ANTWERP HEADQUARTERS MAGAZINE by Magenta Uitgeverij

www.antwerpheadquarters.be edition 2011-足2012

Peter Paul Rubens

Afgiftekantoor: Antwerpen X -足 P 706333

Some great men have chosen Antwerp as their business headquarters before you

Self-足portrait 息 Rubens House, Antwerp

Antwerp Headquarters | 1

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Economical driver of the Antwerp region

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Antwerp is an independent, politically neutral and cross-sector organization, bringing together the region’s entrepreneurs. The Chamber of Commerce exists for over 200 years and offers its members lobbying and networking activities as well as in-depth concrete business projects. With its 3.000 members The Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the economical driver behind the important Antwerp region and has a leading position in international relations.

Colophon This is a publication of Voka – Chamber of Commerce Antwerp-Waasland

Editorial

Logistics: Katoen Natie

Antwerp office: Markgravestraat 12, 2000 Antwerpen, tel 03 232 22 19, fax 03 233 64 42 e-mail: info.antwerpen@voka.be

Introduction

Living in Antwerp

Chemicals: BASF Antwerp

Office districts

ICT: Agfa-Gevaert

Location

Cleantech: Umicore

Innovation

Outsourcing: SD Worx

Politics

Technology: Alcatel-Lucent

Quotes

zetel Waasland: Kleine Laan 28, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, tel 03 776 34 64, fax 03 777 74 34 e-mail: info.waasland@voka.be website: www.voka.be/antwerpen-waasland postchequerekening: 000-0225064-24 VAT: BE 406.696.056 Responsible Editor Luc Luwel, Markgravestraat 12, 2000 Antwerp Chief editor Katrijn De Lie Text www.magenta-uitgeverij.be Stad Antwerpen – Guido Muelenaer Lay-out Ruth Vanvelthoven Images gettyimages Wim Kempenaers Stad Antwerpen Thomas Vanhaute Antwerp Tourism & Convention

| Antwerp Headquarters

For any information please phone +32 3 232 22 19 or mail info.aw@voka.be

Antwerp Headquarters | 3

Editorial

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Antwerp: your place to be

he Antwerp six. A well-known concept among the international fashion world, with absolute fashion stars such as Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester. These six fashion designers have taken the world by storm. This magazine will show you another 'Antwerp six' six companies from Antwerp that have developed an international reputation. BASF, employing 3,500 people at the Port of Antwerp. Agfa, global installer of digital hospital systems. SD Worx, the human resources provider that’s introducing Belgian know-how to our neighbouring countries. Umicore, global leader in recycling rare raw materials. Katoen Natie, setting up large foreign operations. And last but not least, Alcatel-Lucent, employing 150 of the world’s best scientist and researchers to carry out fundamental research projects in Antwerp.

ANKER18 is a supplier of property services to owners and tenants of ofoces and industrial real estate. Our services include agency and investment transactions, property management, valuations and consultancy. Feel free to contact us for a conodential opinion on any real estate issue that requires attention. ANKER18 is one of three property consultants that co-founded this Antwerp Headquarters association.

These six crème de la crème of the business world are happy to be headquartered in Antwerp. Antwerp Headquarters - a joint venture between the City of Antwerp and the private sector - is promoting Antwerp as the perfect business location. Antwerp Headquarters introduces headquarters for new global players into the teeming Antwerp economy. Antwerp Headquarters doesn’t shy from playing Antwerp’s trump cards. First is Antwerp’s central location, an important gateway to the European consumer There’s never a dull moment in Antwerp market. The Port of Antwerp, the second largest in Europe, is one-of-a-kind. Add to this Antwerp’s HST station, own corporate airport and cruise terminal. Secondly, Antwerp has an important economic fabric into which newcomers can immediately weave themselves. A third point is the high-quality staff: well trained, multilingual and hard working. And finally, Antwerp’s quality of life: an open, safe city with a rich cultural background, a deliciously exquisite gastronomy and a wild party scene. There’s never a dull moment in Antwerp.

