EWI-Review 6 / January 2009

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N6

Low countries,riding high

Flemish government

Combining Economy, Science and Innovation for a better society

Periodical of the Department of Economy, Science and Innovation |January 2009


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ContentsWelcome:Farewell to linguistic romance 3

From Flanders:Mitigate, adapt or suffer? 4

Policy in practice:Lower CO2 emissions thanks to the Benchmarking Covenant 6From Europe:European top clusters: crucial for Flanders as a top region 8

International Studies:Female start-ups: smaller but happier! 10

Focus on:We speak a different language 12

In the limelight: The Institute of Tropical Medicine 13

The heart of the matter:Cooperation between Flanders & the Netherlands on science and innovation 16

New legislation:The Science & Innovation Decree 19

Theme:The Netherlands and Flanders: working together to achieve top region status 20

Theme:ELAt as a top knowledge economy 23

Theme:Towards sustainable socio-economic development of the Flemish-Dutch border region 24

Theme:HOLST Centre: smarter and stronger together 26

Theme:Three countries, one language policy 28

Theme:Technology that sets tongues wagging 30

Theme:The Dutch HLT Agency: working to preserve digital research material in Dutch 33

Interview:Our man in The Hague 34

Theme:Flemish-Dutch cooperation on marine research 38

Policy research centres for policy-relevant research:Flemish Policy Research Centre for Foreign Policy: Flanders and the big wide world 39

In a nutshell:The new Benelux Treaty: whats in it for Flanders? 42

Column:The Low Countries 45

COLOFON

EWI Review: Quarterly periodical on economics, science and innovation (EWI in Flemish) Vol. 2, no. 3: EWI Review is a publication of the Flemish governments

Department of Economics, Science and Innovation (www.ewi-vlaanderen.be/review).Address of the editorial office: Strategy and Coordination Division, Department of Economics, Science and Innovation, Koning Albert II-laan 35, box 10, B-1030 Brussels,

Belgium. Tel.: +32 (0)2 553 59 80 - Fax: +32 (0)2 553 60 07 - www.ewi-vlaanderen.be - [email protected].

(ook aflsuiten met een punt)

Published by: Veerle Lories

Editors: Peter Spyns (General Editor), Emmelie Tindemans (Editor-in-Chief), Margot Bollen, Yves Govaert, Marleen Verleysen.

Editorial Board: Pierre Verdoodt (Chairman), Peter Bakema, Pascale Dengis, Veerle Lories, Tom Tournicourt.

Contributors to this edition: Peter Bakema, Ilse Boeykens, Lut Bollen, Karel Boutens, Erwin Dewallef, Kathleen DHondt, Karen Haegemans, Rudy Herman, Veerle Lories,

Peter Spyns, Monica Van Langenhove, Wim Winderickx.

Guest authors: Johan Bogaert, Philippe De Lombaerde, Karel Goossens, Martin Hinoul, David Grzegorzewski, Liselot Ledene, Annick Schramme, Barbara Tieleman, Linde

van den Bosch, Laura van Eerten, Maarten Vidal.

Proofreading: Com&Co www.comco.be.

Translation: Linguanet bvba

Layout and printing: New Goff - www.newgoff.be.

Liability: EWI Review is published in both Dutch and English. Articles may only be reproduced with acknowledgement of the source and subject to the approval of the

EWI Department. EWI, the editorial team and other contributors to this publication accept no liability for any consequences that might arise from the use of information

included in it.

Subscription: Would you like to receive EWI Review in the future? You can apply for your free subscription by sending your contact address to [email protected].

We highly appreciate your opinion and reaction on our magazine via www.ewi-vlaanderen.be/review.

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It is never to late to change things. Thereare two ways in which this can andmust be done. One the one hand weneed to mitigate (i.e. prevent) climatechanges as much as possible. On theother, past mistakes cannot be completelyreserved so we need to adapt to thosechanges. There is a third option: suffer.This is what will happen if we continue toblather and wait for events to take theircourse.

Change is a necessity

The fact that we know all this is thanks inno small part to the work of the most re-cent Nobel Prize winner, the Intergovern-mental Panel on Climate Change1 (IPCC).The IPCC is a collaboration between

the World Meteorological Organisation2(WMO) and the United Nations Environ-ment Programme3 (UNEP). Working withhundreds of critical specialists, scientistsand policymakers from around the world,they provide a clear and objective pictureof human impact on the climate. To thisend, they have studied all known sources,examined them critically and summari-sed them in an Assessment Report. Theconclusions of this collaborative ventureare stark: our emission of hazardoussubstances has to change, urgently and

fundamentally.

As is collaboration

Fortunately, there is a resolve in both theprivate and public sectors to do some-

thing about this. The huge investmentsmade by companies in emission reductionare important. And many companiesappear to be taking steps howeversmall they may seem to adapt to thechanging climate.

In Belgium, responsibility for climateissues is split between various levels ofgovernment. The federal government hassome major tax and product policy in-struments at its disposal. The regions areresponsible for policy on rational use of

energy, renewable energy, environmen-tal legislation and many climate-relatedaspects of mobility, housing policy andagriculture. Efficient climate policy de-mands constant harmonisation betweenfederal and regional policy initiatives to

Mitigate,

adapt or

suffer?

Slowly but surely, we are coming to realise that our impact on our surroundings is much

greater than originally thought. The environment is not an inexhaustible resource that

will keep on bouncing back. Climate changes are becoming so manifest that urgent ac-

tion is required: failure to act will imperil our very civilisation.

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> From Flanders

enable them to work together to meetBelgiums reduction target in a cost- andresource-efficient manner. To this end,in 2002 the federal government andregions signed a cooperation agreementproviding for the creation of a NationalClimate Commission, made up of repre-sentatives of the relevant governmentsand assisted by a permanent secretariat.The Commission is responsible for inter-nal coordination and assessment of thenational climate plan and also acts as acontact point.

A Flemish climate plan

The Flemish Climate Policy Plan is part ofinternational efforts to a) tackle climatechange by cutting greenhouse gas emis-sions and b) prepare for adapting to someof its unavoidable effects. Because climatepolicy impacts various policy areas, theFlemish Government set up the FlandersClimate Policy Task Force which includesrepresentatives from various ministerialoffices (cabinets), administrations and pu-blic institutions with responsibilities span-ning a wide range of fields: environment,energy, development cooperation, sciencepolicy and innovation, economy, agri-

culture, housing, government buildings,mobility, external relations, well-beingand spatial planning.

The Task Force performs the followingtasks:1. Preparing, developing and implemen-

ting a proactive Flemish climate policyon the greenhouse gases included inthe Kyoto Protocol;

2. Process-based monitoring and adjust-ment according to Flanders specificneeds of the creation and imple-mentation of a National Climate Plan;

3. Reporting on progress to the Flemishgovernment, on the basis of reliable

monitoring4. Preparing Flanders policy position

on national and international climatepolicy.

Under the umbrella of the Climate PolicyTask Force, various working groups havebeen set up to examine a number ofspecific issues in greater depth. There areworking groups on the use of flexible me-chanisms4; fine-tuning of the emissions in-ventory; calculation of cost-effectiveness;and preparing Flanders for climate policypost-2012. The lessons and challengesarising from the Flemish Climate Policy

Plan 2002-2005 and the progress reportswere key building blocks in the secondFlemish Climate Policy Plan (VKP).

This is a strategic policy plan that propo-ses actions in all relevant areas for which

the Flemish government is responsible.The measures contained in the secondVKP are grouped into ten topics: fivesectoral topics, reflecting the generalobjectives in the fields of climate-friendlyand sustainable mobility, rational useof energy, sustainable and low-carbonenergy supply, industry and sustainableagriculture and forestry; and five horizon-tal supporting topics relating to researchand innovation, awareness raising,flexibility mechanisms, the exemplary roleof government and adaptation to climatechange.

Europe also involved

At the forefront of reactions to climatechange is the European Union. It was oneof the first major powers to investigateways of reducing the effects of climatechanges and has implemented a rangeof mitigating measures. However, it isbecoming clear that even with every willin the world we will be unable to reverseall of the climate changes caused by man-kind. For that reason, the EU in 2007 alsobegan focusing on adaptation to climatechange.

In a Green Paper entitled Adapting toclimate change in Europe options for EUaction, we were asked for our opinionon their ideas. The survey findings willbe published in a White Paper, which willeventually form the basis for the legis-lation and rules to be developed by theEuropean Commission.

Johan Bogaert and Liselot Ledene,Department of Environment,Nature and Energy (see also www.lne.be)

1 http://www.ipcc.ch.

2 http://www.wmo.int/pages/index_en.html.

3 http://www.unep.org.

4 EWI Review 3 (2): 54.

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Since the 1970s, efficient use of energy has developed into a key objective of energy and climate

policy in industrialised countries. In Flanders, CO2 emissions are declining significantly, thanks inpart to the Benchmarking Covenant for energy-intensive industry.

