‘Build a home for your biomanufacturing in Wallonia’. This slogan greets visitors to the website www.kickstartbiomanufacturing.be and the message is clear: Wallonia is a prime location for biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Launched just before the Belgian Economic Mission left for the United States under the presidency of HRH Princess Astrid, this new website is an initiative of the Wallonia Export & Investment Agency and essenscia wallonie, the regional federation for the chemical and life sciences industry, to attract new biopharma and biotech investment to our region.
Construction of a gene therapy centre and a biological production plant in Braine l’Alleud, a new freeze-drying unit in Wavre, inauguration of a biotechnology production unit in Lessines, a development and manufacturing facility for viral vectors in Jumet, ARN messenger biomanufacturing capacity in Liège… The list of recent investments in bioproduction in Wallonia is long.
The new website, developed by Wallonia Export & Investment Agency and essenscia wallonie, puts these success stories in the spotlight and highlights the distinctive assets of the southern region of the country for life sciences. What could be better than a long-standing reputation as a biopharma and biotech hub, with highly qualified staff, a strategic location in the heart of Europe, a unique ecosystem and exceptional support for the sector, to set up a bioproduction plant in our region?
“I am delighted with the launch of this website in partnership with Wallonia Export & Investment Agency so we can inform and remind investors all around the world”
Frédéric Druck, director of essenscia wallonie
Frédéric Druck, director of essenscia wallonie : “In Wallonia, the biopharma and biotech sectors are now part of our DNA. I am delighted with the launch of this website in partnership with Wallonia Export & Investment Agency so we can inform and remind investors all around the world. We will be in the United States for the Royal Economic Mission and of course, we will promote the assets of Walloon life sciences and refer our contacts to one place to find out more : www.kickstartbiomanufacturing.be”.
“We have the talent, we have the ecosystem, we are a biology cluster. With essenscia wallonie, we will work together to continue to expand our presence on the global map”
Pascale Delcomminette, Director General at Wallonia Export & Investment Agency
Pascale Delcomminette, Director General at Wallonia Export & Investment Agency : “The Covid-19 crisis has revealed the extent to which health biotechnologies, and particularly bio-production, are strategic and essential for our societies! Our country, Belgium, is also one of the top three European exporters of biopharmaceutical products. In Wallonia, biotechs occupy a prime position. Chemicals and pharmaceuticals are by far our leading export sector with 35% of the Walloon total. These excellent results are due not only to the favourable fiscal environment for R&D but also to the presence of world leaders – such as GSK, IBA, Zoetis, etc. – which act as locomotives for SMEs and start-up. An industry that represents a complete and unique value chain, thanks to a strong integration between academia and industry but also a continuous support from regulatory authorities and government. We have the talent, we have the ecosystem, we are a biology cluster. With essenscia wallonie, we will work together to continue to expand our presence on the global map”.
This website is one of the initiatives of the “Boosting biomanufacturing in Wallonia” plan, launched last year by Wallonia Export & Investment Agency and essenscia wallonie. As well as attracting new investment, this strategy also aims to support the industrial development of Wallonia’s biopharma and biotech companies, assisting them in their growth and further stimulating the sector’s local ecosystem.
Discover the website
