for adequate, mobile R&D personnel
of high quality. Not only Flanders is faced with this challenge: the mechanism of supply and demand is
nowadays valid for research personnel worldwide. Flanders can only play a role here when it asserts
itself to the international research market and supports and encourages excellent, dynamic, flexible
and mobile scientific workers.
Hence, popularisation of science, technique and innovation are an important focus of attention. At
policy level, this translates into the policy plan Science Communication 2012-2014 and an action plan
2012-2020 to stimulate careers in mathematics, exact sciences, and technique 2012-2020 (STEM-
action plan). Moreover, a marketing and communication plan “Science, Technology and Innovation in
Flanders 2012-2014” will contribute to more visibility and hopefully increased perception towards STI
in general and among (future) students.
4 Instruments and actors of the Flemish
STI policy
A wide range of actors and stakeholders are involved in the Flemish STI landscape: public
administrations and agencies, advisory bodies, knowledge institutes and centres, universities,
university colleges, scientific institutes, public research organisations (PROs), various networks active
in (collective) STI, university hospitals, various collective research centres, data collection institutes,
18incubation centres, science and technology parks, technology transfer offices, other intermediaries
and last but not least many private companies, sectors, and professional (technology and other)
organisations.
At the public governing level, the field of science and fundamental research (= community
competencies), as well as of innovation and applied research (= regional competencies) are being
dealt with in one specific commission of the Flemish Parliament and by a single minister in the
government. Furthermore, there is one advisory council (VRWI), and a single administration
(department) responsible for preparing and monitoring policy within the policy domain. At the
implementing level, the Agency for innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) is responsible for
innovation (= a regional competence); while for the community competencies, specific funding
agencies (notably, the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Hercules research infrastructure fund
and initiatives such as the Special Research Fund (BOF), support universities, university colleges,
scientific institutes, research centres and companies of the Flemish Community which are located in
both the Flemish Region and the bilingual Brussels-Capital Region. The Flanders Holding Company
(PMV), supports (innovative) companies with guarantees, loans, risk capital, etc. The scheme
hereunder presents the public bodies that are active in the STI field:
The following section presents an overview of the missions and activities of the main (public) actors
and some of their policy instruments.
4.1 Government department
The EWI Department (EWI = Economie, Wetenschap en Innovatie, or Economy, Science and
Innovation) of the Government of Flanders is responsible for the policy-making process in the field of
STI. The department was established in 2006 in a major administrative reform, entitled BBB (‘Better
Governance’), of the Flemish public authority. Previously the competencies and activities of the current
EWI department were divided between two distinct departments and policy domains. Through the
merger, the Flemish Government wanted to emphasise the linkage between economy (industrial
policy) and entrepreneurship on the one hand, and scientific research and innovation, on the other.
19Similar to all other Flemish policy areas, the EWI policy area consists of a (policy preparation)
department and several (policy-executing) agencies.
The role of the EWI department is to prepare, monitor, and evaluate public policy in the field of
economic support (including entrepreneurship), science and innovation, to contribute to more wealth
and well-being in Flanders. Its driving forces are the promotion of:
excellence in scientific research;
an attractive and sustainable business climate;
a creative, innovative and entrepreneurial society.
More specifically, within the STI-field, the EWI department:
prepares all legislative initiatives in the field of science, research and innovation;
promotes close co-operation between research institutions, HEIs and companies;
prepares multi-annual management agreements with a number of organisations, such
as the Flemish strategic research centres (PROs), the FWO, or the Flanders Marine
Institute (VLIZ);
evaluates policy instruments and organisations that receive governmental and public
support;
coordinates on all STI topics within and outside the Flemish Government;
monitors the execution of policy measures and reports on policy developments in the
STI-domain;
holds the responsibility for the direct implementation of a few policy instruments,
examples of these being the interface services (that support technology transfer
offices), the IOF (Industrial Development Fund), the “Steunpunten” (21 policy research
centres in the period 2012-2015) or the BOF (Special Research Fund).
4.2 Policy advice
The Vlaamse Raad voor Wetenschap en Innovatie (VRWI, Flemish Science and Innovation Policy
Council) is the advisory body of the Flemish Government and Flemish Parliament for science and
innovation policy. The Flemish Government is obliged to ask for its advice on preliminary drafts of
parliamentary acts concerning science and innovation policy, draft decisions of the Flemish
Government that concern science and innovation policy and that are of strategic importance.
Furthermore the VRWI can, on its own initiative or by request, give advice, make recommendations,
conduct surveys and generally provide contributions on matters related to STI policy. The Flemish
Government can authorise the VRWI to represent Flanders in federal or international advisory bodies.
4.3 Other bodies of public interest in the field of science and innovation
A number of long-standing public institutes of the Flemish Community that are related to science
policy, in a more academic context, play a promotional or advisory role. Though these are not directly
involved in policy-making, it is noteworthy to list these to complete the broad Flemish STI-domain:
Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie van België voor Wetenschappen en Kunsten (KVAB,
Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and Arts), originally established in
1772;
Koninklijke Academie voor Geneeskunde van België (KAGB, Royal Academy for
Medicine of Belgium);
20 Koninklijke Academie voor Nederlands Taal- en letterkunde (KANTL, Royal Academy
for Dutch Language and Literature), established in 1886;
STV Innovatie en Arbeid (Stichting Technologie Vlaanderen Innovatie en Arbeid) (the
Foundation for Technology Assessment Flanders - Foundation Innovation and Work),
which is a part of the SERV (Sociaal-Economische Raad van Vlaanderen, Flanders
Social and Economic Council);
Vlaamse Academische Stem (VLAST, Flemish Academic Centre for Science and the
Arts) is a non-profit organisation supported by both the KVAB and the KANTL.
