The Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park (LLN Science Park) is a large science park of 231 ha (571 acres) next to the UCLouvain University Campus, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) south-east of Brussels. The science park was created in 1971 at the same time as the town Louvain-la-Neuve when the French-speaking university. UCLouvain left the old town of Leuven in the Dutch speaking part of Flanders to acquire farmland south of Brussels and next to the town Ottignies. Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve is now a city with 30,000 residents in the Walloon region of Belgium. The city consists of two separate towns: Ottignies which has a long history in the region and the recently built town Louvain-la-Neuve.The Science Park is a collaboration between the University and the Intercommunale du Brabant wallon (IBW – Walloon Brabant Inter-Community Company) and incorporates a complete innovation ecosystem which supports companies in their growth through multiple services in the sectors: IT (image technologies, telecoms, computer security, multimedia), life sciences (cell therapy, diagnostics, medical imaging, proton therapy), engineering (energy, speciality materials, extraction, sustainable construction), fine
chemistry (nano-materials, innovative processes), and green tech companies
(such as cogeneration, and environmental biotechnology). More than 260 companies and 6,500 employees are active at the Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park.The science park, which is fully owned by the UCLouvain University, is divided into four zones (all within one kilometre of UCLouvain Campus) which are named Einstein (83 ha/ 205 acres), Fleming (72 ha / 178 acres), Monnet (53 ha / 131acres) and Athena (23 ha / 57 acres).Axis Parc (www.axisparc.com) with 20 buildings and more than 200 companies, is not a formal part of the LLN Science Park but is very close to Parc Einstein. It brings together more than 220 companies and 5,700 highly qualified jobs over an area of 231 ha (595 acres).Thanks to the on-site presence of the first Belgian francophone university, UCLouvain, companies have access to more than 5,000 researchers, 21 research institutes and 25 technology platforms in nearly 200 laboratories.The establishment criteria for a company to be located on Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park are that the company should be active in research, development,
innovation and the multiplication of university-business relations. The company, new or confirmed, must meet a series of selection criteria included in a “Quality Charter” common to all Walloon science parks (SpoW), recognised by the international association of science parks (IASP) and
approved by the authorities of UCLouvain University.At the moment, the science park has different opportunities for companies to rent, buy or develop real estate. There is 15 ha (37 acres) available for immediate development, and plots can vary from 0.15 to 3 ha (0.38 to 7.4
acres). These lands are leased from the UCLouvain University for a period of 99 years. The annual fee, or leasehold, is indexed according to the consumer price index.
Recent developments in Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park
A recent large development is the China Belgium Technology Center (CBTC), which is built on an eight hectare (20-acre) site in the Einstein science park.The complex is composed of several towers and the project includes offices, a 160-bed hotel, a service and conference centre, logistics areas and car parks, as well as a public square coveringa total of 55,000 sq m (591,800
sq ft). The CBTC comprises five business divisions: biotechnology, green energy, optoelectronics, telecom and a business incubator.The cost of this business centre amounts to €200 million (£169 million) and will host 1,500 jobs, 60 per cent of which will be for Belgian nationals. 300 Chinese nationals will come to settle in Louvain-la-Neuve. United
Investment Group (UIG), a company in Hubei province, is the majority shareholder of CBTC (90 per cent). Juxing International Technology Investment (China) holds the remaining 10 per cent.In 2021, Kadans acquired Watson & Crick Hill, a Research and Technology Park that is part of the Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park in the Flemish zone.
The park includes six buildings totalling over 28,000 sq m (301,280 sq ft) consisting of offices and laboratories, occupied by 27 organisations active in the life sciences sector. The 11-hectare (27-acre) site contains 958 parking spaces and has development potential for approximately 25,000 sq m (269,000 sq ft).Also in 2021, Cronos Groep opened a new office in Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park. The group, which today has 400 subsidiaries and 7,000 jobs, has also signed a cooperation agreement with the university to collaborate in the
areas of support, training, research and the provision of services in terms of entrepreneurship and technological innovation. Cronos was founded in 1991 in Antwerp to help entrepreneurship in the field of technology. Today,
this integrator of innovative companies oriented towards digital transformation has become a major technological group in Belgium. Its offer to start-ups includes incubation, coworking, and even acceleration programs. Its turnover is nearly €800 million (£689 million).The implementation of the partnership with UCLouvain will be done in collaboration with the Business and Innovation Center (CEI) located in the science park of Louvain-la-Neuve, as well as with OpenHub, the creative hub of the university.
UCLouvain University
The university is not only active on Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park, but also on Seneffe Science Park, which is home to the Centre of Technological Resources in Chemistry (CERTECH) since 1996. The centre offers services to businesses directly or indirectly involved in chemistry-related activities and industries. Seneffe Science Park is also home to another incubator, Activalis. In addition, there is UCLouvain Brussels-Woluwe, the new Brussels Life Science Incubator (BLSI), created with Brussels Region financial support. BLSI hosts some 40 specialised companies.
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