4 Let’s connect ... Mechanical engineering Province of West and mechatronics cluster Our economic Department of international relations and European programmes

Due to its multidisciplinary nature, the has a broad network of over situation in numbers Koning Leopold III-laan 41, 8200 mechanical engineering and mechatronics 250 companies active in the mechanical West-Flanders (M&M) cluster is an essential innovation partner engineering and mechatronics sector, with , Europe in the food, new materials, blue energy and experts including Flanders Make, UGent, Howest, healthcare sectors. Its driving force: a passion KU Leuven, Sirris, and VIVES. [email protected] for finding innovative solutions for complex, T 0032 50 40 32 53 dynamic problems – an area where West www.west-vlaanderen.be/connectwestflanders companies rank among the best in the world.

m2 5 15,000 Start&GO infrastructure (133 offices & studios) New materials cluster

West Flanders has a long history in textiles The new materials open innovation hall gathers businesses and synthetic fibres and plastics have further shared competencies and equipment to further advanced the province’s strong reputation, with research on the use of recycled materials in many West Flanders’ companies leading the plastics processing and textiles. Themes include world in materials innovation. The new materials thermoplastic polymers and composites, process cluster catalyses and supports the development optimisation and new production processes, and of this core industry. textile and plastics recycling. 3,000 FvT (Businesses of the Future) network 3,078 start-ups West 1,500 Registered Flanders entrepreneurs connects Applied Technological Innovation 15,000 economically young people Proud of our talent, innovation, and industry.

AvT (Academy for the Future) reach + 2,500 job-seekers + 1,400 staff + 6,400 students The Province of West Flanders Our growth Our entrepreneurship supports entrepreneurs by establishing The province of West Flanders stimulates cooperation between industry, research institutions and government to strengthen sectors showing exceptional A comprehensive transport network to an environment that encourages international growth opportunities. European consumers innovation and growth. Together West Flanders offers an efficient, reliable, and sustainable logistics system and transport network located within the “Blue Banana”, the EU’s economic spine. This puts with our partners, we stimulate West Flanders’ businesses within 500km of 60% of European purchasing power. entrepreneurship, invest in space for companies to expand sustainably,

T B THE bring cutting-edge research closer to eerugge 1 West-Flanders businesses, and develop local talent. T TN stend NTNATNA AT TN - B Bruges Agro-food Cluster PROVINCE OF EAST-FLANDERS

Food is a big business in West Flanders: The region’s network of companies and RR AREA › BREL › 900 diverse food SMEs account for about knowledge institutions makes West Flanders ANTWERP › 16,000 jobs. Companies of all sizes are active in fertile soil for innovative entrepreneurship. The Sectors for the future Our strengths the province, producing and exporting a huge region is also ideal for fishing and the cultivation eurne range of high-quality products worldwide for of numerous crops, particularly vegetables and › CALAI › DNKRIK both B2B and B2C. potatoes thanks to favourable climatological and geographical conditions. The meat processing subsector is also a significant regional employer. Employment in Employment Sectors Innovation Entrepreneurship West Flanders in Flanders TMNA B

Waregem We bring knowledge and innovation We stimulate entrepreneurship and support pres closer to our SMEs to strengthen start-ups and growing businesses as they New materials: textiles 10,231 16,073 NTNATNA AT Kortrik our industries. realise their dreams. 2 - NTNATNA TANT

NT A AM NTAN TMNA New materials: rubber and - PARI PROVINCE OF HAINAUT

3,876 17,582 › › Space & Talent & Blue energy cluster plastics West Flanders has a sophisticated transport network of roads, railways, canals, ports and infrastructure Technology The position of West Flanders along the North province, in particular to the energy-focused Port international airports delivering seamless access to important markets and productions centres. Sea coast makes it ideal for energy production. of . The blue energy cluster provides rich Agro-food 16,685 56,644 We invest in commercial space, expand and We support SMEs in their search for and The power of the wind, waves and tides attracts infrastructure and support for innovative and improve accessibility, and develop sustainable retention of competent employees. pioneering blue energy companies to the growth-minded businesses. business parks and logistics hubs. Mechatronics 11,873 28,580

Mechanical engineering 10,546 23,927 An ideal business 3 and investment climate Our mission Healthcare economy cluster Blue economy *on request # # SMEs and entrepreneurship are crucial for the Building on this strong foundation, the The world’s aging population is a global issue. efficiency, quality, and affordability in healthcare. economic development of West Flanders, with investment climate of West Flanders is vibrant, West Flanders strengthens entrepreneurship by promoting collaboration between businesses, In West Flanders, the province is collaborating Customer-centric solutions in smart textiles, ICT, Transport and logistics 14,001 105,805 family-owned and operated firms supporting and our people are productive, motivated, organisations, knowledge institutions, regional policy bodies and social partners to achieve a with industry, healthcare institutions, knowledge infrastructure and nutrition developed in West regional growth – not just as sources of multilingual, and skilled. sustainable, innovative and internationally oriented economy. institutions, and the public sector to maximise Flanders are exported around the world. employment, but as drivers of wellbeing.