03 / 01 / 2022
Photo: VLIZ
Flanders ranks high in Europe in the field of research and innovation and is part of the group of 'innovation leaders' in the European Union. Flemish companies, governments and research institutions together spend 3.35% of GDP (or more than 9.3 billion euros) on research and development. The quality and impact of our innovation projects also score highly, making Flanders one of the strongest regions in Europe.
The Flemish Minister of Economy, Innovation and Science Policy Hilde Crevits wants to strengthen this position. The corona crisis has further emphasized the importance of strong research. The current situation requires an update of the policy.
Supporting top research with a high societal impact will be a top priority in the forthcoming political year. The Flemish government concluded covenants with imec, VLIZ, VIB, KDMA, Orpheus and ITM to further expand their knowledge and strengthen their international position. The agreements define the scientific and valorisation objectives, as well as the resources for the next 5 years.
For the Flanders Marine Institute, this means a greater research focus on the impact of climate change, so that threats – such as sea level rise or reduced biodiversity – can be identified in time with data, or possible solutions can be offered. In 2022, VLIZ will receive 10.6 million euros in operating and investment budget - a growth of 3.5 million euros.