Missions
Stimulating cross-fertilization
International flagship at the heart of Europe
Closing the gap between education and business
The EU Biotech Campus is a new on-campus multi-operators training centre and business accelerator dedicated to the development of talents, skills and businesses in the biotech & health industry. It offers state-of-the-art infrastructure and services that are made available for regional, Belgian, European and international students and jobseekers, academics, spin-offs, start-ups, scale-ups and multinationals.
This inclusive project aims to welcome local and European training providers and business accelerators in a one stop shop flagship place. They all together are going to develop adequate training programs for job seekers, workforce and students as well as accelerating the business of starters and spin-offs (SME). Through this model, cross -fertilization will be generated between development of competences and acquisition of a business mindset.
As a European and international flagship the EU Biotech Campus will allow to attract new investments and further grow the health and biotech valley in Wallonia/Belgium. A new eco-friendly hub enhancing to close the gap between education and business and accelerating business as motor to foster the economic recovery post-COVID-19. It’s all about building new skills, roles and businesses to be fit for the future. The area of the Biopark in Gosselies has been elected to create the Campus as it is a central and accessible location at the heart of an existing biotech ecosystem, close to the Brussels South Charleroi airport, allowing for international connections.
Today the major obstacle for the development of the biotech sector in the region is the lack of trained people. For the next 3 years, 2,400 direct jobs are to be created in the Walloon Region. Over the next 10 years, we foresee a job growth of 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Hence the need for a new EU Biotech Campus, complementary to the already existing training initiatives. The EU Biotech Campus aims to train people to technologies embedded in the biomanufacturing of the future, including automation, digitalization, miniaturisation, next bioprocesses generation, ready to produce advanced therapeutical medicine (including cell and gene therapies), vaccines and diagnostics. This project aims supporting the biotech/biopharma industry to stay competitive for the next 20 years.
Four main pillars
1.
STEM
Immersion
Sensibilize students and job seekers on the opportunities of the health and biotech sector, as well as business leaders on new emerging therapies. An immersive experience showing the value of biotechnologies on society using the latest digital techniques: movies, VR experience, digital twin academy, interactive museology, interactive workshops,…
2.
Bio-manufacturing
and supply chain
Provide trainings to cover the currently unanswered market needs. Top-notch education and training around the next generation of biomanufacturing excellence (connected manufacturing lines, cobotics, robotics, automated processes, remote digital monitoring, vocal commands and reporting, ….
3.
Data
and Digital
Provide trainings to enhance the digital transformation by focusing on new skills and jobs e.g. IT & OT Skills, Process Skills, Analytics skills, AI, Machine Learning,… The EU Biotech Campus will provide training on data management and how it can improve and optimize innovation and manufacturing processes.
4.
Soft skills
and mini MBA
Professionalize starters in their business mindset for their starting companies to be further anchored in Wallonia & uplift skills business leaders. It concerns middle management training and MBA specific for the life sciences (targeted training for scientific innovative researchers to get acquaintance with business and management basics)