4.4 Funding agencies
Whereas the Flemish Government’s departments prepare, monitor and evaluate public policy, a
number of agencies are charged with the implementation of policy decisions. In the STI field, there are
four agencies, aimed at different target groups and charged with various initiatives:
IWT: R&D and innovation support for businesses
FWO: Research Foundation Flanders
Hercules Foundation: Research infrastructure
PMV: Flanders Holding Company
4.4.1 Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT)
IWT (Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie) is the onestop-shop for all
industrial R&D and innovation support in Flanders. The agency was setup in 1991 by the Government
of Flanders and assists companies, research centres and knowledge centres in realizing their
research and development projects, by offering funding, advice and a network of potential partners in
Flanders and abroad.
More specifically, it encourages innovation through:
Funding: financing innovative projects of companies, research centres, collective
research initiatives, organisations and individuals through assignments set by the
Flemish Government;
Advice and services: support to all Flemish companies and research centres by
helping these during their applications, or providing technological advice during their
innovative projects;
Co-ordination and networking: stimulating cooperation by bringing innovative
companies and research centres in contact with Flemish intermediate organisations
that stimulate innovation. To this end, IWT established the Flemish Innovation
Network (VIN);
Policy development: supporting the Flemish Government in its innovation policy, e.g.
by studying the effectiveness of the Flemish innovation initiatives and different support
programmes.
IWT supports all types of innovators in Flanders:
Companies that are actively innovating, from small start-ups to multinationals with a
branch in Flanders. Specific attention is paid to SMEs, whilst partnerships of
companies and knowledge centres (e.g. excellence centres, innovative co-operation
networks or clusters) are also eligible for innovation support;
Individual researchers and research centres: can apply to IWT for the appropriate
support and receive funding, advice and contacts with potential partners for innovative
scientific research, applied research and technology transfer;
21 Organisations: financial support to various types of organisations (e.g. collective
research centres) that stimulate innovation in Flanders. IWT also unites these
organisations via the VIN to facilitate active support of innovation.
The agency applies a bottom-up approach: subsidies and advice are attributed to initiatives proposed
by the actors themselves and any project including a technological innovation component is eligible for
funding. Apart from direct financial support through a wide range of different support measures, the
policy mix of IWT also consists of various forms of indirect support and services (advice, technology
scans, partner search, networking). There exist relatively few thematic Flemish research programmes
and support is to a large extent awarded through generic initiatives. Annually, the Flemish government
provides IWT with a budget to finance R&D by and for businesses.
4.4.2 Research Foundation Flanders (FWO)
The main mission of the FWO (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen) is to deepen
knowledge about humans and their environment. It stimulates and supports ground-breaking
fundamental research in all areas of science at the universities in the Flemish Community, including
collaboration agreements between Flemish universities and other research institutes. FWO funds
excellent and promising researchers as well as research projects following an interuniversity
competition and an evaluation by national and international experts. The only criterion is the
outstanding quality of researcher and research proposal. Researchers can apply for support from the
FWO through a broad range of funding instruments, providing they are affiliated to a university of the
Flemish Community.
The two main instruments of the FWO are support to fellowships (Ph.D. students, postdoctoral
researchers, etc.) and to research projects. Furthermore, extensive means are available for
international cooperation and mobility, including for participation in multilateral initiatives (e.g. the
European Molecular Biology Laboratory) or in “big science” research facilities such as CERN-CMS
and CERN-ISOLDE. The FWO also awards scientific prizes to distinguished researchers, often in
collaboration with private companies.
A system of peer review by the scientific community is used to assess all applications and scientific
activity reports. To this end, the FWO puts together scientific committees including top researchers
from Belgium and abroad. The FWO’s scientific committees, called ‘FWO Experts panels’, are crucial
to ensuring the excellence of FWO funded activities. FWO now has 29 specialised committees or
“expert panels” and one interdisciplinary committee, which cover all Flemish scientific research
disciplines, whereby each committee consists of 16 experts, the majority being assigned to an non-
Flemish university.
FWO actively stimulates international cooperation and promotes scientific mobility. Flemish
researchers are offered numerous funding schemes for financing short or long-term stays abroad and
research teams are offered logistic and institutional support in their collaboration with colleagues
abroad. The latter is often necessary to participate in major international projects or to co-ordinate
research networks or platforms. Foreign researchers can apply for a visiting postdoctoral fellowship to
undertake research at a university of the Flemish Community. FWO manages a budget of 218 million
euro (2013), of which 79% stems from the Government of Flanders and 6% from the federal authority
(the remaining 15% are federal fiscal and parafiscal measures).
4.4.3 Hercules Foundation
The Hercules Foundation (Hercules Stichting) was set up by the Flemish Government in 2007 with
the aim to fund medium-scale and large-scale research infrastructure. The infrastructure serves for
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