Research & Innovation

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The Research & Innovation Department

The objective of WBI's Research and Innovation (R&I) Department is to support the internationalization of R&I sector actors in Wallonia-Brussels by:

  • Facilitating contact and cooperation with foreign research and innovation organizations by mobilizing the international network of WBI and AWEX (Walloon Agency for Export and Foreign Investment)
  • Coordinating and preparing scientific and technological components for official Belgian missions (State Visits, economic missions) at the request of research and innovation operators
  • Strengthening the presence and visibility of Wallonia and Wallonia-Brussels Federation operators in international research programs and networks
  • Negotiating and activating bilateral research agreements to promote international mobility between foreign researchers and those from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation
  • Facilitating targeted scientific and technological monitoring distributed widely through a bimonthly newsletter
  • Managing and coordinating the work of the Research and Innovation Platform and the network of Scientific and Academic Advisors (CSA)

How can the Scientific and Academic Advisors network of Wallonie-Bruxelles International help you?

Through its network of Scientific and Academic Advisors (CSA), Wallonie-Bruxelles International places research and innovation at the heart of its priorities and aims to act as a liaison between different partners by supporting international-scale projects. Their main mission is to promote and facilitate collaborations between research and innovation actors from Wallonia-Brussels and partner countries. CSAs are assigned to specific geographical areas and work closely with local host institutions. The network is responsible for:

1. Ensuring scientific and academic diplomacy and international cooperation by:

  • Contributing to the attractiveness and visibility of higher education, research, and innovation in Wallonia and the French Community
  • Promoting international influence of academic and scientific actors from Wallonia and the French Community
  • Attracting talent to Wallonia and the French Community by promoting various existing scholarship programs
  • Facilitating contact and cooperation with foreign research, innovation, and higher education organizations
  • Supporting and preparing academic and scientific components for international missions coordinated by WBI and during official Belgian missions
  • Networking academic, research, and innovation operators through project promotion and participation in fairs and exhibitions
  • Supporting bilateral agreements and research projects implementation
  • Conducting targeted academic and scientific monitoring
  • Supporting internationalization of French Community higher education institutions

2. Strengthening economic and commercial diplomacy as a key tool for economic development in partnership with AWEX and promoting European research and innovation projects by:

  • Supporting funding programs aligned with Walloon Region's smart specialization strategy
  • Supporting internationalization of Walloon competitiveness clusters
  • Organizing joint missions with AWEX focusing on open innovation
  • Contributing to AWEX's Invest and Export files
  • Strengthening presence in European research programs
  • Supporting young entrepreneurs in international development

What is the Research & Innovation Platform? 

The Research and Innovation Platform aims to promote international cooperation in scientific and technological matters to enhance the visibility of operators active in these fields in both Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

Who to contact in Belgium and abroad?

The department in Brussels is the coordinating entity for research and innovation within Wallonia-Brussels International. It serves as a focal point for all research institutions and actors in Wallonia-Brussels.

With its network of excellence in academic and scientific fields, the Research & Innovation department has the ability to connect foreign and domestic partners. Additionally, it coordinates the Research and Innovation Platform.

Scientific and Academic Advisors (CSA)