Mr. Bart De Wever, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Belgium
Transcript
Hello.
As Prime Minister of Belgium, I'm happy to share a few words about innovation.
This is a topic that is close to my heart and also at the very heart of economic growth and prosperity.
This year, Belgium has moved up to the 21st place among 139 economies in the WIPO Global Innovation Index.
This confirms our position as one of the most dynamic innovation ecosystems in Europe.
We are proud to exceed both European and high income country averages across almost every aspect of innovation.
Our strength lies in a balanced innovation system.
Belgium ranks among the global top ten for businesses sophistication and in the top 20 for human capital, research and technology outputs.
Our R&D intensity is world class, with companies like UCB, Solvay, Umicore and KBC investing heavily in close collaboration with our excellent universities.
Belgium's universities form a vibrant backbone of our innovation system, excelling in research, education and collaboration with industry across the country.
The fact that both KU Leuven and Ghent universities were once again ranked among the world's top hundred universities this summer is further proof that Belgium combines academic strength with a real world impact.
Innovation is also thriving in our startup scene with unicorns such as Odoo, Colibra and Deliverect scaling globally.
Our Brussels Antwerp cluster is recognized as a global hub in life sciences, pharmaceuticals and engineering.
Together, this makes Belgium a true innovation leader.
A country that may not be the biggest but knows it must be the smartest.
We know that in today's world, standing still means losing ground.
Belgium refuses complacency.
Our ambition is to keep raising the bar.
My government is committed to further boosting R&D investment in close partnership with our innovative companies and universities.
Belgium is already amongst the world's leaders in R&D intensity and we will continue to expand that advantage.
And we know that our future prosperity depends not only on national efforts, but also on Europe's ability to act.
That is why Belgium pushes strongly for a deeper and more integrated European single market, including a real capital markets union.
If we want our innovative companies to scale like those in the United States and China, Europe must allow capital to flow more freely and reduce regulatory burdens so that innovators can focus on growth and not on bureaucracy.
Only then will we be able to invest in innovation at the scale that is urgently needed.
Belgium stands firmly on the side of innovation and of all those who contribute to it researchers, entrepreneurs and investors.
Because innovation is not just a policy choice.
It is the cornerstone of our future prosperity.
I thank you.
Hello.
As Prime Minister of Belgium, I'm happy to share a few words about innovation.
This is a topic that is close to my heart and also at the very heart of economic growth and prosperity.
This year, Belgium has moved up to the 21st place among 139 economies in the WIPO Global Innovation Index.
This confirms our position as one of the most dynamic innovation ecosystems in Europe.
We are proud to exceed both European and high income country averages across almost every aspect of innovation.
Our strength lies in a balanced innovation system.
Belgium ranks among the global top ten for businesses sophistication and in the top 20 for human capital, research and technology outputs.
Our R&D intensity is world class, with companies like UCB, Solvay, Umicore and KBC investing heavily in close collaboration with our excellent universities.
Belgium's universities form a vibrant backbone of our innovation system, excelling in research, education and collaboration with industry across the country.
The fact that both KU Leuven and Ghent universities were once again ranked among the world's top hundred universities this summer is further proof that Belgium combines academic strength with a real world impact.
Innovation is also thriving in our startup scene with unicorns such as Odoo, Colibra and Deliverect scaling globally.
Our Brussels Antwerp cluster is recognized as a global hub in life sciences, pharmaceuticals and engineering.
Together, this makes Belgium a true innovation leader.
A country that may not be the biggest but knows it must be the smartest.
We know that in today's world, standing still means losing ground.
Belgium refuses complacency.
Our ambition is to keep raising the bar.
My government is committed to further boosting R&D investment in close partnership with our innovative companies and universities.
Belgium is already amongst the world's leaders in R&D intensity and we will continue to expand that advantage.
And we know that our future prosperity depends not only on national efforts, but also on Europe's ability to act.
That is why Belgium pushes strongly for a deeper and more integrated European single market, including a real capital markets union.
If we want our innovative companies to scale like those in the United States and China, Europe must allow capital to flow more freely and reduce regulatory burdens so that innovators can focus on growth and not on bureaucracy.
Only then will we be able to invest in innovation at the scale that is urgently needed.
Belgium stands firmly on the side of innovation and of all those who contribute to it researchers, entrepreneurs and investors.
Because innovation is not just a policy choice.
It is the cornerstone of our future prosperity.
I thank you.
19. November 2025