BioWin, the Walloon healthcare competitiveness cluster, and MEDVIA, its equivalent in Flanders, have signed a strategic collaboration agreement between innovation clusters. This is the first time that an agreement of this kind has been signed between a Walloon and a Flemish cluster. The two clusters aim to leverage their respective strengths to drive joint growth and development. The aim of this inter-regional collaboration? To consolidate the sector in order to maintain Belgium's position in the European healthcare sector and attract more foreign investors.

BioWin and MEDVIA's members include a large number of players in the healthcare ecosystem - academic and clinical research laboratories, accredited research centres, major industrial groups, SMEs, service providers, higher education establishments and universities, incubators, investors, regional authorities and associated administrations.

BioWin represents 260 members with a total of 18,500 employees, including 140 innovative industrial companies, five academic institutions and six research centres.

MEDVIA represents 150 members, including six academic institutions, seven hospitals and 80 companies involved in research and development.

This agreement will enable BioWin and MEDVIA to present a united front in the face of the sector's challenges and to harmonise funding flows in order to launch collaborative projects between Walloon and Flemish companies, facilitating relations between the main players in the two regions, including governments, companies, research institutes and hospitals.

The two health clusters aim to strengthen the already dynamic healthtech ecosystem in Belgium by building on their respective strengths to raise the quality of science in both regions, create jobs, increase the value of companies and attract foreign investors, while developing medicines and medical devices that will have a real and positive impact on patients' lives.

The agreement covers several key areas of expertise:

- Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs)/biomanufacturing: Setting up activities focused on this fast-growing sector, including the creation of a Belgian ATMP centre and talent training initiatives.

- Medtech/healthtech: Collaboration on national and international initiatives, joint participation in European projects and facilitating access to financial resources for innovative companies.

- Research and innovation: Joint calls for projects and optimisation of initiatives using regional and national funding tools to promote research and innovation.

‘We are looking forward to working with BioWin, as collaboration is in the DNA of both our organisations. We want to build on regional strengths and differences to strengthen each other for the benefit of the whole ecosystem. Together, we aim to generate maximum economic and societal value, while consolidating Belgium's international reputation as a leading player in healthcare innovation", says Ann Van Gysel, CEO of MEDVIA.

‘This partnership with MEDVIA is an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate the power of regional collaboration to promote innovation in the biotechnology and healthcare technology sector. Together, we can face the challenges of our ecosystem with greater determination. We can leverage our strengths to strengthen Belgium's position as a major life sciences cluster in Europe and have a greater impact internationally to bring the best innovative treatments to as many patients as possible,’ adds Sylvie Ponchaut, BioWin's Managing Director.

The two clusters began collaborating in 2023, co-organising several major conferences including Science for Health, supported by the HST Group (Health, Science and Technology Group, which brings together Pfizer, UCB, GSK and Janssen), and the first HealthTech Investor Summit held in Bruges, where 75 entrepreneurs were able to meet over 60 investors.

More info : Alexandra Schiettekatte alexandra.schiettekatte@biowin.org