The city of Leuven has been named the Pearl of Life Sciences as it has a long tradition in the knowledge industry, a leading role the international high-tech and life science business development, and a strategic location in Belgium and Europe.
One of the driving forces is the KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven or Catholic University of Leuven). The university started in 1425 and is the largest university in Belgium. The main campus is Arenberg in Leuven. There are satellite campuses in Brussels, Kortrijk, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Ostend, Geel, Diepenbeek, Aalst and Sint-Katelijne-Waver. KU Leuven is involved in science parks in Leuven, Genk (Thor Park/Energyville campus) and Tienen (Feed Food Health campus). Over the years, KU Leuven established 142 spin-off companies of which many are in the field of life sciences such as:
ADx NeuroSciences, Aelin Therapeutics, AlgoNomics, Aphea.Bio, ArtiQ, Aspect Analytics, Augustine therapeutics, BioRICS, Cartagenia, Complix, CUSTOM8
Cytura Therapeutics, DName-iT, Dualyx, Easics, FOx Biosystems, Hit Discovery Constance, icometrix, IriDM, Medicim, MONA, Montis Biosciences, MRM Health, MyCellHub, Oxurion, TiGenix, ViroVe.Related to the KU Leuven is the UZ Leuven (Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven or University Hospitals Leuven), which is one of the largest hospitals in Europe and the largest in Belgium with three campuses in Leuven: Gasthuisberg, Pellenberg and Sint-Rafaël. The KU Leuven and UZ Leuven are leading European research centres. KU Leuven was ranked the most innovative University in Europe by Reuters in 2019. Leuven is also home to research institutions such as VIB (Vlaams Instituut of Biotechnologie or Flemish Institute for Biotechnology), Leuven AI Institute, the stem cell institute (SCIL) and TRANSfarm (an interdisciplinary centre for circular bioeconomy and biomedical research opened in September 2022 in Lovenjoel).
Two important research institutions to describe further are VIB and imec (Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre).
VIB
VIB is an important institution known for its pioneering work in the field of biotechnological research. In Leuven there are: VIB-KU Leuven Center
for Brain & Disease Research (CBD), VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology (CFM) and VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology (CCB). Besides Leuven, VIB has campuses in Ghent University, University of Antwerp, Vrije Universiteit
Brussel (Free University of Brussels), and Hasselt University. It has created many spinoffs in the life sciences such as Ablynx, ActoGeniX, Agrosavfe, Aphea.Bio, CropDesign, DevGen, Multiplicom, Pronota, Q-biologicals and SoluCel.
Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre
imec is the largest European independent research centre for micro-electronics and nanotechnology. Micro-electronics and nanotechnology are important to develop innovative tools for life sciences, pharma R&D, clinical diagnostics, therapeutics and surgery, biopharma production and analytical biochemistry industries. The headquarters of imec is in Leuven. The company employs around 4,000 researchers from more than 90 countries, and has different international locations in Taiwan, Japan, United States, China, Netherlands and India.KU Leuven, VIB and imec cooperate in NeuroElectronics Flanders (NERF), where
research is conducted that addresses fundamental questions in neuroscience, combining technologies from biology, physics, engineering & computer science. NERF research focuses on how neuronal circuits are built, how they perform the computations underlying perception, memory, thought and behaviour, and how their dysfunction leads to disease.Leuven has two operating science parks: Arenberg Science Park and Haasrode Research Park. A third park, Leuven Noord Science Park, is under construction. In Leuven there are also two so-called business centres where innovative companies are present. These business centres are: Ubicenter
at Philipssite 5 with 27,000 sqm (291,000 sq ft) of office space and Campus Remy at Vaartdijk 3 with 37,000 sq m (398,000 sq ft) of office space.
