R&D labs in Belgium
The 311 Institute tracks 64 R&D labs in Belgium: 28 research institutes, 21 government, 11 university, 2 corporate, 1 military and 1 intergovernmental. Most are in Brussels, Ghent and Leuven, and the leading organisations include European Commission, University of Namur and Belgium government. Their main focus areas are molecular biology, information systems and management, information systems and genetics.
Part of the 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory. Compiled by Matthew Griffin. Last updated .
64labs
49organisations
17cities
63verified
Why these labs matter
imec: Where the world's chipmakers develop their next process steps together.
Janssen Research and Development: A major pharmaceutical research engine.
All 64 labs
| Lab and organisation | Location | Type and sector | Focus | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janssen Research and DevelopmentJohnson & Johnson | Beerse, Belgium | Corporate Healthcare and life sciences | Pharmaceuticals | 1953 |
| Yakult Honsha European Research Centre (Belgium)Yakult Honsha European Research Centre (Belgium) | Ghent, Belgium | Corporate Healthcare and life sciences | Molecular Biology, Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics | |
| Belgian Federal Science Policy OfficeBelgian Federal Science Policy Office | Brussels, Belgium | Government Public policy and analysis | Information Systems, Information Systems and Management, Strategy and Management | 1959 |
| imecBelgium government | Leuven, Belgium | Government Technology | Semiconductors, Nanotech | 1984 |
| SCK CEN Belgian Nuclear Research CentreBelgium government | Mol, Belgium | Government Energy and resources | Nuclear, Medical isotopes | 1952 |
| VITOBelgium government | Mol, Belgium | Government Environment and climate | Cleantech | 1991 |
| Joint Research CenterDirectorate-General Joint Research Centre | Geel, Belgium | Government Basic science | Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Radiation, Aerospace Engineering | 1961 |
| Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and TechnologyEuropean Commission | Brussels, Belgium | Government Public policy and analysis | Strategy and Management, Management of Technology and Innovation, Information Systems and Management | |
| Directorate-General for Research and InnovationEuropean Commission | Brussels, Belgium | Government Public policy and analysis | Information Systems and Management, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Economics and Econometrics | |
| Directorate-General Joint Research CentreEuropean Commission | Brussels, Belgium | Government Multidisciplinary research | Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty, Analytical Chemistry, Nuclear and High Energy Physics | 1961 |
| European Research CouncilEuropean Commission | Brussels, Belgium | Government Public policy and analysis | Information Systems, Information Systems and Management, Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty | 2007 |
| European Research Executive AgencyEuropean Commission | Brussels, Belgium | Government Public policy and analysis | Information Systems and Management, Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology | |
| European Innovation Council and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Executive AgencyEuropean Innovation Council and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Executive Agency | Brussels, Belgium | Government Multidisciplinary research | General Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law | 2021 |
| European Inter-University Association of Society, Science and TechnologyEuropean Inter-University Association of Society, Science and Technology | Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium | Government Multidisciplinary research | Plant Science, Sociology and Political Science, Astronomy and Astrophysics | 1991 |
| Flanders Innovation and EntrepreneurshipFlanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship | Brussels, Belgium | Government Industrials and manufacturing | Mechanical Engineering, General Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Plant Science | |
| Flemish Advisory Council for Innovation & EnterpriseFlemish Advisory Council for Innovation & Enterprise | Brussels, Belgium | Government Multidisciplinary research | Research | 2016 |
| Geological Survey of BelgiumGeological Survey of Belgium | Brussels, Belgium | Government Environment and climate | Earth-Surface Processes, Paleontology, Geology | 1896 |
| Institut National de Criminalistique et de CriminologieInstitut National de Criminalistique et de Criminologie | Brussels, Belgium | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Toxicology, Law, Genetics | 2004 |
| Institute for RadioelementsInstitute for Radioelements | Fleurus, Belgium | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Radiological and Ultrasound Technology, Radiation, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging | 1971 |
| Institute for the Equality of Women and MenInstitute for the Equality of Women and Men | Brussels, Belgium | Government Social sciences and humanities | Health, Gender Studies, Sociology and Political Science | 2002 |