Lower CO2

emissions

thanks to theBenchmarking Covenant

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> Policy in practice

Various industrialised nations launchedenergy-saving programmes in the wake

of the energy crises of 1973 and 1979.The United Nations Framework Conven-tion on Climate Change (1992) gave awhole new impetus to climate and energypolicy. The UN Intergovernmental Panelon Climate Change (IPCC) has shownthat human activity is partly responsiblefor the sharp increase in greenhousegases the most significant being carbondioxide (CO

2) in the atmosphere. The

186 countries that have ratified theFramework Convention, including Bel-gium in 1996, have pledged their com-mitment to tackling global warming.

Towards sustainable economic

development

A vital part of this is sustainable economicdevelopment, with the industrial nationsleading the way. The goals of the Frame-work Convention were established at aseries of conferences over the ensuingyears, the most famous being the 1997conference in Kyoto. The Kyoto Protocolsets out quantitative commitments to re-duce greenhouse gas emissions. Belgiumpledged to cut emissions by 7.5% (Flan-ders: 5.2%) in the period 2008-2012,compared with the base year 1990.

Achieving this target is no easy feat foreither Belgium or Flanders, since econo-mic growth inevitably entails rising energyconsumption. Moreover, energy-intensiveindustry is an important part of the Bel-gian economy, creating no less than 40%of our industrial value added: 10% morethan in France, Germany or the UK, forexample. On top of this, some major newfacilities were built in Flanders in the firsthalf of the 1990s.

Own commitment first

The Flemish government decided not toimpose an absolute emissions ceiling, nor

to introduce a one-size-fits-all percentagedecrease for energy-intensive compa-nies. Instead, it preferred to develop anobjective system that would safeguardcompanies growth potential. The chosenoption was a benchmarking scheme,similar to the one already operating in theNetherlands. The Flemish Governmentapproved the Benchmarking Covenanton energy efficiency for energy-intensiveindustry on 29 November 2002.

The Benchmarking Covenant is a vo-luntary agreement between the Flemishgovernment and energy-intensive compa-

nies5

, which once entered into becomeslegally binding. Companies or sites thatsign up to the Covenant undertake toachieve and/or maintain the highest

international levels of energy efficiency6for their facilities by 2012 at the latest. To

this end, they must carry out a bench-mark study in which the energy efficiencyof their facilities is tested against that ofthe best comparable facilities worldwideor regionally. Next, the company drawsup an energy plan containing measuresaimed at reaching and remaining at thehighest international level by 2012 at thelatest, taking into account any impro-vement in that level in the interveningperiod. In addition to energy-saving sche-mes within the actual production process,energy-efficiency measures include amore efficient use of raw materials (lesswaste) and more effective use of utilities(cogeneration, for example7).

Benefits and monitoring

In exchange for this, the Flemish go-vernment promises not to impose anyadditional energy-saving or CO

2-reduc-

tion measures such as levies or emissionceilings. It also pledges to make everyeffort to exempt Covenant companiesfrom obligations imposed by the Bel-gian or European authorities. Covenantcompanies may enjoy partial or totalexemption from excise duties on energyproducts and electricity as well as degres-sivity in the federal electricity contribu-

tion. Companies or sites that meet theBenchmarking Covenant requirementsare allocated the emission rights requiredto satisfy the European Emissions TradingDirective8, on the basis of their energyplan. Furthermore, the Flemish Govern-ment gives priority in assigning Flemishaid for the promotion of energy efficiencyto those companies that have signed upto the Covenant. Consequently, onlythose target-group companies that haveactually signed up to the Covenant canapply for an ecology premium9.

The Benchmarking Commission is thesteering committee that undertakes

general coordination and monitors theprogress of the Covenant. It comprises re-presentatives of the Flemish Minister forEnvironment and Nature, the Minister ofthe Economy10 and the industry associa-tions that have joined the Covenant. TheCommission publishes an annual reportdetailing the results of the Covenant. TheVerification Office Benchmarking Flanders(Verificatiebureau Benchmarking Vlaan-deren) is an independent body responsi-ble for the correct implementation of theCovenant.

Positive results

At the end of 2006, 187 companiesand/or sites from various industrial sec-tors11 had signed up to the Benchmarking

Covenant. These companies account forover 80% of Flanders industrial energy

consumption. In 2002 (the Covenantreference date), the energy efficiency ofCovenant companies was already 10.2PetaJoules better than the highest inter-national level and this improved further inthe following years. In 2006, the energyefficiency of Flemish Covenant compa-nies was 15.8 PetaJoules better than thehighest international level. The total CO

2

reduction both directly, through fuelconsumption, and indirectly, throughelectricity consumption was 1.96 milliontonnes in 2006.

The Benchmarking Covenant provides ameans of testing the energy efficiency of

Flanders energy-intensive industry in aninternational framework. By helping tocut CO

2emissions, the Covenant makes

a genuine contribution to climate policy.This shows that there is still scope forsustainable development, innovation andgrowth in todays globalised and compe-titive world.

Lut Bollen,Enterprise and Innovation Division

5 Companies or sites with an annual energyconsumption of at least 0.5 PetaJoules(1 PJ = 1015 J) per site can sign up to theBenchmarking Covenant.

6 Energy efficiency is expressed as specificenergy consumption (energy consumptionin PetaJoules per unit product).

7 Cogeneration is the simultaneous, com-bined production of heat and electricity.The big advantage of cogeneration is amuch more efficient use of fuel.

8 EWI Review 2 (2): 38.

9 EWI Review 2 (2): 42 43.

10 The representatives of the Minister for

Environment and Energy and the Ministerof the Economy come from the relevantadministrations, namely the Department ofEnvironment, Nature and Energy, the Fle-mish Energy Agency and the Department ofEconomics, Science and Innovation.

11 Chemicals, refining, steel, paper, food,metal, textiles, ceramics, wood, glass andsand.

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> From Europe

European topclusters: crucial for

Flanders as

a top region

What is a cluster? A grouping of severalprivate, and often also public, entities that

compete in specific areas but at the sametime work together to boost the com-petitiveness of each participant. Clustersmay be geared towards research andtechnological development or the jointprocurement of raw materials. Organi-sing particular services centrally allowsparticipants to focus to the full on theircore activity. Clusters are well known forenhancing their participants innovationpotential, and therefore have a positiveimpact on their competitiveness. Clusterinitiatives are aimed at maximising clusterbenefits. By adopting a cluster policy,the government can choose to maximise

regional advantages by supporting clusterinitiatives.

Flemish cluster initiatives

Flanders has a number of cluster ini-tiatives, albeit referred to by differentnames. VIB13 and IMEC14 are strategic

research centres that since long enjoyfinancial support under Flemish innovation

policy. They have spawned renowned andinternationally active clusters in the fieldsof biotechnology and microelectronics &ICT. The latter has for some years receivedstructural support through the Interdisci-plinary Institute for Broadband Techno-logy (IBBT15). A fourth strategic researchcentre is VITO16, which aims to establishFlanders as a leading player in the fieldof sustainable energy and environmentaltechnologies.

Whereas the strategic research centresare a deliberate government policy choice(top-down), the centres of excellence

(competentiepolen) are more the result ofa factual economic situation (bottom-up).The Flemish Government uses the centresof excellence to channel support forcooperative networks in the food industry(Flanders Food17), automotive sector (Flan-ders Drive18) and logistics sector (FlemishLogistics Institute19), among others. In so

doing, it does not focus solely on techno-logical innovation: at least as important

are non-technological innovations, insuch areas as processes and management,which deliver increased efficiency. Efficien-cy increases generate cost savings, whichin turn boost competitiveness. And whileknowledge and innovation have replacedproductivity as the most decisive factor indetermining competitiveness, productivityremains key.

International outlook

In Belgium, it is primarily companies fromthe Flemish Region that participate incluster initiatives, such as EUREKA20. In

many cases, these companies are alreadyinvolved in a Flemish cluster. Indeed,many of the cluster initiatives focus ondeveloping international cooperationstructures. Among the most internationallyactive clusters in Flanders are the biotechand ICT clusters, created around the VIBand IMEC. Both easily rank among the

In its Flanders in Action12

action plan for the future,

Flanders outlined its ambi-

tion to join the select club of

European top regions by

2020 by means of sustaina-

ble policy. The internationa-

lisation of Flemish business,

particularly SMEs, is an

urgent priority. This means

not only competing across

borders, but also and

perhaps more importantly

cooperating across

borders.

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Flemish-Dutch hydrogen cluster initiative

Flanders and the South Netherlands have developed a

multi-annual programme with the aim of creating a Flan-ders-South Netherlands hydrogen region. This hydrogenawareness project has been developed by a number ofSMEs, research institutions, schools and regional deve-lopment agencies operating in the field of hydrogen andfuel cells in the Flanders and South Netherlands regions.Following analysis, they came to the conclusion thatFlanders-South Netherlands has the potential to becomea flagship region for hydrogen and fuel cells in Europe.

As well as hydrogen producers and distributors, the pro-ject also brings together technology developers, suppliers,energy companies and researchers. End users and projectdevelopers enable the products to be brought to market.Another vital element is the presence of hydrogen infra-

structure, comprising a number of mobile filling stations,which could eventually expand into a wholesale regionalnetwork.

