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
Vanguard Initiative Launches New Task Group Co Funding
A new Task Group on Co-Funding has been launched, with the aim to share experiences, debate and influence regional funding policies, instruments and tools that can play an active role in supporting interregional innovation actions and investments. Such investments should be relevant for the Vanguard…
Vanguard Initiative Welcomes Saxony Anhalt De New Member Network
During the High-level Directors meeting, Saxony-Anhalt was welcomed as a new member to the Network, which raises the network membership to 35 Regions. Saxony-Anhalt is located in the middle of Germany and integrated into three large-scale CEF transport corridors, and the last 30 years have seen Saxo…
Vanguard Initiative High Level Directors Take Steps Strengthen Network
On 18 June the Vanguard Initiative held its annual High-level Directors’ Meeting in Brussels. During the meeting, the Directors took several steps forward in strengthening the cooperation within the network. The Directors unanimously elected Region Skåne as new Chair for the 2ndsemester of 2019 and …