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| Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen | |
|---|---|
| Name | Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen |
| Native name | Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen |
| Formation | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Brussels |
| Region served | Flanders |
| Parent organization | Flemish Government |
Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen is a Flemish public agency dedicated to promoting innovation and supporting enterprise development across Flanders. It operates within the framework of the Flemish Government and coordinates with entities such as VLAIO-affiliates, provincial authorities like Antwerp and East Flanders, and municipal partners in Brussels. The agency interfaces with European institutions including the European Commission, European Investment Bank, and networks such as EUREKA and European Institute of Innovation and Technology.
The agency was established in the reform period following policy shifts influenced by debates in the Belgian Federal Parliament, decisions from the Flemish Parliament, and administrative reorganizations reminiscent of earlier changes involving Flanders Investment & Trade and Flemish Public Service. Its origins trace to consolidation efforts seen in other regional agencies like Invest in Flanders and reorganizations after reports by consultants with links to McKinsey & Company and studies influenced by OECD recommendations. The agency evolved amid interactions with trade bodies such as Federation of Enterprises in Belgium and sector groups like Agoria, and adapted programmes reflecting directives from the European Union and precedents set by agencies like Fromageries Bel-related cooperatives and clusters similar to Biotech Flanders.
The agency’s mission aligns with strategic priorities set by the Flemish Government and policy documents used by institutions like European Commission directorates and advisory bodies such as Sciensano. Core objectives reference targets comparable to goals in plans from Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, and frameworks promoted by UNIDO and World Bank regional strategies. Objectives include stimulating links among universities such as KU Leuven, Ghent University, and Université libre de Bruxelles, fostering collaborations with knowledge centers like IMEC, and increasing competitiveness in clusters exemplified by Port of Antwerp and Biotech Flanders.
The agency is organized with executive oversight mirroring structures used by agencies such as Vlaamse Landmaatschappij and Flanders Investment & Trade, including a director-general post, policy units akin to those in Flemish Public Service, and operational departments responsible for areas comparable to research and development offices at KU Leuven and Ghent University. Governance involves stakeholders from provincial governments like Limburg and West Flanders, and advisory boards reflecting models used by European Investment Bank committees and cluster governance in Agoria and Essenscia. The structure accommodates liaison roles with innovation hubs such as Startups.be and incubators modeled on Imec.istart.
Programs include support schemes comparable to Horizon 2020 projects, capacity-building initiatives inspired by Erasmus+ training schemes, and regional cluster support similar to programmes in Port of Antwerp clusters and Blue Cluster networks. Services span consultancy resembling offerings by VLAIO predecessors, matchmaking like events run by Flanders.bio, and acceleration comparable to programmes at Start it @KBC and Imec. Sectoral initiatives target fields highlighted by Agoria and Essenscia, including advanced manufacturing as seen in Flanders Make, life sciences aligned with Biotech Flanders and VIB, and digital innovation connecting with Sirris and imec. The agency also oversees certifying and advisory services in areas paralleling standards from European Committee for Standardization frameworks.
The agency administers funding streams analogous to those distributed by European Investment Bank instruments and regional grant schemes similar to measures from Flanders Investment & Trade. Grant lines mirror the structure of competitive calls in Horizon Europe and technical support similar to instruments used by Innoviris and Wallonia Export-Investment Agency. Funding priorities reflect regional industrial strategies comparable to those of Port of Antwerp, cluster financing models like Flanders Make, and support for SMEs akin to programmes promoted by Federation of Enterprises in Belgium and UNIDO capacity initiatives. Financial oversight follows accountability practices used by Court of Audit (Belgium) and reporting standards aligned with European Commission grant conditions.
Collaborations include partnerships with research institutions such as KU Leuven, Ghent University, Universiteit Antwerpen, and Vrije Universiteit Brussel; industry partners like Solvay, Umicore, and Bekaert; cluster organisations including Flanders.bio, Agoria, and Flanders Make; and regional development agencies like Wallonia Export-Investment Agency and Brussels Invest & Export. The agency engages in transnational projects with networks such as Interreg, EUREKA, European Institute of Innovation and Technology, and European bodies including the European Commission and European Investment Bank. It also collaborates with venture ecosystems exemplified by Startups.be, investors from PMV and corporate partners like KBC Group.
Impact assessments use methodologies comparable to evaluations by the OECD and metrics aligned with Horizon 2020 indicators and European Commission monitoring frameworks. Evaluations consider outcomes in sectors exemplified by Flanders Make, Biotech Flanders, and Port of Antwerp logistics, and track performance against targets used by institutions like IMEC, VIB, and Sirris. Independent reviews draw on expertise from auditors and analysts connected to Court of Audit (Belgium), consultants in the style of McKinsey & Company, and academic studies by researchers at KU Leuven and Ghent University. Results feed back into policy cycles in the Flemish Parliament and inform coordination with European Commission programmes.
Category:Government agencies of Flanders