The Master Plan for implementing the Hydrogen Regionscheme has three parts. The WaterstofNet project office,which is central to the plan, is responsible for imple-menting and scaling up the hydrogen programme. Theplan provides for the creation of a limited hydrogeninfrastructure and four demonstration projects, includinghydrogen-powered tourist boats, fork-lift trucks, mobiledental vans and tourist trains. The third part involvesdeveloping training programmes and laboratory facilitiesfor technology education. The aim is to finance the firstphase of the Master Plan (2008-2012) through the Euro-pean Interreg IV programme25 and the Dutch and Flemish

governments.

On 20 June 2008, the Master Plan was officially submit-ted to the Flemish Economy Minster, who expressed areadiness to provide the Flemish share of the funding.

Lut Bollen,Enterprise and Innovation Division

best in the world and are held in greatesteem internationally within their areas ofexpertise.

Flemish companies and cluster initiativesmust be encouraged to take an activepart in European, cross-border clusterinitiatives. Strengthening the internationaldimension of Flanders innovation tools as recommended in the Soete report21 can be seen as the fine-tuning needed tomeet this challenge successfully. Moreover,achieving the general objective of Flandersin Action namely to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Europes and the worldstop regions by 2020 will largely dependon how successful our companies andresearch institutions are at developing

cross-border cooperation structures. Sucha context will enable Flanders assets asa region to be fully exploited and furtherstrengthened, as the Commission Com-munication of 17 October 2008 on thecreation of world-class clusters in theEuropean Union also suggests.

High-quality cluster policy

Europe has a couple of thousand clusters,but only a fraction of these are on a parwith rival clusters elsewhere in the world.The Commission aims to address this bystriving for excellence at all levels.

There will be new European initiatives tosupport cross-border cooperation betweencompanies. The Commission is deliberatelytargeting pilot projects towards six growthmarkets. Earlier this year, it identified theseas: e-health, protective textiles, sustainableconstruction, recycling, bio-based productsand renewable energy.As regards cluster management, the

Commission proposes measures designedto improve the way cluster organisationsoperate and make them more professio-

nal. More specifically, proposals includerecognising cluster management as a newprofessional qualification with associatedquality standards.

In terms of policy and programming, theCommission urges Member States to worktogether more closely. It intends to facili-tate the exchange of good practices andpolicy experiences. Member States shouldmap existing clusters, and when drawingup their cluster policy must take particularaccount of the specific characteristics ofSMEs to maximise their participation inclusters. Alongside this, the Commission

announces initiatives designed to streng-then the innovation potential of SMEs.It aims to boost the development anddissemination of better innovation supportservices through channels such as EuropeINNOVA22, the European Cluster Alliance23and the EEN24.

Finally, the Commission asks MemberStates to plan and report on their clusterpolicy as part of their reporting on theirLisbon Strategy National Reform Program-mes.

Karel Boutens,Enterprise and Innovation Division

12 On 11 July 2006, the Flemish Government unveiled the socio-economic plan entitled Flanders in Action (Vlaan-deren in Actie). The aim is to secure Flanders place among Europes leading regions by 2020 in a sustainable way.The plan is based on a series of projects, grouped around four challenges: talent, logistics & mobility, creativity &innovation and internationalisation. Many of the projects have already been, or are in the process of being, imple-mented. See also http://www.vlaandereninactie.be/nlapps/default.asp.

13 EWI Review 1 (1):24 27.

14 EWI Review 1 (1): 20 23.

15 http://www.ibbt.be.

16 EWI Review 2 (2): 23 24.

17 http://www.flandersfood.com/ned.

18 http://www.flandersdrive.be.

19 http://www.vil.be.

20 See also EWI Review 1 (2): 20 22 .

21 L. Soete (ed.), (2007), Eindrapport Expertgroep voor de doorlichting van het Vlaams Innovatie-Instrumentarium[Final report of the expert group set up to evaluate the Flemish Innovation Policy Mix], 68p., Maastricht.

22 Supported by the European Commission, Europe INNOVA was set up to inform, assist, mobilise and networkkey business innovation stakeholders such as company managers, policymakers, cluster managers, investors and

relevant organisations. See also http://www.europe-innova.org/index.jsp.23 The European Cluster Alliance is a Commission-backed platform that serves as a contact forum for national

and regional authorities with responsibility for cluster policy. See also http://www.proinno-europe.eu/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&topicID=395&parentID=0.

24 The Enterprise Europe Network is made up of over 600 organisations across Europe which offer companies businessand innovation support on European legislation and international enterprise and innovation see also http://ae.vlaanderen.be/html_afdelingen/enterprise.html.

25 See also p. 24 of this edition.

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> International studies

These differences are apparent evenbefore the business is up and running.For instance, in 2003 63% of Dutch malestart-ups were already running anothercompany, whereas barely 30% of femalestart-ups stated this as their main activityprior to launching their business.When it comes to the reasons for startinga business, there is less of a discrepancy

between Dutch men and women, withthe challenge and being my own bossbeing the main reasons cited by both.Slightly more women than men starttheir own business in order to achieve abetter family-work balance. The similarityof motives between men and womenobserved in the Netherlands is also evi-dent in Flanders29.

Women start up smaller

There are greater differences as regardsthe size of the company. Dutch women,for example, start up their companieswith considerably less initial capital thantheir male counterparts. In 2003, only13% hired an employee shortly afterlaunching their business (compared with

In June, the Dutch research and consultancy organisation EIM26 published a comparison

between female and male start-ups, based on two studies, one carried out in 2004 and

the other in 2008. A group of start-up entrepreneurs27 was monitored annually for the

purposes of the research. Statistics in this area have also been published in Flanders, most

notably the gender notebooks and yearbooks28 issued by the Flemish government. All

these sources reveal a wealth of differences between male and female entrepreneurs, in

both the Netherlands and Flanders.

Femalestart-ups:

smallerbut

happier!

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20% of male start-ups), although by

2008 the number of Dutch female start-ups with staff had risen to 1 in 5. Thesame upward trend is apparent amongDutch male start-ups, 34% of whomhad an employee in 2008. In Flanders,slightly more female entrepreneurs (26%in 2003) employed staff than in the Net-herlands, although they still lagged consi-derably behind their male counterparts,35% of whom employed staff30. In 2006,the situation in Flanders remained largelyunchanged (27% versus 36%), with menstill outstripping women in this regard.

They earn less

In addition, more than 1 in 4 Dutch menachieved an annual turnover of 10,000shortly after launching their business(i.e. in 2003-2004), compared with only8% of women. This trend is reflected inthe operating results, with only 61% ofcompanies run by Dutch women makinga net profit in 2007, compared with 76%for men. The EIM research also highlightsa continuing wage gap between maleand female start-ups in the Netherlands.

They work less in their own business

The fact that womens start-ups are

often smaller than mens may be due tothe fact that they are more likely thanmen to start out as and remain part-time entrepreneurs. 57% of the Dutchwomen worked less than 30 hours whenlaunching their business, compared with39% of Dutch men.Flemish female entrepreneurs workedconsiderably longer than their Dutchcounterparts in 2003. At that time, theaverage working week for a self-employ-ed woman without staff was 44 hours,as against 56 hours for self-employedmen without staff. Flemish self-employedpeople with staff had an even heaverworkload, with women working an aver-

age of 56 hours and men an average of60 hours per week in 2003. Only 8% ofFlemish women entrepreneurs with staffworked part-time, compared with 17%for women entrepreneurs without staff3.The most likely reason why more Dutch

than Flemish women work part-time isthat part-time work is generally moreencouraged in the Netherlands thanin Flanders. Also, running a businesspart-time is much more of a deliberatechoice for Dutch women than for Dutchmen. After the initial start-up period, theproportion of Dutch women workingpart-time decreases over the years,although the difference vis--vis menremains significant.

But more for their family

With more Dutch female than maleentrepreneurs working part-time, it isunsurprising that they also do moreoutside the business. 47% of Dutchfemale start-ups perform another activity,compared with 31% of male start-ups.The EIM research also reveals that morewomen than men work part-time forfamily reasons. 20% of women look afterfamily and children as their second acti-vity, compared with only 2% of Dutchmale start-ups. Although Dutch women

are more likely to run smaller businessesand combine their business with otheractivities, they are nonetheless hap-pier than male entrepreneurs with theirbusinesses.

And they want it to stay that way

Finally, EIM also surveyed how entrepre-neurs perceived the future. This revealedthat male entrepreneurs in the Net-herlands are more optimistic than theirfemale counterparts, with 15% of menanticipating a very successful future fortheir company. By comparison, only 6%of women felt the same way. More Dut-ch women have no staff and wish this toremain the case in future. Furthermore,Dutch female entrepreneurs are less likelythan men to expect their company tohave changed in five years time.

This comparison highlights the big dif-ferences that can exist between menand women when starting a business.Women are much more likely than mento start on a small scale, often becauseof their second role as a wife and/ormother. There are a raft of initiatives inFlanders to encourage women to becomemore actively involved in business.In 2005, the policy focus of the callfor enterprise projects was on female

entrepreneurship: this resulted in Flemishgovernment support being granted toa number of female-focused projects,including Start-up now31, Vrouwenzakenand E-facc.

Ilse Boeykens,Enterprise and Innovation Division

26 http://www.eim.nl.

