The Brussels region R&D ecosystem
Brussels region is ranked number 20 of 392 R&D ecosystems in the 311 Institute directory, with 80 labs within about 120 kilometres: 34 research institutes, 26 university, 18 government, 1 corporate and 1 military. Leading organisations include Université de Lille, European Commission, Centre Inria de l'Université de Lille and Ghent University, focused on molecular biology, genetics, physiology and electrical and electronic engineering.
Part of the 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory. Compiled by Matthew Griffin. Last updated .
All 80 labs
| Lab and organisation | Location | Type and sector | Focus | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Institut Régional d’Administration de LilleInstitut Régional d’Administration de Lille | Lille, France | Government Public policy and analysis | Strategy and Management, Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, Safety Research | 1970 |
| 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 |
| Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de MasseCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | University Chemicals and materials | Spectroscopy, Molecular Biology, Genetics | |
| DEFROST: Logiciels pour robots déformablesCentre Inria de l'Université de Lille | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | University Industrials and manufacturing | Biomedical Engineering, Control and Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering | 2017 |
| FUN: self-organizing Future Ubiquitous NetworkCentre Inria de l'Université de Lille | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | University Technology | Computer Networks and Communications, Electrical and Electronic Engineering | 2013 |
| INOCS: Optimisation intégrée pour problèmes à structure complexeCentre Inria de l'Université de Lille | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | University Industrials and manufacturing | Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Computational Theory and Mathematics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering | 2018 |
| SPIRALS: Self-adaptation for distributed services and large software systemsCentre Inria de l'Université de Lille | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | University Technology | Artificial Intelligence, Information Systems, Software | 2015 |
| 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 | |
| Institut Charles ViolletteUniversité d'Artois | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | University Healthcare and life sciences | Food Science, Microbiology, Molecular Biology | 2011 |
| Adiposité Médullaire et OsUniversité de Lille | Lille, France | University Healthcare and life sciences | Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Molecular Biology, Physiology | |
| Approches épidémiologiques et moléculaires intégratives visant à améliorer la compréhension des maladies chroniques liées au vieillissementUniversité de Lille | Lille, France | University Healthcare and life sciences | Physiology, Genetics, Psychiatry and Mental health | |
| Centre de Recherche en Informatique, Signal et Automatique de LilleUniversité de Lille | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | University Healthcare and life sciences | Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology | |
| Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche en Education de LilleUniversité de Lille | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | University Social sciences and humanities | Sociology and Political Science, Linguistics and Language, Education | |
| GEnie des Matériaux TEXtilesUniversité de Lille | Roubaix, France | University Industrials and manufacturing | Polymers and Plastics, Mechanics of Materials, Building and Construction | 1992 |
| Institut de Recherche sur les Composants logiciels et matériels pour l'Information et la Communication AvancéeUniversité de Lille | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | University Industrials and manufacturing | Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Statistical and Nonlinear Physics | |
| Institute for Translational Research in InflammationUniversité de Lille | Lille, France | University Healthcare and life sciences | Hematology, Genetics, Pathology and Forensic Medicine | |
| LabEx DISTALZUniversité de Lille | Lille, France | University Healthcare and life sciences | Physiology, Psychiatry and Mental health, Neurology | 2012 |
| Laboratoire de Physiologie CellulaireUniversité de Lille | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | University Healthcare and life sciences | Molecular Biology, Sensory Systems, Physiology | |
| Lille Neurosciences & CognitionUniversité de Lille | Lille, France | University Healthcare and life sciences | Psychiatry and Mental health, Physiology, Pathology and Forensic Medicine | |
| Lille University ManageMENtUniversité de Lille | Lille, France | University Public policy and analysis | Marketing, Finance, Accounting | |
| Plateformes Lilloises en Biologie et SantéUniversité de Lille | Lille, France | University Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Psychiatry and Mental health, Molecular Biology | |
| Recherche translationnelle sur le diabète et les troubles métaboliquesUniversité de Lille | Lille, France | University Healthcare and life sciences | Surgery, Genetics, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism | |
| Systèmes avancés de délivrance de principes actifsUniversité de Lille | Lille, France | University Healthcare and life sciences | Pharmaceutical Science, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, Molecular Medicine | |
| Territoires, Villes, Environnement & SociétéUniversité de Lille | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | University Social sciences and humanities | Sociology and Political Science, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, Cultural Studies | 2006 |