ANKERRUI 18 - 2000 ANTWERP - 03-232 18 18 - WWW.ANKER18.BE - INFO@ANKER18.BE

Antwerp Headquarters takes care of its international investors. Location searches, expat services, showing and opening networks, attracting employees, legal support, etc. Your wish is our command. And once a company is established here, it’s not left to its own devices. Aftercare is not just an empty promise.

Creating balance ARCADIS is an international company providing consultancy, design, engineering and management services in infrastructure, water, environment and buildings. We enhance mobility, sustainability, and quality of life by creating balance in the built and natural environment. ARCADIS develops, designs, implements, maintains and operates projects for companies and governments. More info? www.arcadisbelgium.be | info@arcadisbelgium.be

Antwerpen is the place to be. Peter Paul Rubens already knew this back in the 17th century. Rubens is the icon of Antwerp’s rich historical tradition, out of which a modern and innovative contemporary city has grown. Antwerp is a city that designs its own style with spectacular urban development projects that are given shape by international architects, including Richard Rogers and Zaha Hadid. Antwerp is also investing heavily in its economic future, just take a look at the development of Blue Gate Antwerp, a radical sustainable business park. Would you like to be a part of this dazzling future? Antwerp Headquarters will take care of it all.

Robert Voorhamme

Bernard Van Milders

President Antwerp Headquarters

Vice-president Antwerp Headquarters

Vice-mayor city of Antwerp

President Chamber of Commerce

Imagine the result advertentie.indd 1

| Antwerp Headquarters

28/01/2011 9:40:23

Antwerp Headquarters | 5

Introduction

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Chemicals, ICT, cleantech, outsourcing, technology and logistics are six of the most important sectors in Antwerp. Over the following pages, we will introduce an innovative company from each sector. These companies are among the world’s top enterprises in their respective domains. But this is not to say they are content to rest on their laurels. On the contrary, Antwerp has inspired them to set ambitious goals for the future.

| Antwerp Headquarters

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Innovative city by the river

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‘Salus ubi consilium,’ says Marcus Aurelius. The Latin saying ‘Good advice brings prosperity’ was also a motto of Nicolaas Rockox, Mayor of the City of Antwerp during the Golden Era. Nicolaas Rockox lived from 1560 to 1640, during which time the city on the Scheldt blossomed into a proud city that was one of the most powerful in the world. Like the six leading companies that Antwerp Headquarters Magazine is pleased to introduce to you here, Antwerp is not content to live off its rich history and reputation, though it has learned a great deal from it. Getting good advice through knowledge and insight is important for managers. Wouter De Geest from BASF Antwerp (Chemicals), Christian Reinaudo from AgfaGevaert (ICT), Hugo Morel from Umicore (Cleantech), Jan van den Nieuwenhuijzen from SD Worx (Outsourcing), Luc Defieuw from Alcatel-Lucent (Technology) and Fernand Huts from Katoen Natie (Logistics) have drawn up the blueprints for a prosperous future in their respective sectors. It is striking that all these top managers claim independently of each other that you cannot rely on your prosperous past. A rich history is, they say, absolutely no guarantee for an economically profitable future. Every day, these CEOs ask

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themselves whether their companies are innovative enough. Because innovation is the key to the future. Why are they in Antwerp? And more importantly, why have they stayed? All six CEOs are unanimous: the high productivity and open and cosmopolitan mentality of its hardworking people. Each of these CEOs also refers to Antwerp’s ideal geographical location as a gateway to the whole of Europe. All six of them also have a strong opinion of the liberal entrepreneurial climate in the city by the river; for them, an important reason to stay. Antwerp’s central square is home to a magnificent bronze statue of Brabo from 1887. This folk hero is the ultimate symbol of free trade. According to the legend, the Scheldt River was guarded by the giant Antigoon who demanded a high toll from passing ships. The giant would cut off the hands of unwilling toll payers and cast them in the river. The brave Brabo, however, succeeded in killing the giant, cutting off his hand and throwing it into the river. From that day forth, Antwerp was toll-free and the economy continued to grow to ensure prosperity for all. It is now up to you to discover this city bursting with opportunity! < Antwerp Headquarters | 7

Chemicals

[ CEO Wouter De Geest from BASF ]