27 People who started their own business in 2003.

28 The gender notebooks (genderzakboekjes) and gender yearbooks (genderjaarboeken) relay statistics for female and male entrepreneurs as a whole, both start-ups and establis-hed entrepreneurs. Moreover, the gender notebooks do not monitor a group of start-up entrepreneurs over several years, as the Dutch research did. They provide real data for aspecific overall number in a specific year. The gender notebooks were published in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Gender yearbooks have been published in 2006 and 2007.

29 Vrouwen en zelfstandig ondernemen, tien lessen en tien aanbevelingen voor vrouwelijk ondernemerschap van markant VZW[Women and self-employment: 10 lessons and 10recommendations for female entrepreneurship], October 2004, Diane study.

30 Gender notebook 2004, Female entrepreneurship, Flemish government, Steunpunt Werkgelegenheid, Arbeid en Vorming (Policy Research Centre for Employment, Work andTraining), ESF.

31 http://www.startupnow.be/index.php.

32 http://kanaalz.trends.be/nl/vrouwenzaken.

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> Focus on

Katharina Desmet

This all seems rather obvious: Belgium andthe Netherlands are neighbours, withineasy reach of one another and speak thesame language. However, doing businesswith the Netherlands is an art in itselfand is not as easy as one might expect.Consequently, Flanders Investment &Trade (FIT)33 operates a busy office in TheHague, designed to help Flemish entrepre-neurs break into a country that, while nextdoor geographically, can sometimes feel aworld away from home.

Dutch businessmen

Katharina Desmet has recently taken upthe position of Flemish Economic Repre-sentative in The Hague. Until last summer,she ran the FIT office in Istanbul. Moving

from a rapidly expanding metropolis onthe bridge between East and West to acity that is geographically near to, andalready enjoys close economic ties with,Flanders has been quite a shift.

Its still too early for me to assess howbusiness relations with the Dutch operate.But my first impressions tend to bearout the stereotypes, laughs Katharina.Just because we speak the same langu-age doesnt mean that everything runssmoothly. On the contrary, we assumethat the meaning and interpretation ofwords is the same but that isnt alwaysthe case, so in-depth knowledge andcareful preparation is absolutely vital. Wedefinitely arent given easier treatmentjust because we have the same mothertongue.Direct in communication, self-assured andpunctual is how Id describe the mentality

of the average Dutch businessman, soclarity and directness are highly recom-mended for any Flemish people doingbusiness here. One thing is certain: succes-sful business in the Netherlands is aboutidentifying shared interests, and that alsoapplies to the Flemish.

Strong economy

Flanders number one export to the Net-herlands is mineral fuels, followed by cars,tractors and bicycles (2), organic chemicals(3), machinery (4) and plastics (5). Flemishcompanies are most likely to succeed withinnovative products and services boastingexcellent value for money, althoughcollaborating with Dutch companies oninnovative projects is also an option, one

that could ultimately result in a strongerinternational position in third markets.

Flemish companies interested in theDutch market can come to FIT for marketinformation; to search for trading partnersor contacts in the Netherlands; for legalinformation; information on trade fairs andso forth. FIT also promotes trade relationsby organising contact days, inviting pur-chasers and compiling industry overviews.The possibilities of the Dutch market, thegrowth potential, the proximity: these aremajor assets.

Moreover, the Netherlands has recordedstronger economic growth than the Euro-pean average in recent years: GDP grewby 3.5% in 2007, the highest level in se-

ven years. Economic growth was 3.1% inthe first half of 2008. The European Com-mission anticipates growth of 2.2% for2008, compared with an average of 1.3%for the 15 Eurozone countries. Althoughthe Netherlands has not escaped theglobal slowdown, it is still performing welland, as Flanders neighbour, continues toplay a leading role in our foreign trade.

Barbara Tieleman,Flanders Investment and Trade

33 EWI Review 1 (2): 47.

We speak adifferent languageThe Netherlands is Flanders second largest export market after Germany, accounting for almost 14% of all

the regions exports. Conversely, Flanders is the Netherlands biggest market, accounting for around 22%

of imports. In other words, trade with the Netherlands is important and necessary for our economy.

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> In the limelight

The Institute of Tropical Medicine34 (ITM) has its origins

in Belgiums colonial past. The Congo Free State, which

had been the personal playground of King Leopold II

since 1885, came under Belgian control in 1908. At

that time, institutes and educational courses devoted to

tropical medicine were springing up all over Europe, and

Belgium was no exception.

The Institute of Tropical

Medicine

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The high mortality rate in the colony was

hampering the colonisation process, andpressure grew for something to be doneabout it. Anyone wishing to pursue acareer in the colony could take a coursein tropical hygiene, while specialisttraining was introduced for doctors andnurses. Meanwhile, plans were floated toset up an institute of tropical medicine inAntwerp. This eventually came into beingin 1906 in Brussels. It catered mainlyfor doctors and veterinarians planning towork in Congo.

To Antwerp, at last!

The Brussels Institute of Tropical Medicine

did eventually move to Antwerp in1934. It was housed in the new art decobuilding in the Nationalestraat (still inuse), near to what was then the Congodocks. This was a logical choice, sincesick mariners and colonial soldiers woulddisembark at the quays upon their returnfrom the tropics. They brought withthem not only typical tropical infectionsbut also sexually transmitted infections which explains why this remains oneof the ITMs areas of expertise. The newschool was named the Prince LeopoldInstitute of Tropical Medicine, after thethen Crown Prince of Belgium. Since

then, the ITM has been a constant centreof reference for teaching, research andservice delivery in the field of tropicalmedicine. In recent decades, research hasalso focused heavily on public health andHIV/AIDS.

National and international cooperation

The ITM is dependent for its basicfunding on the Education Department. Itis an integral part of the academic land-scape in Flanders, but has always workedwith federal bodies and institutes acrossthe linguistic divide. Courses are taughtin English, French and Dutch to bothBelgian and foreign doctors and nurses.

The ITMs inter-university character isreflected in its Board of Trustees, whichincludes representatives of all Flemishuniversities as well as the relevant Fle-mish, federal and local governments. TheScientific Advisory Council (WRA) setup to advise the ITM on science policy is made up of experts from Belgianuniversities and as well as internationalexperts. This inter-university status wasconfirmed in 1996 by (recently renewed)cooperation ties with Flemish universitiesin the fields of teaching, research and

doctoral training. In 1999, the ITMsacademic status was further clarifiedand confirmed in a Flemish Governmentdecree that recognises a number of Insti-tutes for Postgraduate Teaching, Researchand Services, among which is the ITM.

The expectations and obligations of

each party were detailed in a five-yearagreement with the Flemish Departmentof Education and Training. The associa-ted funding is mainly used to deliver theteaching programme. Another key partof the ITMs work relates to training, fieldand policy research and capacity buildingin developing countries. There are pro-grammes on overseas research, trainingand capacity building, in partnership witha range of NGOs, national authorities andlarge international organisations. Theseactivities are supported inter alia by aFramework Agreement with the federalDirectorate-General for DevelopmentCooperation (DGDC). 1 January 2008

marked the start of the third Frame-work Agreement Switching the Poles,which will run for six years. The ITM isa national and international centre ofreference for the diagnosis and treat-ment of tropical and infectious diseases,including HIV/AIDS. The ITMs medicalservices perform 50,000 consultations ayear, dispensing curative and preventivetreatment and advice.

Education and training

Each year, the ITM provides postgraduatetraining to some 200 young doctors, nur-

ses and veterinarians in tropical medicineand public health and tropical animal he-alth (5-12 month courses). It also teachesaround 80 international students withat least 2-5 years professional experience on specialised masters courses in publichealth, disease control and tropical animalhealth. It hosts around 80 doctoral resear-chers and about 100 students a year whoreceive individual research training. TheITM also organises specialist courses inmedical mycology, biostatistics, AIDS tre-atment, disease control and reproductivehealth. It organises annual North-Southsymposia, assists in several masters andexpert courses in Africa, South America,Asia and Europe, and actively supportsand networks its thousands of alumni inthe field.

Excellent research

In addition to its involvement in educa-tion, clinical studies and capacity buildingin the South, the ITM also performs animportant scientific research function. Asa knowledge centre, it undertakes funda-mental, applied and operational researchinto tropical diseases in humans (AIDS,tuberculosis, malaria, sleeping sickness,tropical ulcers, helminths and zoonoses)

and animals (trypanosomoses, theileriosis,helminths). It also carries out extensiveresearch programmes on epidemiology,nutrition and the organisation of healthsystems.

The ITM contributes to long-term soluti-

ons by ensuring a better understandingof often complex diseases; developmentof new diagnosis techniques, treatmentsand prevention methods; better organi-sation of health systems; and long-termstrengthening of local capacity. The ITMalso plays an important role in the field ofscience sharing, since a number of pre-and post-docs from developing countriescarry out research there. In Belgium, theITM meets the increasing demand for ex-pertise in tropical and imported diseases.

In scientific terms, the ITM is at thepinnacle of research and education intropical medicine, AIDS and healthcare

in developing countries. It employs closeon 400 scientists, technicians and supportstaff, spread across five scientific depart-ments (Microbiology, Parasitology, Ani-mal Health, Clinical Sciences and PublicHealth) and support services, a specialisedclinic and a hospitalisation service atUniversity Hospital Antwerp.