Arenberg Science Park
The Arenberg Science Park (ASP) is founded by the KU Leuven in 2004 and is built on the land owned by KU Leuven. The science park is in the immediate vicinity of the Arenberg campus of the university (90 hectares/ 222 acres) which houses several research institutions and some companies), UZ Leuven campus Gasthuisberg and imec. The park is 13 hectares (32 acres) and consists of different cluster-areas. ASP targets (high-)tech, innovative, knowledge-oriented enterprises and international research-intensive companies that are interested in cooperating with knowledge institutions.There is a cluster for Bio-Incubators for spin-offs of the university and space for companies active in research and development. ASP is governed
by a so-called “beheerscommité” (management committee) and a “wetenschapscommité (scientific committee) to screen the companies on the criteria of high-technology and their relationship with KU Leuven. The “beheerscommité” consists of members of the City of Leuven, KU Leuven, Gewestelijke Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij (GOM, Regional Development Company), and Interleuven (the intercommunal organization of the region Leuven).ASP provides office space, lab space, and services in support of the core activities of young high- tech companies. Companies that are present on ASP are: Amplexor, Bio-Incubator, CD3/CISTIM, Center for BioMedical Innovation - CMI, CMPG - VIB - KUeuven, DSP Valley, Easics, Essensium, Ex Arte, FORMAC
Pharmaceuticals, Health House, Huawei Technologies Research & Development, ICsense, ImCyse,Luciad, Noesis Solutions, Option, Oxurion, Qmineral, ReGenesys, reMYND, TASS, Thales Alenia Space Belgium, The Kellogg Company, Ticketmatic, Twipe Mobile Solutions, V.O., VIB-Discovery Sciences and Xplore
Group.At Arenberg Science Park there are several Bio-Incubator buildings. Bio-Incubator 4 reaches completion at the end of 2022 and consists of 4,000 sq m
(43,000 sq ft) of labs for biotech start-up companies. A new Bio-Incubator 5 has been approved by KU Leuven and VIB. This new building has 3,300 sq m (36,000 sq ft) of flexible laboratory and office space and can accommodate
160 employees. The expected opening is early 2024. The budget for the new building is €12 million (£10.3 million). The design team is a consortium of Proof-of-the- Sum, SVR Architects, Exilab and Riessauw.
Haasrode Research Park
Haasrode Research Park and Haasrode Ambachtenzone (Craft Zone) are part of the Haasrode Business Park, with a total area of 190 hectares (470 acres). The park is easily accessible by car and is only five minutes from the
E40 Brussels-Leuven-Liège (exit 23a Haasrode Research). A new masterplan shall be finished by the end of 2022. This plan has the ambition to make the business park climate- and energy neutral. A new train station is part of the new plan, but it seems that this new station may be too expensive as it is estimated to cost €10 million (£8.8 million).Haasrode Research Park extends over 136 hectares (336 acres) and employs nearly 5,000 people. It accommodates high-technology businesses which consist of KU Leuven spin-off companies like LMS International, ICOS Vision Systems, Easics and Materialise, as well as renowned international companies such as JSR Electronics, Heraeus Sensor-Nite, NXP and Terumo.In the field of life sciences there are companies like aMACE bvba, BioRICS, DELCOMp bvba, ESRI nv, GC Europe nv, Hearing Holding nv, In4Care VZW, Integrated DNA Technologies bvba, Low Vision International, Mathys Orthopedics, Medpace Belgium vba, Norgine nv, Partezis vzw, Sanifort Pharma N.V., SD Worx, Terumo Europe nv, Virbac Belgium, ViroVet bvba, VWR international bvba.
Leuven Noord Science Park
The city of Leuven, the university of Leuven (KU Leuven) and the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS) are currently developing a new climate-neutral science park at the Leuven Noord site. This is necessary as the science parks Arenberg and Haasrode are almost fully occupied. The new site covers a two-kilometre, banana-shaped strip of 22 hectares (54 acres) between the railway line, the Kesseldallaan and the Eenmeilaan. The science park is well connected by bicycle paths, public transport and highway E314.
Furthermore, the new science park will offer a home to promising local and international research firms in close cooperation with the university and other knowledge institutions. In addition to science and business facilities, it also focuses on providing multiple green public spaces. Construction will start in 2024.
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