Largest chemicals group tackles global problems BASF Antwerp is working on a promising future from the port of Antwerp. ‘It is all about continuing to invest in your facilities and in training your people. It is the only way to be a global player in the Champions League of the chemicals sector,’ says CEO Wouter De Geest.

appies, vitamins for food supplements, UV filters for sun creams, beauty products, catalytic converters and coatings for the automobile sector, building materials and even crop protection for sustainable agriculture… they are all products which contain a small piece of chemistry. Chemistry is everywhere. And BASF, the world’s largest chemical group, is never far away. Antwerp is a crucial production site for BASF. BASF Antwerp’s product portfolio comprises both basic and specialised chemicals, plastics for primary products, finished products, mineral fertilisers and inorganic compounds. The German multinational’s 600-ha site in the port of Antwerp is immense. Every day, CEO Wouter De Geest and his 3550 employees give their best in a sector that is facing some major challenges.

‘In addition, there are our own challenges at the technical operational level. There is the global development of the chemicals industry in general. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, China, India, Malaysia, etc. are all investing in petrochemicals clusters. Strong newcomers, who were virtually unknown a few years ago, have pushed their way through to the top. These countries have companies, such as Sabic and Sinopec, with both local and above all global aspirations. The next few years will therefore be characterised by mergers and acquisitions and a general trend towards consolidation. Companies are going to become focused on their own section of the market. Another particular challenge for Western Europe will be in developing employees’ skills, while at the same time we will be working with the government to try to ensure that our competitiveness is not undermined by all kinds of regulations.’

Global challenges

‘The challenges for BASF are manifest at various levels. First of all, you have the far-reaching global social challenges. There is the growing global population. In 2050, there will be 9 billion of us. How will our food and water supplies cope? It is the chemicals industry that will contribute to finding solutions,’ says Wouter De Geest, launching into his impassioned account. ‘The second major challenge is related to energy. Rising prosperity results in increased energy consumption. Here, too, the chemicals sector is looking for solutions.’ ‘The third point is the rise of megacities such as Shanghai and Mexico City; a trend which is also continuing elsewhere. How do we construct cities? With what kind of buildings? Towers such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai are made possible thanks to chemistry, via special concrete additives, etc. The rising global population also poses mobility questions. How will our use of vehicles evolve? We need cheaper transport for several people at a time, using lighter materials, driven by electricity, etc. The chemicals sector is indispensible to meeting all these challenges.’ 8

| Antwerp Headquarters

‘You can’t grow complacent just because you’re good.’

them, it is impossible to compete.’ CEO Wouter De Geest is full of praise for the company’s work mentality: ‘Our people have an extremely high level of professionalism. They are committed and well trained. Their productivity is high but then it has to be, given the high wages in Belgium.’ ‘BASF Antwerp’s logistical location is ideal for us,’ says Wouter De Geest. ‘There is also a good level of cooperation in the port, which forms the basis for the Port of Antwerp’s Total Competitiveness Project. The Port Authority listens to the needs of the industry and acts accordingly. A location may be strategically beneficial, but the region itself can only be dynamic when everything becomes connected via inland shipping, rail, a good road network but also pipelines. The government realises that enterprise is synonymous with getting things done quickly. Time to market is an important economic cornerstone, and licensing laws should not be allowed to compromise it.’

Helpful city administration

Expats and BASF visitors are very satisfied with the high quality of life in Antwerp. ‘They quickly learn how open our society is, and discover our rich multiculturalism in every domain, including the cultural scene with its theatre, exhibitions, restaurants, fashion, shopping and so on. This is pretty special by European and even global standards. You can tell that life is good here when you see expats come back later in life with family and friends to visit Antwerp as tourists.’ As for Wouter De Geest himself, he enjoys showing off Antwerp’s old town to visitors: ‘The City Hall, the Grote Markt with the statue of Brabo, narrow streets like the Vlaaikensgang. Our visitors are always pleasantly surprised. The Antwerp City Council is also extremely helpful in organising events like a small reception in the City Hall. Not everyone can boast such a beautiful City Hall! It never fails to impress our international guests.’ <

‘BASF Antwerp’s logistical location is ideal for us.’ Wouter De Geest

R&D investment budget for the entire BASF group: EUR 1.4 billion Employees worldwide: 105,000 Nationalities at BASF Antwerp: 15 Active in Antwerp since: 1964 How is the entrepreneurial climate in Antwerp: ‘The government has an ear for what companies need.’