Since 2004, the ITM has also receivedsupport from the EWI Department. Thissupport is linked to Flanders involve-ment in the European and DevelopingCountries Clinical Trials Partnership(EDCTP), the European Commissions first

successful Article 169 initiative35

launchedduring the Sixth Framework Programme.The money was used to set up the newClinical Trial Unit (CTU), which carries outresearch and coordination activities in theframework of EDCTP, focusing on clinicalstudies into AIDS, tuberculosis, malariaand tropical diseases. The ITM representsBelgium in EDCTP and has played an im-portant role in developing and managingthe partnership. The ITM also contributesthe most to the Belgian co-financing ofEDCTP, mainly in the form of in-kindcontributions. This makes it a majorplayer in terms of the support offered toAfrican partners and capacity building.A substantial share of this co-financingcomes from the CTU.

In consultation with the ITM, the EWIDepartment hired three external expertsto evaluate the functioning of the CTUin July 2007. The experts were highlycomplimentary about the functioning andachievements of the CTU. Their mainrecommendation to the government wasto extend the financing and increase thebudget. They recommended that theCTU continue on the same path andexpand its operations.

More and better

Unlike other university institutions, theITM cannot make independent use of re-search funding sources such as ResearchFoundation Flanders (FWO) and the

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Institute for the Promotion of Innovation

by Science and Technology in Flanders(IWT). These channels are only acces-sible to the ITM in the form of so-calledco-promotership, where a university in-stitution itself acts as promoter. Althoughcollaboration between research instituti-ons is encouraged, this often leads to asituation that is not compatible with therealities of the research management andmay also result in competition with theuniversity promoters own projects.

By analogy with BOF (Special ResearchFund) funding for universities, it wasdecided to allocate an additional subsidyfrom the EWI Department to the ITM, in

an effort to support and expand scientificresearch. This safeguards scientific quality,allows research to be conducted indepen-dently and fosters the quest for excel-lence at national and international level.In 2007, EWI and the ITM signed aprovisional agreement laying down theterms and conditions governing annualfunding of scientific research. The ITMwas asked to submit a strategic financialplan setting out the long-term visionand priorities for research in the period2008-2012. This plan will form the basisfor a five-year agreement and sets outa number of ambitious performance

criteria, designed to enable the ITMsresearch activities and implementation ofthe strategic plan to be assessed objecti-vely on an annual basis. Performance ismeasured based on scientific publicationsin leading journals, contribution to thetraining of young scientists, success insecuring external funding, national andinternational partnerships, involvement inand organisation of scientific gatherings,institutional development and externaland internal assessments of the institu-tion. Annual reporting and evaluation bythe EWI Department will be followed byan in-depth evaluation at the end of theagreement, which will determine whethersupport for the ITMs research activitieswill be continued.

Kathleen DHondt,Research Division

Dutch counterpart?

The Royal Tropical Institute (KIT)36 or Tropical Institute in Amsterdam can be seen as the Dutchequivalent of the ITM and was set up at around the same time, in 1910. The general objectives ofKIT as regards training and capacity building are similar to those of the ITM. KIT works to ensure thatdiagnosis plays an integral role in healthcare. It advises and supports governments and organisations indeveloping countries in their efforts to prevent infectious diseases. Its focus in this area is on develo-ping research capacity, establishing and equipping laboratories, evaluating and improving diagnosticprocesses and working on quality care and safety.Whereas the ITM is also a strong player in the field of fundamental research into tropical diseases,KITs biomedical research focuses mainly on the diagnosis of tropical infectious diseases. KIT devel-ops, improves and evaluates diagnostic tests for diseases such as brucellosis, pertussis, leishmaniasis,leprosy, leptospirosis, malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid and various sexually transmitted diseases. Theinstitute also researches the mechanisms underpinning the resistance of micro-organisms to drugs.KIT Biomedical Research partners with research institutions, multilateral and development organisati-

ons and businesses. The department has an international and multidisciplinary staff made up of profes-sionals with extensive research and field experience.KIT also has an active cultural policy and is responsible for raising public awareness about the Tropics.In Belgium, these tasks are performed by the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren, which doesnot fall within EWIs sphere of responsibility.

34 http://www.itg.be.

35 The main objective of Article 169 of the EC Treaty is through coordination to prevent fragmentation of research efforts at nationalor regional level in Europe. This article allows the European Community to participate in research and development programmesundertaken by several Member States (outside the framework programme see EWI-Review 1 (2): 30 - 33), including participa-tion in the joint structures created for the execution of those programmes. In practice, this means that the EU provides additionalfinancing on top of national public funds.

36 http://www.kit.nl/smartsite.shtml?ch=FAB&id=4365.

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> The heart of the matter

One concrete example of cooperation between Flanders and the Netherlands in the field of

science and innovation is the European Framework Programme for Research, Technological

Development and Demonstration Activities (FP)37. How often do we participate together in

the FP? What are the associated budgets? Who are the players involved and which fields do

they operate in? The answers in figures

Cooperation between

Flanders & the Netherlandson science and innovation

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The figures for Flemish/Dutch joint parti-cipation in the Sixth Framework Program-me (6FP) (2002 2006)38 (Figure 1) showthat the Netherlands was the fifth mostimportant partner for Flemish participants.Flanders participated 1,342 times in 1,0516FP projects, which generated a totalparticipation payment of 352,288,473.The Netherlands participated 4,074 timesin 2,491 6FP projects, receiving a totalparticipation payment of 1,107,167,177.According to these figures, Flanders andthe Netherlands achieved a financialreturn of 2.12% and 6.66% respectivelyfrom 6FP39. Looking specifically at Fle-mish/Dutch involvement in 6FP, we can

see that Flanders took part 777 times in6FP projects in which the Netherlands alsoparticipated, equivalent to a participationbudget of 201,853,145. Conversely, theNetherlands took part 1,157 times in 6FPprojects in which Flemish partners alsoparticipated, equivalent to a participationbudget of 325,561,233.

Who and what for?

The participation budget reveals thatin Flanders the main participants in 6FPprojects with Dutch involvement wereuniversities and university colleges (41%),followed by research centres (31%) andcompanies (23%, of which 70% wereSMEs). Similarly, in the Netherlands, uni-versities and university colleges collabora-ted most (41%) with Flemish partners in6FP, followed by research centres (28%)and companies (20%, of which aroundhalf were SMEs).

Based on the participation budget, the6FP research areas in which Flandersparticipated most with the Netherlandsare (in descending order):1. Information and communication tech-

nology (36%)2. Life sciences and biotechnology (18%)

3. Sustainable development, globalchange and ecosystems (11%)

4. Nanosciences and nanotechnology(8%)

Table 1 gives a complete overview ofFlemish participations in 6FP projects inwhich the Netherlands also participated,broken down by specific 6FP programmesand priorities.

The ERA-NET scheme40

Another area of cooperation is the Euro-pean ERA-NET scheme. This aims to stepup cooperation and coordination betweendifferent funding programmes in a bid tosupport research and innovation in theMember States of the European Commu-nity and associated countries. The schemewas launched under the Sixth Framework

Programme (6FP) and is being continuedunder the Seventh (7KP). Flanders andthe Netherlands are participating jointly in

21 ERA-NETs.

INNO-Net

Flanders and the Netherlands are alsoworking together in the European INNO-Net network. This aims to stimulate trans-national cooperation between different(sub)national innovation programmes by: clustering cooperation on innovation

policy; supporting knowledge-based SMEs

and start-ups; fostering transnational exploitation of

knowledge; bringing together research and indus-

try; stimulating innovation in services.

More specifically, Flanders and theNetherlands are involved in VALOR41, anINNO-Net that seeks to exploit know-ledge by translating it into marketableproducts and services. VALOR bringstogether Europes key innovation policyplayers with the aim of developing acommon agenda and a joint action plan.Flanders is represented in VALOR byIWT-Flanders, the Netherlands by theNetherlands Genomics Initiative42.

EUREKA43

Flanders and the Netherlands are alsojointly involved in a number of EUREKAprojects. EUREKA is an intergovernmen-tal initiative to promote international

cooperation in projects relating to appliedand market-oriented industrial Research& Development. The partners themselves

determine the nature of the cooperationas well as the content and timing oftheir project. Subject to a quality control,EUREKA awards approved projects aEUREKA label. The individual partners canapply to their own national or regionalgovernments for co-financing; in mostMember States, the EUREKA label usuallyentitles projects to a higher level of sup-port.

Alongside the programme for indivi-dual projects, EUREKA also encompas-ses strategic cluster and umbrellainitiatives. Clusters are strategicallyimportant long-term industrial initia-

tives. Flanders and the Netherlands arejointly active in inter alia the ITEA (2),MEDEA+, EUROFORESTand CELTICclusters. Umbrellas are thematic networksthat focus on a specific technology areaor business sector. The main goal of anumbrella is to facilitate the generation ofEUREKA projects within its own tech-nology area or business sector and tooffer them support. An overview of allprojects, including a technical descriptionand details of the partners, can be foundon the EUREKA website44. Details of theclusters and umbrellas can be found onthe Strategic initiatives web page45.

