Wallonia
Presentation of the Region
Wallonia is one of the 3 Regions of Belgium, which is a Federal State. Wallonia is a region that is naturally open to the world, a place where languages and cultures meet. It is very export-oriented and particularly welcoming. The region has a strong industrial tradition, and has developed strong industrial specialisations based on the one hand on reconversion of traditional industrial sectors (e.g. advanced manufacturing, new materials) and on the other hand on cutting-edge research excellence (biotech and life science). Strong axis of our regional policies are the development of Competitive Clusters in key sectors (life sciences, agri-food, engineering and new materials, transport and logistics, aeronautics and space, and environmental technologies), a comprehensive strategy for digitalisation – Digital Wallonia, and more recently, the Region has endorsed strong ambitions in deploying circular economy through Circular Wallonia.
RIS3 Priorities
Wallonia has recently adopted a renewed Smart Specialisation Strategy (2021-2027) – An innovative, competitive, collaborative Wallonia at the service of affirmed economic and societal ambitions. It took as its starting point the response through innovation to the main societal challenges for Wallonia and the analysis of its distinctive strengths. Five strategic innovation areas have been identified :
– Circular materials
– Innovations for enhanced health
– Innovations for agile and safe design and production methods
– Sustainable energy systems and housing
– Agri-food chains of the future and innovative management of the environment
More info can be found here.
Political Representatives
Willy BORSUS
Vice-President of the Government Minister of Economy, Research and Innovation, Digital, Agriculture, Town Planning and Regional Planning and Competence Centers
Regional Contact Persons
Director
Director of the Economic Policy Directorate at the regional administration for Economy, Employment and Research
vincent.lepage@spw.wallonie.be
Senior advisor
Advisor in the Economic Policy Directorate at the Walloon administration for Economy, Employment and Research. In charge of the follow-up of European policies related to innovation and industry and of the regional smart specialisation strategy.
Regional Address
Place de Wallonie 1 5100 Namur Belgium
Brussels Office Address
Rue Belliard 65 1040 Brussels Belgium
Our Pilots
Latest Updates
3Dp Pan Eu Project Organising Webinar Additive Manufacturing Eu
On June 3rd, 2021 from 10:00 to12:00 CEST the 3DP PAN EU project will organise a webinar onAdditive Manufacturing in the EU: Report on the European Demonstration 3D Printing Industry. During this webinar we will present the preliminary results of the study on the additive manufacturing landscape und…
First Inhabited 3D Printed House Concrete
The 3DP Pilot Demo Case focusing on ‘AM in the Built Environment’ (led by the region South-Netherlands) aims at further deploying the use of 3D Printing in the construction sector and recent evolutions in the region further confirmed the high potential of the ‘AM in Built’ field. Indeed, as reported…
New Walloon S3 Adopted Government
On the 19th of March 2021, the Walloon Government adopted its S3 2.0. Based on an inclusive and participatory process, the new strategy defines 5 strategic priority areas and will be implemented on the basis of a totally reviewed governance setting, and improved policy mix. A strong focus is put on …