For patients, doctors, and researchers, life sciences and medical technology are industries that race against time. And Belgium—with the Brussels-Capital Region at its head—dares to beat the clock.
Belgium is both the central hub of Europe and a powerhouse in pharmaceutical research and drug exports, based on strong research capabilities, R&D investment, and policy support. Moreover, the highest per capita medical research and development investment in Europe has made Belgium one of three “medicine valleys” in the world. The Brussels Capital Region not only has three academic hospitals (Brussels UZ, Erasme Hospital, and Saint-Luc Hospital, as well as the Jules Bordet Institute, which is dedicated to fighting cancer), but is also a pioneer in the research of rare diseases and the development of new drugs.
A New Medical Innovation Centre in Brussels
Brussels is equipped with expertise in three areas of the life sciences sector: clinical trials, e-health, and medical technology. Despite its relatively small population of 1.2 million, the Brussels-Capital Region has nearly 70,000 professionals engaged in cutting-edge healthcare R&D and care industries.
In short, Brussels is the best gateway into Belgium’s life science ecosystem. This is a result of the fact that the Brussels-Capital Region has made digital health and medical technology its main supported industries, particularly in the fields of continuity of care, patient empowerment, disease prevention, and personalized medicine.
In Belgium, the speed of research and development, clinical trials, and obtaining approvals is faster than in any other European country. During the early stages of research, if necessary, firms can seek assistance from the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP).
This federal agency is internationally renowned for its flexibility, open attitude toward new ideas, and decision-making efficiency—which is why Belgium is the second-largest clinical trial country in Europe. In Belgium, applying for a clinical trial is free. Better yet, approval applications for the most critical phase—human trials—will take no more than 15 days.
Accelerating the Life Sciences Cluster
The Brussels-Capital Region has prominent strengths in medical technology, e-health, and clinical trials. The life sciences cluster (CLUSTER LIFETECH.BRUSSELS) consists of 150 member institutions. It brings together policymakers, investors, R&D groups, medical institutions, and professional medical schools, all of which share the vision of speeding up technological innovation, and facilitating patient interests. Collectively, they strive to support the life sciences industry through policy advisory, industry contacts, and international cooperation.
In the medical technology field, the Brussels-Capital Region has created the annual MedTech Accelerator Program (R), which has supported 36 projects and start-ups to date. This five-month incubation program includes 15 days of training, visits, and consulting meetings. It also assists in key areas such as product-market fit analysis, data management, prototyping, fundraising, pitching, and compliance with EU medical device regulations (MDR). The program has significantly accelerated the process of participating institutions in obtaining MDR certification.
The winners of the 2022 MedTech Accelerator (R) Program were Gratiago, an application that improves treatment adaptability, and Pulso, which provides high-quality in-vitro testing services for medical devices in the field of cardiovascular disease. The 2023 MedTech Accelerator Program ® closed on March 10, 2023.
In addition to supporting start-ups, the Brussels Life Science Incubator (BLSI) offers free infrastructure that is sufficient to build a prototype design. These software programs are expensive and difficult for start-ups to obtain.
Louis-Philippe Broze, an entrepreneur from Spentys, said that using a computer with 3D software to draw up blueprints added real value when it came to conducting numerical resistance simulations. Broze used the MedTech Atelier service located in the Brussels Life Science Incubator (BLSI), a 30-square-meter space that provides start-ups in the medical technology field with complete equipment for development, including a medical-grade oven, a CAO workstation, an endoscope, and various small devices such as tools, cutting mats, connectors, and more.
Building an Electronic Health Platform
Electronic medical records (EMR) are widely utilized in the Brussels-Capital Region, with all 18 hospitals and 9,000 healthcare professionals using them. To further build an electronic health platform, the Brussels-Capital Region will invest 4 million euros over four years to continue promoting the use of EMR.
In December 2022, a three-year artificial intelligence support project called sustAIn.brussels was announced. With 4 million euros in funding from the Brussels-Capital Region and the European Commission’s Digital Europe program, the Brussels-based project aims to help Brussels businesses transition to using innovative technology and artificial intelligence. The Free University of Brussels (VUB), the French-speaking Brussels University (ULB), Sirris Research Institute, the Belgian Technology Enterprise Association Agoria, and the BeCentral Digital Campus at Brussels Central Station will jointly provide financing, education, and skills training for enterprises to improve their processes, products, or services through the application of artificial intelligence or other emerging technologies.
“COVID has accelerated the development and reform of the health technology sector, and shifted the focus of health technology development to digital platforms,” observed Saskia Curé, a global pharmaceutical and biotechnology management consultant. Last year, hub.brussels, Brussels agency for trade and investment, conducted an in-depth investigation and series of interviews on the medical technology industry, identifying future trends in pharmaceutical R&D and healthcare for Chinese investors to consider.
Trend 1 Digital tools will greatly improve the level of diagnosis and care. Digital patient records, expert collaboration, remote monitoring, the shift of care to homes, etc. are providing faster, more sustainable healthcare and better overall national health.
