Flanders signs on to agreement to promote smart growth
The EU’s Milan declaration commits Flanders and other regions to developing world-class technologies and industrial clusters, while Belgium has been ranked highly for its innovation and R&D
Jump-starting Europe
Flanders launched the Vanguard Initiative during a conference last year aimed at jump-starting a European industrial renaissance by developing specialised technologies across Europe’s regions.
The Milan declaration was signed last week by leaders and ministers from 20 regions representing 12 countries. It committed the regions to developing world-class smart technologies and industrial clusters. Flanders wants to play a “cutting-edge role” in the development of expertise in 3D printing technology, said Muyters (pictured).
In related news, Belgium has been ranked as the fourth most innovative country among 35 industrialised nations, according to the 2014 Innovation Indicator published by the Mannheim Center for European Economic Research.
The survey, which looks at levels of R&D and innovation, puts Belgium ahead of the EU’s industrial powerhouses France, Germany and the Netherlands. The ranking represents a huge improvement on 2010, when it managed 10th position.
The report examines five areas of innovation, with Belgium scoring best in science (sixth), the state (seventh), society (eighth), industry (ninth) and education (10th). The top three positions in the ranking were occupied by Switzerland, Singapore and Finland.
Photo courtesy Vanguard Initiative