www.basf.com

Chemicals in Antwerp

Ideal location in Belgium

Wouter De Geest insists on the fact that enterprise is synonymous with anticipation: ‘You can’t afford to just follow a trend. Organisations must ensure they don’t lose their flexibility and resilience. You can’t grow complacent just because you’re good. You have to keep doing your homework.’ ‘For example, we are constantly focused on our facilities here in Antwerp. We are committed to achieving an average annual increase in productivity of between 3 and 5%. We do that by applying better knowledge, reducing consumption of energy and raw materials, etc. Productivity gains are, furthermore, key to the entire chemicals sector in Western Europe. Without Antwerp Headquarters | 9

ICT

[ CEO Christian Reinaudo of Agfa-Gevaert ]

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A textbook example of transformation

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Agfa has undergone an impressive development from an analogue producer of photo film to a digital specialist in graphic and medical imaging systems. ‘Our organisation is in the midst of a transformation,’ says Christian Reinaudo, CEO of Agfa-Gevaert.

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hristian Reinaudo is French and has lived in Antwerp for three years. Not far from the Rubens House as luck would have it, as he has a passion for Flemish art. ‘Agfa-Gevaert has a long tradition with film. And that is still an important activity for the company’s three main business groups, Agfa Graphics, Agfa HealthCare and Agfa Specialty Products. However, about twenty years ago, wheels were set in motion that were to change everything,’ explains CEO Christian Reinaudo. ‘In a couple of years, Agfa will be cited in MBA business schools as an example of how a company swapped an ‘old-fashioned’ technology, in our case film, for modern, digital solutions. Agfa Graphics gives us a foothold in the graphics industry, with print preparations and inkjet. Agfa HealthCare provides radiography and IT systems for hospitals. We are a big player in both these markets and want to remain so. The shift towards a more service and project-oriented business is a big challenge for all our employees.’

Agfa-Gevaert has a turnover of EUR 3 billion. ‘Agfa is present all over the world. It is worth noting that half our global R&D budget is spent in Belgium. Our sites in Ghent and Antwerp account for 80% of R&D in Europe. In fact, in the case of Specialty Products, all the innovation takes place here.’ Responsible personnel

The fact that Agfa has positioned itself primarily as an IT company has resulted in jobs for around 1500 IT engineers. ‘Though the outside world is generally unaware, Agfa possesses an enormous wealth of technology, with several specialised techniques developed in-house along with patents and other intellectual property rights.’

‘Half our global Research & Development budget is spent in Belgium.’ ICT in Antwerp

Christian Reinaudo has developed a real taste for Antwerp. ‘It is a dynamic city. Very international thanks to its port and the multilingual people who speak English, French and German. Antwerp is also easy to get to, via Deurne airport and the Thalys, for instance. The traffic is nowhere near as bad as Brussels or Paris, to say nothing of the hundreds of good restaurants you can find here,’ says Christian with a smile.

R&D investment budget in Belgium: EUR 75 million Employees worldwide: 12,000 Number of nationalities in the company: 25 Active in Antwerp (Mortsel) since: 1894 How is the entrepreneurial climate in Antwerp: ‘Open and dynamic. People are very quick to adapt.’

www.agfa.com

| Antwerp Headquarters

Antwerp Headquarters | 11

Cleantech

[ Executive Vice-President Hugo Morel from Umicore ]

Umicore recycles for a cleaner world

Antwerp has a number of economic advantages according to director Morel: ‘I travel a lot for professional reasons, which gives me the opportunity to compare. Antwerp has many benefits. Productivity and flexibility is high and employees are motivated. And Antwerp’s location is excellent for accessing the heart of Europe: the infrastructure is good, especially when you compare it to the congestion surrounding other world cities.’ ‘Our foreign employees really enjoy living and working in Antwerp. We have good language skills here and expats do not really have to adapt much as they can get by in their own language. In short, Antwerpians are very welcoming people.’ What do expats think about us? ‘We typically apply a project-based approach, solving problems in a very pragmatic way,’ says Hugo Morel. ‘A lot of what we do is

‘Recycling is considerably cheaper than extracting metals via mining.’