Remote monitoring is expected to double in growth as complex machines that require only passive input become easier to use. With the increase of virtual clinics and the number of clinically trained doctors proficient in digital technology, we will see more on-demand mobile healthcare, minimally invasive devices, and invisible technologies that provide better preventive care in early stages. With the technological revolution in symptom monitoring and laboratory testing, doctors can make more accurate diagnoses and formulate more effective treatment plans earlier.
Trend 2 The most innovative pharmaceutical companies are using artificial intelligence to discover better drugs and treat rare diseases that were previously untreatable. At the same time, AI-driven applications have become a diagnostic basis for more patients.
In the next five years, the symbiotic relationship between the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and technology sectors will be further strengthened, making us all healthier.
Trend 3 Whether symptoms appear or not, electronic medical records and big data in health make predictive health management possible. Meanwhile, medical technologies and digital health applications that we carry with us will help us choose healthier lifestyles and seek customized treatments. Technology will help us better understand our own health and play an increasingly important role in improving individual health, making healthcare fairer and more efficient.
Trend 4 In terms of care, medical data is automatically shared with doctors in real time through electronic health applications, not only ensuring the continuity and accuracy of data but also driving the shift from remote patient monitoring (RPM) to remote treatment monitoring (RTM). Automatic data sharing will also help accelerate the trend toward transferring from hospitals to home care. The comprehensive integration of technology with patient care will remain key to preventing acute diseases and optimizing health.
Trend 5 To protect patient privacy, health tech companies must take measures to ensure ethical data use. As more data is collected from different sources—such as wearable devices and applications—it is essential to ensure the security of the data collection, transportation, and analysis processes.
Trend 6 Doctors spend about 85% of their time on activities that are not directly related to patient care. This poses challenges for health technology tools, which need to be easy to use, error-free, and integrated into existing platforms and healthcare systems. At the same time, promoting a more ethical and human-centered integration of health technology tools with artificial intelligence should not come at the expense of patient benefits and a more humane approach to healthcare.
In the Vanguard of the Fight against Cancer
Of all clinical trials related to cancer conducted in the EU, 19% are conducted in Belgium. Of all clinical trials related to genetic genes in the European Union, 33% are conducted in Belgium.
Because of Belgium’s leading position in clinical trials, it plays a crucial role in new drug development. In 2017, over 1,500 clinical trials were conducted in Belgium, evenly distributed across all stages of clinical research.
As part of early clinical drug development, the first stage of “first-in-human trials” is one of Belgium’s strategic priorities, accounting for 30% of all clinical trials. It is thanks to the technical expertise of the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) that evaluations are made rapid and efficient.
Every year, Belgium’s biopharmaceutical industry submits more than 500 clinical trial applications (12% of the total in Europe), which are quickly processed and approved before more than 170,000 patients participate in phase II and III trials. This is especially important for cancer research because approval in Belgium means approval throughout Europe (clinicaltrials.gov, FAMHP, pharma.be).
It is no wonder that Pfizer has stationed one of its two global Phase I clinical trials in Brussels. Other international organizations, such as the Jules Bordet Institute, the De Duve Institute, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), and the Ludwig Cancer Research Institute conduct over 300 newly initiated clinical trials in Brussels every year.
Strong Government Support
Belgium knows the importance of investments in research and development (R&D). Its investments in R&D in proportion to its GDP have grown at a faster rate than in any other EU country. In 2019, Belgium invested 2.89% of its GDP in R&D, which was 30% higher than the average EU R&D budget.
At the national level, R&D enterprises enjoy various tax deduction policies, while at the EU and local levels, companies can also apply for a range of special subsidies.
For example, the innovation income deduction tax policy makes it possible to have an effective tax rate of only 3.75%. Full amortization of IP is possible: the investment in intellectual property can be fully depreciated based on its time in use. Deductions for R&D and patent investments are only applicable to qualified asset investments, with a one-time deduction not exceeding 13.5% and a dispersed deduction not exceeding 20.5%. At the same time, deductions for R&D and patent investments can be converted into R&D and patent tax credit offset limits, and unused credits can be refunded after five years.
These favorable tax incentives and special subsidies have attracted many companies to choose Brussels as their preferred city for entering the European market.
Paul Fenton, the CEO of Montrium, a life sciences company based in Montreal, Canada, established the online service platform Connect in 2007, which allows all companies in the life sciences industry to collect and standardize clinical trial information. When Connect needed to expand internationally, Brussels became Fenton’s first choice.
Ever since Montrium established a relationship with hub.brussels, Brussels’ agency for trade and investment, the latter has actively provided local information and services, enabling the company to successfully establish itself in Europe.
“Our cooperation with hub.brussels is both efficient and creative, open and friendly. With their help, we established our European center quickly and transparently. Without hub.brussels’ intervention, we would have needed more time to integrate into Brussels’ ecosystem,” said Fenton.
Before landing in Brussels, foreign investors do not need to register their companies. They will all receive a three-month welcome package, which includes the free use of office space at the Brussels Foreign Investors Centre, including meeting rooms, lounges, and office equipment, including internet, telephone, fax, and printers. The free services provided by the Brussels Foreign Investors Center also include tax and legal consulting, company registration guidance, official or other funding and policy consulting, public sector guidance, office location suggestions, and employee recruitment consulting.