| Unité de Taphonomie Médico-Légale et d'AnatomieUniversité de Lille | Lille, France | University Social sciences and humanities | Archeology, Insect Science, Paleontology | |
| Interuniversity Institute for High EnergiesUniversité Libre de Bruxelles | Brussels, Belgium | University Nuclear | Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Radiation | 1972 |
| Laboratoire d'Électrotechnique et d'Électronique de Puissance de LilleArts et Métiers | Lille, France | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Control and Systems Engineering, Automotive Engineering | 1989 |
| Laboratoire de Mécanique des Fluides de Lille - Kampé de FérietArts et Métiers | Lille, France | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Computational Mechanics, Mechanics of Materials, Aerospace Engineering | 2018 |
| 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 |
| 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 de Recherche et de Veille sur les Maladies Emergentes dans l’Océan IndienCentre de Recherche et de Veille sur les Maladies Emergentes dans l’Océan Indien | Roubaix, France | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Infectious Diseases, Insect Science | 2007 |
| 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 |
| Laboratoire d'Optique AtmosphériqueCentre National d'Études Spatiales | Lille, France | Research institute Environment and climate | Global and Planetary Change, Atmospheric Science, Aerospace Engineering | 1998 |
| Integrative Structural BiologyCentre National de la Recherche Scientifique | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Spectroscopy, Molecular Biology, Physiology | 2026 |
| Institut d'Electronique, de Microélectronique et de NanotechnologieCNRS Ingénierie | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Mechanics of Materials, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Condensed Matter Physics | 1998 |
| PhysicoChimie des Processus de Combustion et de l'AtmosphèreCNRS Ingénierie | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | Research institute Environment and climate | Atmospheric Science, Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes, Computational Mechanics | 1960 |
| de Duve Institutede Duve Institute | Brussels, Belgium | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Molecular Biology, Oncology | 1974 |
| Unité Évolution, Écologie et PaléontologieDélégation Nord, Pas-de-Calais et Picardie | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | Research institute Environment and climate | Paleontology, Genetics, Plant Science | 2015 |
| Center for Infection and Immunity of LilleDélégation Régionale Nord Ouest | Lille, France | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Infectious Diseases, Physiology, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine | 2010 |
| 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 |
| InnovirisInnoviris | Brussels, Belgium | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Sociology and Political Science, Urban Studies, Management of Technology and Innovation | 2004 |
| Récepteurs Nucléaires, Maladies Métaboliques et CardiovasculairesInserm | Lille, France | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, Molecular Biology, Surgery | |
| Unité Matériaux et TransformationsInstitut de Chimie | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | Research institute Chemicals and materials | Geophysics, Polymers and Plastics, Materials Chemistry | 2010 |
| Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Administratives, Politiques et SocialesInstitut des Sciences Humaines et Sociales | Lille, France | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Political Science and International Relations, Sociology and Political Science, History | 1976 |
| Savoirs, Textes, LangageInstitut des Sciences Humaines et Sociales | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Language and Linguistics, Philosophy, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology | 2006 |
| Stress Abiotiques et Différenciation des Végétaux CultivésInstitut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement | Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | Research institute Agriculture and food | Genetics, Plant Science, Agronomy and Crop Science | 2006 |
| Institut Pasteur de LilleInstitut Pasteur de Lille | Lille, France | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Surgery, Physiology | 1854 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Countries
Organisations
- Arts et Métiers
- Centre National d'Études Spatiales
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- CNRS Ingénierie
- European Commission
- Inserm
- Institut de Chimie
- Institut des Sciences Humaines et Sociales
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement
- Université de Lille
Other leading ecosystems
- Paris and Saclay
- Beijing and Tianjin
- Washington DC and Maryland
- Greater Tokyo and Tsukuba
- Moscow
- Grenoble
- London and the Golden Triangle
- Greater Bay Area (Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong)
- Shanghai and Suzhou
- Provence (ITER and Cadarache)
- Silicon Valley and the Bay Area
- Singapore
- Zurich, Basel and Aargau
- Randstad (Amsterdam, Delft, Leiden)
- Stuttgart and Karlsruhe
Questions and answers
How big is the Brussels region R&D ecosystem?
It has 80 labs from 53 organisations, ranking number 20 worldwide in the 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory.
Which organisations have labs in Brussels region?
They include Université de Lille, European Commission, Centre Inria de l'Université de Lille and Ghent University.
What does the Brussels region ecosystem specialise in?
Its main focus areas are molecular biology, genetics, physiology and electrical and electronic engineering.
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