Supporting and encouraging participa-tion in European programmes

Finally, Flanders and the Netherlands arealso both active members of a number of

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Netherlands

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Greece

Austria

Figure 1: Flanders top 10 partner countries in 6FP, based on number of participations

10%

9%

5%

4%4% 3%

21%

16%12%

16%

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networks aimed at encouraging and sup-porting local/regional/national participa-tion in European (research) programmes,including: IGLO Informal Group of RTD Liaison

Offices46: aims to facilitate and increase

interaction, information exchange andcooperation between members;

ERRIN European Regions Researchand Innovation Network47: an informa-tion platform that aims to strengthenregional research and innovation;

ERIK European Regions Know-ledge-based Innovation Network48:an innovation network that supportsnetworking and the exchange of goodpractices between European regions;

IRE Innovating Regions in Europe49:

an information platform intended tostrengthen the global competitivenessof European regions.

Find out more

Flanders and the Netherlands are heavilyinvolved as joint partners in variousEuropean programmes. By maximisingour participation in such programmes, weaim to be frontrunners in the Europeanknowledge economy.

If you want to know more about Flemishand Dutch participation in the SixthEuropean Framework Programme forResearch, Technological Developmentand Demonstration Activities (6FP), EWI

will be producing a final analysis of theframework programme in the near future.

Monica Van Langenhove,Knowledge Management DivisionErwin Dewallef,Strategy and Co-ordination Division

37 EWI-Review 1 (2): 31 33.

38 Source: database made available periodically by the European Commission at the meeting of the Horizontal Configuration of the Programme Committee for the Specific ProgrammeIntegrating and Strengthening the European Research Area within the Sixth Framework Programme.

39 The correct returns for Flanders and the Netherlands are 2.2% and 5.5% respectively, which means that Flanders is making a (slight) net contribution to the European FrameworkProgramme, while the Netherlands receives slightly more than it contributes. See also EWI Review 1 (2): 34 36 for a calculation of the correct Flemish return. The Dutch figurecomes from Making Innovation Visible, in Europa Dichtbij Special No. 4, December 2005, p. 9 see also http://www.nistelrooij.cda.nl/LinkClick.aspx?link=Europa+Dichtbij%2FMaking+innovation+visible+-+7e+kaderprogramma%2FMaking+Innovation+Visible.pdf&tabid=6260&mid=19971&language=nl-NL.

40 See also EWI Review 1 (2): 23, 25.

41 http://www.proinno-europe.eu/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&topicID=74&parentID=55.

42 http://www.genomics.nl.43 EEWI Review 1 (2): 20 et seq.

44 http://www.eureka.be/inaction/portfolio.do.

45 http://www.eureka.be/inaction/strategicInitiatives.do.

46 http://www.iglortd.org.

47 http://www.errin.eu.

48 http://www.eriknetwork.net.

49 http://www.innovating-regions.org.

Table 1: Flemish participations in 6FP projects in which the Netherlands also participated, by programme/priority

Integratingandstrengtheningthe

EuropeanResearchArea(ERA)

Programme Priority No. of participations No. of projects Participation budget

Euratom Euratom 33 26 8.215.477

1. Life sciences, genomics and 91 68 35.577.797biotechnology for health

2. Information society technologies 181 121 72.163.806

3. Nanotechnologies and nano-sciences, 60 39 17.027.032knowledge-based multifunctional materials andnew production processes and devices

4. Aeronautics and space 18 17 3.842.116

5. Food quality and safety 52 36 11.643.823

6. Sustainable development, 101 71 23.088.556global change and ecosystems

7. Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society 32 27 2.825.059

Specific research activities for SMEs 31 25 3.134.527

Policy support and anticipating the EUs 54 44 5.099.415scientific and technological needs

Specific measures in support of international cooperation 8 8 1.697.721

Support for the coherent development of policies 5 4 469.319

Support for the coordination of activities 21 21 3.223.771

Structuring the Human resources and mobility 46 36 9.205.816

European Research Research and innovation 10 5 1.177.950

Area (ERA) Research infrastructure 14 13 2.594.040Science and society 20 15 866.919

TOTAL: 777 576 201.853.145

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> New legislation

The Better Administrative Policy project50heralded a radical overhaul of the Flemish

administrative landscape aimed at makingthe Flemish government more efficient.The watchwords were transparency, cus-tomer orientation and good governance.The Flemish ministry was restructured:13 logically determined policy areaswere constructed from a departmentand various independent agencies. Taskswere clearly apportioned: the ministerdetermines policy, the departments areresponsible for policy support and theagencies oversee policy implementation.A Strategic Advisory Council (SAR) provi-des advice on strategic policy issues andkey policy features.

In late 2004, the Flemish Government de-cided to create a homogenous policy areacomprising Economics, Science and Inno-vation (referred to by the Dutch acronymEWI), reflecting the close links betweeninnovation and economics. The EWI De-partment, the Agency for Economy andthe Flemish Agency for Entrepreneurship(VLAO) came into being on 1 July 2006.The time has now come to complete theprocess begun back in 2004...

Flemish innovation policy

Flanders has been largely responsible for

science and innovation since the Statereform of 1988. The existing financing in-struments were incorporated into Flemishinnovation policy and optimised. Publicexpenditure on research and innovationhas been increasing gradually since 1995

with the aim of expanding the knowledgeeconomy. A number of new financing

instruments were introduced to cover thewhole spectrum of knowledge deve-lopment, application and exploitation.These instruments were often anchoredin decrees relating to the higher educa-tion system. The step-by-step creationof Flemish policy tools and associatedlegislation means that there is room forimprovement in terms of transparencyand coherence.

Basis for structures and financing

On the one hand, the S&I decree createsa legal basis for reform of the agencieslinked to science and innovation policy the Research Foundation - Flanders(FWO) and the Institute for the Pro-motion of Innovation by Science andTechnology in Flanders (IWT) as well asfor the Flemish Science and InnovationCouncil (VRWI), the strategic advisorycouncil that takes over from the FlemishScience Policy Council (VRWB).

On the other hand, the decree offersa basis for financing of thestrategicresearch centres (IMEC51, VITO52, VIB53,IBBT54), the Royal Flemish Academy ofBelgium for Science and the Arts55, thenon-profit associations Flanders Techno-

logy International56

and Flanders, Districtof Creativity57, the Industrial ResearchFund (IOF), the expertise units for thepopularisation of science, technology andtechnological innovation, as well as addi-tional scientific research funding forpost-

initial education institutions (the VlerickLeuven Gent Management School58 and

the ITM59

).

On 21 November 2008, the preliminarydraft decree was approved in principle bythe Flemish Government. This preliminarydraft has now been submitted for adviceto the Belgian Council of State. Once thefinal draft has been approved, it will forma transparent and coherent frameworkfor all existing and new legislation on theorganisation and financing of science andinnovation policy.

Karen Haegemans and Veerle Lories,Research Division

50 http://www.vlaanderen.be/bbb.

51 EWI-Review 1 (1): 20 23.

52 EWI-Review 2 (2): 23 25.

53 EWI-Review 1 (1): 25 27.

54 http://www.ibbt.be.55 http://www.kvab.be.

56 http://www.technopolis.be/nl.

57 EWI-Review 3 (1): 48.

58 http://www.vlerick.be.


The comprehensive decree on the organisation

and funding of science and innovation policy was

prompted by two key factors: the Better

Administrative Policy project and organically

grown Flemish innovation policy.

The Science &Innovation Decree

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The Netherlands and Flanders:

working together to achieve

top region status

www.grensmarkeringen.be

20

It is 7 April 2004. The Flemish and Dutch ministers responsible for innovation sign a declaration of

intent to further reinforce and structurally entrench strategic Flemish/Dutch innovation cooperation.

The two regions share the political vision and ambition to expand together into one of the most

competitive and innovative regions in the world.


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on the innovative strength of a number ofplayers normally a combination of thegovernment and private sector and theneed to pool knowledge and expertise

across organisational boundaries witha view to scaling-up, etc. Here too, thegovernment acts as a facilitator, finan-cing the start-up phase through the IWTsupport programme Flemish CooperativeInnovation Networks (VIS)65.

Partly managed and coordinated by theSteering Committee, structural consul-tation has already started on practicalcooperation in the fields of automotivetechnology and food. This takes the formof interaction between the Dutch innova-tion programmes High Tech AutomotiveSystems66 and Food & Nutrition Delta67

and the Flemish centres of excellenceFlanders DRIVE68 and Flanders FOOD69respectively. In the food sector, thishas already resulted in the signing of acooperation agreement between Flanders,the Netherlands and Germany aimed atcreating a leading innovative food region.The other Dutch innovation programmesare also seeking closer ties with Flemishcounterparts in their respective fields. Forexample, the Life Sciences & Health70innovation programme has contacted theFlanders Institute for Biotechnology71 andFlandersBio72, while the Flemish plat-form for ICT players PICToR73 has beenapproached by Point One74, the Dutch

innovation programme for nanoelectronicsand embedded systems.

In conclusion, then, implementation of theFlemish/Dutch action plan to strengthencooperation in the fields of economics,

science and innovation is well under way.Growing together into a innovative,world-class knowledge region is far froman empty slogan: it is becoming a reality

on the ground, and EWI it hardly needbe said is fully involved in the process,not least through its representation on theSteering Committee.