| Research Foundation - FlandersResearch Foundation - Flanders | Brussels, Belgium | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Physiology, Pharmacology, Transportation | 1928 |
| Service Public Fédéral Technologie de l'Information et de la CommunicationService Public Fédéral Technologie de l'Information et de la Communication | Brussels, Belgium | Government Technology | Artificial Intelligence, Information Systems, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis | |
| Water Supply and Sanitation Technology PlatformWater Supply and Sanitation Technology Platform | Brussels, Belgium | Government Environment and climate | Ocean Engineering, Water Science and Technology | 2004 |
| Royal Higher Institute for DefenceRoyal Higher Institute for Defence | Brussels, Belgium | Military Social sciences and humanities | Political Science and International Relations, Clinical Psychology, Aerospace Engineering | 1870 |
| Ghent University Centre for X-ray TomographyGhent University | Ghent, Belgium | University Environment and climate | Radiation, Ocean Engineering, Archeology | 2006 |
| VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation ResearchGhent University | Ghent, Belgium | University Healthcare and life sciences | Immunology, Rheumatology, Molecular Biology | 1995 |
| VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems BiologyGhent University | Ghent, Belgium | University Agriculture and food | Plant Science, Molecular Biology | |
| United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration StudiesUnited Nations University | Bruges, Belgium | University Social sciences and humanities | Political Science and International Relations, General Economics, Econometrics and Finance, Sociology and Political Science | 2001 |
| Interuniversity Institute for High EnergiesUniversité Libre de Bruxelles | Brussels, Belgium | University Nuclear | Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Radiation | 1972 |
| KU LeuvenUniversities in Belgium | Leuven, Belgium | University Multidisciplinary research | Engineering, Medicine | 1425 |
| Institute of Life, Earth and EnvironmentUniversity of Namur | Namur, Belgium | University Environment and climate | Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Immunology, Aquatic Science | 2019 |
| Namur Digital InstituteUniversity of Namur | Namur, Belgium | University Social sciences and humanities | Law, Information Systems, Political Science and International Relations | 2019 |
| Namur Institute for Complex SystemsUniversity of Namur | Namur, Belgium | University Technology | Computer Networks and Communications, Statistical and Nonlinear Physics, Numerical Analysis | 2015 |
| Namur Institute of Structured MatterUniversity of Namur | Namur, Belgium | University Chemicals and materials | Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials | 2018 |
| Namur Research Institute for Life SciencesUniversity of Namur | Namur, Belgium | University Healthcare and life sciences | Hematology, Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine | 2012 |
| Joint Research Centre GeelEuropean Commission | Geel, Belgium | Intergovernmental Basic science | Nuclear measurement, Food safety | 1960 |
| Belgian Ceramic Research CentreBelgian Ceramic Research Centre | Mons, Belgium | Research institute Chemicals and materials | Ceramics and Composites, Automotive Engineering, Mechanical Engineering | |
| Bio Base EuropeBio Base Europe | Ghent, Belgium | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Molecular Biology, Pollution, Organic Chemistry | 2008 |
| Biomedical Informatics Research Center AntwerpBiomedical Informatics Research Center Antwerp | Antwerp, Belgium | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Spectroscopy, Immunology, Molecular Biology | |
| BuildwiseBuildwise | Brussels, Belgium | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Building and Construction, Earth-Surface Processes, Civil and Structural Engineering | 1960 |
| Cancer Research Institute GhentCancer Research Institute Ghent | Ghent, Belgium | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Oncology, Cancer Research | 2016 |
| Center for Beta Cell Therapy in DiabetesCenter for Beta Cell Therapy in Diabetes | Brussels, Belgium | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Surgery, Genetics, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism | |
| Centre Belge d'Etude de la CorrosionCentre Belge d'Etude de la Corrosion | Waterloo, Belgium | Research institute Chemicals and materials | Materials Chemistry, Metals and Alloys, Civil and Structural Engineering | 1951 |
| Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource RecoveryCentre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource Recovery | Ghent, Belgium | Research institute Environment and climate | Waste Management and Disposal, Building and Construction, Pollution | 2015 |
| de Duve Institutede Duve Institute | Brussels, Belgium | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Molecular Biology, Oncology | 1974 |