‘We are driven by global megatrends. Everything we do is about sustainable development,’ says Hugo Morel of the materials

Cleantech in Antwerp

technology group Umicore. Scarcity of raw materials make recycling not only a noble but also a lucrative business.

he story of the ugly duckling turning into a beautiful swan is also the story of the transformation which Umicore has undergone over the past twenty years. The group was once known under the name Union Minière, a company that was active in the mining and raw materials sector often accused of being a major polluter. However, the current Chairman of the board of directors, Thomas Leysen, introduced the company towards a new goal: cleantech. Umicore focuses on application areas where its expertise in materials science, chemistry and metallurgy makes a real difference. Its activities are centred on four business areas: catalysis, energy materials, performance materials and recycling.. ‘For us, Cleantech has a lot to do with mobility. A lot of our research is focused on electric vehicles and renewable energy via solar cells and wind turbines,’ explains Executive Vice-President Hugo Morel from Umicore. ‘Most solar cell producers use silicon for this purpose. Umicore, however, is specialised in manufacturing of materials for solar cells based on germanium and thin film products. This results in measurable differences when it comes to efficiency, sustainability and cost.’ The Umicore Solar Team’s

| Antwerp Headquarters

achievements at the biennial World Solar Challenge in Australia are proof of that. Around 3000 people work at Umicore Belgium, half of which are based in Hoboken (Antwerp). Umicore supplies amongst others components and substrates which are processed by specialised companies and which even end up at the American space agency – NASA – and in space. A positive contribution to the environment

‘We are also moving with the trend towards decentralised energy production. In the past, electrical energy was only produced by a handful of companies in large power plants. Now more and more companies and individuals produce energy via their own solar panels. That means less control of the energy supply, hence the need to store that energy. In this respect rechargeable batteries will play an important role, and Umicore is currently devoting a great deal of its research and development efforts to this field.’ ‘Umicore produces materials for new batteries but also for recycling old batteries. We are currently building a battery smelter in Hoboken. Umicore has signed a contract with the

‘Antwerpians are very welcoming people.’ Hugo Morel

American electric car manufacturer Tesla to have all their used batteries recycled by us.’ Umicore is now a textbook example of a new industry, and with the recycling of old mobile phones, computers, car batteries and catalysts it also makes a positive contribution to the environment. Umicore’s strategy, according to Executive Vice President Hugo Morel, is driven by a number of megatrends: the rise of the electric car, the scarcity of raw materials, ever-stricter emissions controls and research into renewable energy. The scarcity of raw materials makes further improvement of recycling activities profitable. Umicore extracts metals from all kinds of materials. ‘We call this urban mining,’ Hugo Morel explains. ‘You can extract raw materials from the earth, via conventional mining, but you can also recover metals from waste or scrap which can be found above ground. Metals can be recycled indefinitely, recycling is a lot cheaper than mining.’

based on common sense. They soon discover that we are very result-driven workers.’ Thomas Leysen and Umicore are founders of the new MAS, Museum by the River on Antwerp’s ‘Island’. This architectural icon provides an impressive backdrop for entertaining foreign guests. Antwerp also has many ‘classical’ sights: ‘A visit to the cathedral, the Grote Markt, Rubens’ House and lunch on board the Flandria boat are always popular outings. It is also worth taking a look at the recently renovated Central Station, perhaps in combination with a walk through the diamond district and a visit to the Diamond Museum. For Japanese visitors, there is the statue of Nello and Patrasche in Hoboken. Umicore’s new office building in Hoboken is also a fine example of modern architecture that also incorporates the use of sustainable materials. There is a little piece of Antwerp for everyone,’ concludes Hugo Morel.

Investment budget R&D Umicore: €135 million Employees worldwide: 14 500 Nationalities at Umicore Hoboken: 12 Active in Antwerp since: 1887 How is the entrepreneurial climate in Antwerp: ‘Antwerp has many strenghts. There is a lot of common sense here.’

www.umicore.com Antwerp Headquarters | 13

Outsourcing

[ CEO Jan van den Nieuwenhuijzen from SD Worx ]

‘Antwerp is a city with1001 possibilities’ ‘People join companies and leave managers.’ There's a saying that should get entrepreneurs thinking. SD Worx is specialised in human resources management. CEO Jan van den Nieuwenhuijzen sees two major challenges for the future in the drive towards internationalisation and the war for talent.

