Belgium’s biotech sector consists of over 140 companies, represents 5% of European biotech firms, and 10,000 employees. In 2006, industry revenues totaled €3 billion ($4.65 billion). There are three main biotech regions. Flanders is home to 40 biotech companies. Over the last 10 years, approximately €36.3 million has been invested in the region’s biotech industry by the Flemish government. Flanders’ Inter-university Institute, which houses 850 scientists, received a 20% budgetary increase in 2006 to €38.1 million. The Flemish government offers a 50% withholding tax exemption and a 65% withholding tax exemption for universities. The Wallonia region has 69 biotech companies. Biogenetics and bimolecular sciences account for 77% of the region’s biotech activity, and biological food processing represents 10% Brussels, the smallest region of the three, has 18 biotech R&D companies, three universities and 2,680 life science researchers.

Source: US Department of Commerce