Hub Brussels

Hub Brussels Hub Brussels is the regional agency for entrepreneurship and innovation based in the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. It acts as an operational interface between policymakers, enterprises, research centres, and investors to stimulate innovation-related activity across Brussels, linking local initiatives to national and European frameworks such as European Union programmes and Belgian Federal Government initiatives. The agency operates within a networked ecosystem that includes public institutions, private firms, research organisations, and civil society groups.

History

The agency traces its roots to policy debates in the early 2010s about competitiveness in the Brussels-Capital Region and the desire to create an integrated support structure similar to models seen in Flanders and Wallonia. Its formal launch in 2014 built on preparatory studies involving stakeholders such as the Brussels Institute for Statistics and Analysis, the Brussels Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and various university-affiliated entities including Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Université libre de Bruxelles. Early strategic orientation referenced comparative examples like Innoviris and successor models to regional innovation agencies in Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Île-de-France. Key policy actors participating during the foundation included representatives from the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, municipal administrations of Anderlecht, Saint-Gilles, and Schaerbeek, and European funding bodies connected to Horizon 2020.

Governance and Organisation

The governance structure reflects the agency’s role as an interface between elected authorities and operational partners. The board and executive reports evolved through coordination with the Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region and committees including members from the Brussels Parliament and municipal councils. Operational leadership interacts with strategic partners such as Brussels Airport Company, the Port of Brussels, and sectoral clusters like Digital Attraxion and creative hubs linked to Creative Europe. Internal units coordinate relations with research actors such as Université catholique de Louvain, applied technology centres like Sirris, and finance intermediaries such as the European Investment Bank and regionally active funds. Legal standing and funding mechanisms were negotiated with the Belgian State and regional authorities; oversight involves audit and reporting aligned with rules applied to public corporations in Belgium.

Functions and Services

The agency provides a suite of services aimed at fostering start-ups, scale-ups, and innovation projects. Services include business coaching and incubation support modelled alongside incubators such as Start it @KBC and accelerators with links to EIT Digital and sectoral programmes like Climate-KIC. It offers matchmaking between entrepreneurs and financiers, leveraging contacts with venture funds and entities like Belfius and ING Belgium as well as European investors connected through European Investment Fund. The organisation facilitates access to laboratory infrastructure by brokering relationships with facilities at Université libre de Bruxelles and technology transfer offices at KU Leuven spin-off networks. It administers calls for projects and supports applicants to multi-level programmes including Horizon Europe, Interreg, and regional innovation grants, while coordinating training linked to professional development providers and job platforms in cooperation with Actiris.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Collaboration is central: partnerships span municipal administrations such as City of Brussels and neighbouring communes, research organisations including Institut Pasteur de Bruxelles and European Organisation for Nuclear Research, cultural partners like Bozar, and industry consortia across sectors from biotech to digital services. Strategic alliances extend to national entities such as SPF Economie and international networks like Eurocities and OECD initiatives on urban innovation. The agency works with accelerators and coworking operators such as Silversquare and research-driven incubators linked to VUB-Energy Institute, creating consortia for European funding bids with partners from France, Netherlands, Germany, and Spain. Collaboration also involves workforce development with agencies like Bruxelles Formation and social inclusion stakeholders including ATD Quart Monde.

Impact and Projects

The agency’s portfolio includes projects focused on digital transformation, circular economy, and urban sustainability that leverage funding streams from European Regional Development Fund and private co-investors. Notable programmes supported or brokered involve smart city pilots partnering with municipal utilities and entities such as Sibelga, mobility experiments with operators like STIB/MIVB, and circular economy initiatives linked to recycling partners and Zero Waste Europe frameworks. Impact is measured through metrics used by regional observatories and independent evaluators including increases in start-up survival rates, inward investment attracted with assistance from Invest in Brussels, and job creation in technology clusters associated with biotech and ICT firms. Cross-border projects under Interreg and collaborative research actions aligned with Horizon Europe have positioned Brussels in networks addressing urban challenges, contributing to policy learning captured by international reviews from bodies such as the European Commission and World Bank.

Category:Organisations based in Brussels