Erwin Dewallef,Strategy and Co-ordination Division

Generic activities

The more generic, enabling activities are in the following areas:Stimulating and promoting joint Flemish/Dutch participation in European (and other inter-

national) forums and programmes. Key examples are the European Framework Programme

for Research, INTERREG and ESFRI. INTERREG, which seeks to promote cooperationbetween regions, includes the specific programme Interreg IV Grensregio Vlaanderen/Ne-derland (20072013), central to which is the sustainability triangle of people/environment/

economy75

. Within ESFRI, which focuses on the European expansion of large-scale researchinfrastructure, both Flanders and the Netherlands are involved in the preparatory phase fortwo research infrastructure projects, namely CLARIN76 (a scheme to develop, coordinate,create and make available a range of language-related products and technologies) andLIFEWATCH (in which hundreds of databases inside and outside Europe are linked together

in a bid to monitor the development of ecosystems and associated biodiversity). TheSteering Committee, amongst others, is looking at how Flanders and the Netherlands canparticipate together in both infrastructure projects.

Making knowledge and innovation vouchers interchangeable, focusing, on the one hand,on patent applications, but also on bringing enterprises (particularly SMEs) into contactwith knowledge institutions with a view to improving their products, production process orservices.

Promoting cooperation between the Flemish Technology Attachs (TAs) and the DutchScience and Technology Officers (TWAs). Based at Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT)77, theFlemish TAs are responsible for fostering the international business activities of high-tech

companies and ensuring that knowledge developed in Flanders reaches a global audience,for instance by actively supporting Flemish companies in the international development ofnew products. The services offered by the Dutch TWAs are geared towards enterprises andknowledge institutes in the Netherlands, with an emphasis on networking and information

provision on trends and developments in foreign scientific and technological research. Theaim is to ensure optimum coordination between the functioning and service provision ofTAs and TWAs and enable them to be used by both Flemish and Dutch companies andknowledge institutions.

Initiating and implementing joint initiatives with regard to (stimulating) entrepreneurshipand science communication and popularisation.

Stimulating cross-border interregional cooperation, focusing on the further expansion of

the Eindhoven/Leuven/Aachen knowledge triangle (ELAt)78. The goal is to develop theregion by 2010 into an internationally recognised top technology region in such fields asmicro- and nanoelectronics, (digital) signal processing, embedded systems, mechatronicsand medical technology.

Thematic activities

An interesting thematic challenge for the Steering Committee is to create synergy betweenthe Dutch key areas and the Flemish strategic clusters.The key areas defined by the Dutch Innovation Platform79 are sectors, technologies andnetworks in which the Netherlands excels in terms of knowledge and activity, and which offer

innovative opportunities to boost the countrys international competitive position. They are:(1) flowers & food, (2) high-tech systems and materials, (3) water, (4) chemicals, (5) creativeindustry and (6) pensions & social security. In addition, ICT and energy are seen as crucialfields in all economic sectors.

In Flanders, the Flemish Science Policy Council (VRWB) study entitled Technology and In-novation in Flanders: Priorities identifies six strategic clusters80, which are considered keyto enhancing Flanders innovative strength. They are: (1) transport, logistics, services and

supply chain management, (2) ICT and services in healthcare, (3) healthcare, food, preventionand treatment, (4) new materials, nanotechnology and manufacturing industry, (5) ICT forsocio-economic innovation, and (6) energy and environment for services and manufacturingindustry.


61 http://www.stevin-tst.org, and p. 30 of thisedition.

62 http://www.holstcentre.com, and p. 26 ofthis edition.

63 http://www.senternovem.nl/innovatieindialoog/index.asp.

64 http://www.iwt.be/steun/steunpro/vis/index.html.

65 http://www.innovatienetwerk.be.

66 http://www.htas.nl.

67 http://www.foodnutritiondelta.nl.

68 http://www.flandersdrive.be.

69 http://www.flandersfood.com/ned.

70 http://www.lifesciencesgezondheid.nl.

71 http://www.vib.be.

72 http://www.flandersbio.be/home.asp.

73 http://www.rohsservice.be/newsItem.aspx?id=2252.

74 http://www.senternovem.nl/Pointone.


76 http://www.clarin.eu.

77 See also p. 12 of this edition.78 See also p. 23 of this edition.

79 http://www.innovatieplatform.nl.

80 VRWB Study 18b: Technologie en Innovatiein Vlaanderen: Prioriteiten (proces vanprioriteitsstelling en resultaten):[Technologyand Innovation in Flanders: Priorities (priori-tisation process and results)]www.vrwb.be/Mfiles/VRWB18B-def.pdf.

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> Theme

81 http://www.elat.org.

82 http://w3.tue.nl/nl.

83 EWI-Review 1 (1): 20 23.

84 http://www.agit.de.

85 http://www.rwth-aachen.de.

86 http://www.chemelot.com/?id=60&template=algemeen2.htm&taal=nl.

87 http://www.hightechcampus.nl.

88 http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philips_Natuurkundig_Laboratorium.

89 http://www.dspvalley.com.

90 http://www.leuveninc.com.

91 Cooperation between governments, knowledge institutions andcompanies in the field of innovation.

ELAt is home to a dense network of topknowledge institutions at universities,university colleges and research centres.K.U.Leuven has established itself as one ofEuropes leading research universities andalso plays an important role as a knowledgecentre; the Eindhoven University of Techno-logy (TU/e)82 can boast a long tradition ofcollaboration with the renowned Philips La-boratories; while RWTH Aachen University,for its part, has built up a global reputation.These centres of academic excellence aresupplemented by the Leuven IMEC83 the

internationally renowned InteruniversityMicroelectronics Centre which is Europeslargest independent research centre formicroelectronics and nanotechnology. ELAtalso has 20 other universities and universitycolleges, including those of Hasselt, Maas-tricht, Tilburg, Roermond and Jlich.

A hive of intelligence, enterprise andscience

In addition, ELAt has a tried-and-testedenterprise culture. Leuven is home to morethan 90 spin-offs from K.U.Leuven andIMEC. In Germany, AGIT84 has assisted over300 spin-offs, while in Eindhoven TU/e andPhilips have spawned some high-qualitystart-ups, ASML85 being a unique example:this company has an absolute monopolyon the development and manufacture oflithography machines, which represent thelifeblood of the semiconductor industry.

ELAt also contains a wide range of incu-bators, science parks and industrial parks.Leuven has the Haasrode Science Park,whose 130 hectares are home to 150 tech-nology companies providing 5,000 high-quality jobs. The Arenberg Research Parkon the river Dijle is starting to take shape.Geleen-Sittard (in the Netherlands) can

boast the magnificent Chemelot Campus86,a Research Park for DSM once the DutchState Mines, now an avant-garde chemicalcompany. Chemelot is being hailed as theThe global home of chematerial excellen-ce. Eindhoven has built a brand new High

Tech Campus87, on the site where the cele-brated Philips88 NatLab made many a majorbreakthrough. There are also research parksin Aachen, Jlich, Hasselt, Mol and Venlo.All in all, this knowledge triangle has oneof the highest concentrations of researchparks in Europe.

An important link in the chain are ELAtsTechnology Transfer Cells. K.U.Leuvenhas been setting the pace for years withK.U.Leuven R&D. In 2008, Professor KoenDebackere received the prestigious IPTEC

Tech Transfer Award for the professionalismand efficiency of the K.U.Leuven transfercell. Aachen too is doing sterling work withits AGIT transfer cell.

ELAt is awash with capital, from seedmoney to risk capital. The money is ma-naged by talented individuals with a viewto supporting young companies in theirgrowth phase. This knowledge is probablymore important than the financial know-how. More and more ELAt companies arelooking to the stock market for theirgrowthfinancing. Over a period of many years,and particularly since the golden sixties,hundreds of foreign companies have set upshop in the area between Leuven-Eindho-ven and Aachen, and the trend continuesapace.

Top class

ELAt, then, has many assets enabling it toplay a major role in the global internationalnetwork of knowledge economies. Theregion scores highly in world rankings fordesign, manufacturing, research & develop-ment, marketing and distribution. It is veryrare to find all of these strengths in one re-gion. A number of projects are developingon the back of this: IMEC has opened a

new research centre the Holst Centre onthe High Tech Campus at Eindhoven, andthe Leuven Digital Signal Processing (DSP)Valley89 is expanding northwards, with acluster of DSP companies moving into thecorridor between Leuven and Eindhoven.

Could this herald its emergence as one ofEuropes leading DSP regions?

The innovation and entrepreneurshipmaster class run by Leuven.Inc90 hasbeen successfully expanded into the newknowledge triangle, with entrepreneursand future entrepreneurs from the triangleattending for the first time. All in all, ELAtis a region full of promise, in which a triplehelix91 a healthy new dynamic betweengovernment, business and academia hasbeen established; a region that combines

excellent job prospects with a strong focuson quality of life.

Martin Hinoul,K.U.Leuven Research & Development

ELAt as a top knowledge economyELAt81 the Eindhoven-Leuven-Aachen region forms a trian-

gle with a surface area of 14,000 km. 2.8 million of its 6 million

inhabitants are economically active and it has a gross national

product of 165 billion, making it eminently comparable with

Flanders in terms of both population and GDP. ELAt has sufficient

critical mass to create value and play a leading role in 21st century

Europe. The triangle could even become one of the more advan-

ced knowledge economies, thanks to a wide range of assets...