| European Institute for Advanced Studies in ManagementEuropean Institute for Advanced Studies in Management | Brussels, Belgium | Research institute Public policy and analysis | Marketing, Accounting, Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management | 1971 |
| European Social ObservatoryEuropean Social Observatory | Brussels, Belgium | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Political Science and International Relations, Law, Safety Research | 1984 |
| European Theoretical Spectroscopy FacilityEuropean Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility | Liège, Belgium | Research institute Basic science | Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Condensed Matter Physics, Materials Chemistry | 2008 |
| Flanders HydraulicsFlanders Hydraulics | Antwerp, Belgium | Research institute Environment and climate | Earth-Surface Processes, Ecology, Ocean Engineering | 1933 |
| Flemish Institute for Technological ResearchFlemish Institute for Technological Research | Mol, Belgium | Research institute Environment and climate | Ecology, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis | 1991 |
| InnovirisInnoviris | Brussels, Belgium | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Sociology and Political Science, Urban Studies, Management of Technology and Innovation | 2004 |
| Neuroelectronics Research FlandersKU Leuven | Leuven, Belgium | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Cognitive Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering | |
| VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease ResearchKU Leuven | Leuven, Belgium | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Physiology, Neurology, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience | 1995 |
| VIB-KU Leuven Center for MicrobiologyKU Leuven | Leuven, Belgium | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Molecular Biology, Genetics, Infectious Diseases | |
| MultitelMultitel | Mons, Belgium | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition | 1999 |
| OnderzoeksCentrum voor de Aanwending van StaalOnderzoeksCentrum voor de Aanwending van Staal | Zelzate, Belgium | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Mechanical Engineering, Materials Chemistry, Mechanics of Materials | 1991 |
| Rega Institute for Medical ResearchRega Institute for Medical Research | Leuven, Belgium | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Infectious Diseases, Virology, Organic Chemistry | 1954 |
| Research Institute for ChromatographyResearch Institute for Chromatography | Kortrijk, Belgium | Research institute Chemicals and materials | Spectroscopy, Analytical Chemistry, Molecular Biology | 1986 |
| Royal Belgian Institute for Space AeronomyRoyal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy | Brussels, Belgium | Research institute Environment and climate | Atmospheric Science, Global and Planetary Change, Astronomy and Astrophysics | 1964 |
| Royal Meteorological Institute of BelgiumRoyal Meteorological Institute of Belgium | Brussels, Belgium | Research institute Environment and climate | Atmospheric Science, Global and Planetary Change, Oceanography | 1913 |
| Royal Observatory of BelgiumRoyal Observatory of Belgium | Brussels, Belgium | Research institute Space | Astronomy and Astrophysics, Instrumentation, Oceanography | 1826 |
| Veterinary and Agrochemical Research CentreVeterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre | Brussels, Belgium | Research institute Agriculture and food | Agronomy and Crop Science, Animal Science and Zoology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics | 1930 |
| Vlaams Instituut voor BiotechnologieVlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie | Ghent, Belgium | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Plant Science, Physiology, Molecular Biology | 1995 |
| Walloon Agricultural Research CentreWalloon Agricultural Research Centre | Gembloux, Belgium | Research institute Agriculture and food | Analytical Chemistry, Agronomy and Crop Science, Biophysics | 1872 |
R&D ecosystems in Belgium
- Randstad (Amsterdam, Delft, Leiden)
- Rhineland (Cologne, Bonn, Aachen, Jülich)
- Brussels region
- Dunkirk region
Organisations with labs in Belgium
- Directorate-General Joint Research Centre
- European Commission
- United Nations University
- University of Namur
Other countries in Europe
- Albania
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Faroe Islands
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tajikistan
- Türkiye
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Uzbekistan
Questions and answers
How many R&D labs are there in Belgium?
The 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory lists 64 active R&D labs in Belgium as of October 2026: 28 research institutes, 21 government, 11 university, 2 corporate, 1 military and 1 intergovernmental.
Which organisations run the most R&D labs in Belgium?
In this directory the organisations with the most labs in Belgium are European Commission, University of Namur and Belgium government.
Where are R&D labs concentrated in Belgium?
They cluster around Brussels, Ghent and Leuven. The largest R&D ecosystem is Randstad (Amsterdam, Delft, Leiden).
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