Triple helix

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> Theme

The Grensregio Vlaanderen-Nederlandprogramme is implemented by the Fle-mish government, the Dutch govern-ment (Ministry of Economic Affairs), theFlemish provinces of Antwerp, Limburg,East Flanders, West Flanders and FlemishBrabant, and the Dutch provinces of Lim-burg, North Brabant and Zeeland. TheFlemish Community is responsible via theAgency for Economy for implementa-tion of the programme on behalf of theMember State. The Province of Antwerphas been appointed managing authorityand the Province of East Flanders as

certifying authority. A Joint TechnicalSecretariat assists the managing authorityin the day-to-day running of the pro-gramme. A new feature in 2007-2013is the incorporation of the EuroregionsBenelux Middengebied (BMG) and Schel-demond (ESM) into a single border-wideprogramme.

People, Environment, Economy

The sustainability triangle People-Envi-ronment-Economy is an intrinsic part ofthe Interreg IV programme 2007-2013

for the Border Region. The three pointsof the triangle are the priorities of theOperational Programme that sets outthe implementation framework for thecoming years. The aim is to contribute tothe sustainable socio-economic deve-lopment of the whole border region viaimplementation-oriented cross-borderinitiatives.

The Economy priority is geared towardsinnovation and expansion of the know-ledge economy, cross-border enterpriseand strengthening of economic struc-

Towards sustainable

socio-economicdevelopment of the

Flemish-Dutch border regionThe Interreg IV programme Grensregio Vlaanderen-Nederland (Border Region Flanders-

Netherlands) is financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund

(ERDF)92. It is one of the nine European Territorial Cooperation or Interreg IV programmes in

which Flanders is involved. The EU has a budget of over 94 million for this cross-border

cooperation programme. The programme zone covers an area of 23,746 km2 and was home to

10 million people in 2005.

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tures. The focus of the Environment

priority is the sustainable use of naturalresources, landscape and nature. ThePeople priority concentrates on advan-cing culture and social care. The triangleconcept is about achieving a synergybetween these three factors.

Key to the project selection process arethe main objectives of the OperationalProgramme, namely Economy, Peopleand Environment. Most of the projectsin this framework contribute to theeconomic development of the region,with a particular emphasis on innovation.This will remain the case over the comingyears.

In addition, the programme will continueto support smaller projects whose maingoal is to show citizens what Europe isall about in their region not just thebig institution that churns out frequentlymisunderstood legislation in the distantcorridors of Brussels, but also the Europethat truly invests in a regions furtherdevelopment.

57 million already approved

The programmes Steering Committeehas already approved a total of 12 pro-

jects. Together they represent an invest-ment of more than 57 million, includingover 23 million of ERDF support.

The cooperation areas in the first batchof five approved projects range fromstimulating cross-border transportation ofgoods by rail on the Lanaken-Maastrichtline as an alternative to road transport;Corporate Social Responsibility93 on bothsides of the border; business tourism inrural areas; the cross-border promotionof technical jobs like maintenance techni-cian; to a sustainable approach to beachand coastal management.

The second batch of seven approvedprojects deal with other issues: strengthe-ning the greenhouse horticulture sectorin the border region; sustainable landuse and soil quality; a better coordinatedand more viable local biodiversity policy;bridging the divide between home andresidential care for the elderly; revitalisingold industrials docks; and interactivewater management in the light of the EUWater Framework Directive.

Further ambitions

It is interesting to note that the pro-

gramme already enjoys a high level ofpopularity, with proposal submissions faroutstripping the grant resources availableunder the Border Region programme. Inview of this, the Steering Committee is

Submitting a project proposal

The programme is aimed at national, regional and local authorities as well as semi-public and private organisations (both profit and non-profit) wishing to contributeto the regions economic development through practical, action-oriented coopera-tion projects. The reshaping of the programme area means that such projects cannow also be border-wide, i.e. implemented with partners from anywhere in theFlemish-Dutch border region.

Project ideas can be submitted at any time. Twice a year, the Steering Commit-tee meets to discuss the proposals that are ready for a decision. The SteeringCommittee is composed of deputies from the eight provinces concerned as wellas representatives from the Member States, municipalities, the social partners andenvironmental organisations.

Those submitting projects can count on the support of a Joint Technical Secreta-riat (JTS) in Antwerp as well as a network of Interreg contact persons run by thepartner governments and/or the JTS.

If you would like to learn more about the Grensregio Vlaanderen-Nederlandprogramme, are interested in submitting a project or wish to keep abreast of ap-proved projects, please contact:

Agency for EconomyMarc De Frenne, +32 (0)2 553 38 57 ([email protected])or Eric Van Gendt +32 (0)2 553 37 22 ([email protected])or Stefaan Pennewaert +32 (0)2 553 37 25 ([email protected])Website: http://www.efro.be

Grensregio Vlaanderen-Nederland Programme Secretariat

Interreg Vlaanderen-NederlandBelpairestraat 20 B10 (Albert Building), B-2600 Antwerp (Berchem)T +32 (0)3 240 69 20; F +32 (0)3 240 69 29E [email protected]://www.grensregio.eu

92 EWI-Review 1 (2): 26 28.

93 EWI Review 2 (2): 16 19.

considering tightening up grant policy

and more closely defining the core topicseligible for Border Region grants.

David Grzegorzewski,Agency for Economy

This article was written with the as-

sistance of the Grensregio Vlaanderen-Nederland Programme Secretariat.

ECONOMY

PEOPLE

ENVIRONMENT

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> Theme

To get ahead in todays knowledge economy, cooperation across national borders is essential. The

increasing complexity and interdisciplinarity of scientific research mean that our own limitations

are becoming all too quickly apparent. Flanders has a world renowned microelectronics research

institution in the form of the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC)94. However, this field

is facing new challenges. In response to these, IMEC, in partnership with Dutch research centre

TNO95, set up the Holst Centre96 back in 2005.

The new R&D centre was named afterGilles Holst, the first director of the PhilipsNatlab research centre97. With a name likethat, there was only one place that thecentre could be built on the High TechCampus98 in Eindhoven.

Cooperation a necessity

Microelectronics has progressed at a tre-mendous rate over recent decades, drivenby the phenomenon known as MooresLaw. Gordon Moore, co-founder ofchip designer and manufacturer Intel99,observed in the 1960s that the number oftransistors in an integrated circuit doubled

every two years. Such transistors aredeveloped from silicon. However, with thephysical limits of silicon technology fastapproaching, a raft of alternative techno-logies is now emerging, described in the

jargon as more than Moore. The greatvariety of new technologies means that itis no longer possible to achieve excel-lence in all of these areas. The alternativestherefore are: choose between them or,preferably, work together in partner-ships.n moet samenwerken met anderepartners.

Opening of the Holst Centre

The Holst Centre was set up with theaim of boosting the knowledge economyand attracting industrial activities to theNetherlands and Flanders by bridging thedivide between industry and knowledge

institutions. Based on these commongoals, IMEC and TNO put together abusiness plan setting out concrete ob-jectives and ambitions. The plan shouldallow the Holst Centre to expand into a

leading research centre in specific fields ofmicroelectronics. The Dutch governmentis co-funding the initiative, which also tiesin with the declaration of intent betweenFlanders and the Netherlands100 aimed atdeveloping a strong knowledge regioncentred on the geographical axis betweenEindhoven and Leuven.

IMEC is a leading microelectronics re-search centre with a staff of over 1,500.TNO was founded in 1932 and is one ofthe largest research centres in the Net-herlands, with 4,500 staff and an annualturnover of 600 million. In other words,the Holst Centre represents a joining of

forces between the regions two biggest,and most important, R&D institutions.The first strategic partner to come onboard was Philips Research.

HOLST Centre:smarter and

stronger together

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Research at the Holst Centre

The Holst Centres activities are focusedaround two specific programme lines:

TNO has contributed its activities in thefield of electronic systems on thin foil.Polymer electronics is a highly promisingtechnology for use with foldable, portableand cheap systems. This division teamedup with the Dutch Polymer Institute in

Eindhoven and other partners to build amachine for making plastic electronics.The first applications are about to cometo market in the form of flexible monitorsand solar cells as well as plastic electronicssuch as identification chips, flexible bat-teries and light sources.

Transducer Solutions

IMEC has contributed its research division,which works on autonomous wirelessmicrosystems. Amongst other things, theproject entails producing sensors thatmeasure bodily functions such as bloodpressure, temperature and heart rateand transmit the information wireles-sly to a processor. This means that smallautonomous sensors, linked together in anetwork, can be used to monitor our he-alth, for industrial process control, in cars,to make intelligent clothing and for foodquality control. As well as miniaturisation,the research also focuses on ultra-lowpower data transmission. This programmeline is referred to as WATS (Wireless Auto-nomous Transducer Solutions).

From the outset, the Holst Centrereceived backing from a number of high-

profile companies. The founding fatherswere TNO, IMEC and Philips, and thesehave since been joined by other lead

EWI-Review 6 / January 2009

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Transcript of EWI-Review 6 / January 2009