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D Worx is a European HR service provider with headquarters in Belgium. The company takes care of payroll and personnel administration and provides HR and legal advice for a wide range of clients. ‘Salary calculations are our core business,’ says CEO Jan van den Nieuwenhuijzen. SD Worx is the market leader in Belgium but its ambitions go well beyond those borders. ‘We now have offices in the Netherlands, France, Germany and Luxembourg. We also forge alliances with strategic partners all over Europe as well as realise a number of strategic acquisitions.’ Outsourcing has taken an increasingly prominent place in the HR sector in recent years. ‘Around 80% of all Belgian organisations outsource their HR tasks and processes,’ says CEO Jan van den Nieuwenhuijzen. ‘As a provider, SD Worx endeavours to create added value by ensuring maximum knowledge transfer and the integration of HR solutions with a sustainable character. Providing support at the strategic level is also an important part of our business.’

‘A good management ensures that all employees can develop themselves.' Outsourcing in Antwerp

Another challenge is the war for talent: ‘If you want to retain or attract employees then a good and well differentiated remunerations package is a basic requirement. Organisations can only benefit from developing their salary policy to meet the requirements of both the law and the market.’

Jan Van Rijswijcklaan 162 b11 2020 Antwerpen www.breevast.be info@breevast.be +32 3 259 46 00

| Antwerp Headquarters

‘It is very important that people receive good training. They need the opportunity to grow and develop,’ says Jan van den Nieuwenhuijzen. ‘A good management ensures that all employees can develop themselves in their job. For example: if you want to keep an IT-er on board, then your company also has to invest in contemporary technologies. You can’t afford to lag behind. There have to be enough challenges.’ A rich Antwerp cocktail

‘Economically speaking, Antwerp is very multifaceted: there is the port with its industrial activities, there are banks and

insurance companies, creative industries like fashion and diamonds… And let’s not forget that Antwerp has more than 30,000 university and college students. There is also a rich cultural scene with dozens of museums and theatres; a cocktail which makes for an incredibly lively city.’ ‘Foreigners say that Antwerp is a city with 1001 possibilities. Everything you can do in Paris and London you can do here, too, just on a smaller scale. Antwerp is so multifaceted that I can ask each and every one of our guests what they’re interested in and I will always find something for them.’ ‘The Antwerp city administration is very accessible. If you communicate openly as a company, the City is quick to provide excellent service. The council is also a constructive partner in finding solutions to specific problems that may arise with your organisation.’

Employees in Europe: 1900 Number of nationalities in the company: 6 Active in Antwerp since: 1945 How is the entrepreneurial climate in Antwerp: ‘The City is quick to help solve problems.’

www.sdworx.com

Antwerp Headquarters | 15

Technology

[ CEO Luc Defieuw from Alcatel-Lucent Bell ]

‘The A in ADSL stands for Antwerp’ Alcatel-Lucent makes something you use every day, probably without knowing it: communication networks. ‘Leading by innovation’ is the slogan of this Franco-American multinational. And the 27,600 patents the company has to its name are sufficient proof of that.

lcatel-Lucent Bell’s spacious foyer at its brand new office at Kievitplein in Antwerp resonates with all manner of foreign languages. It is lunchtime and the employees are stepping out for their break. ‘Around 1800 people work here, 900 of whom are engineers. There are 37 different nationalities in all,’ explains Luc Defieuw, CEO of Alcatel-Lucent Bell and Vice President Benelux. Alcatel-Lucent’s global headquarters are located in Paris. However, Antwerp remains an important base for the multinational. Alcatel-Lucent Bell is the largest ICT investor in Belgium with a budget of EUR 150 million in 2009. More than 900 people, primarily engineers, are active in Research & Development in Antwerp. 150 top scientists and researchers work at Bell Labs Antwerp, devoted exclusively to fundamental research. Few people are aware that AlcatelLucent employees have won a total of 7 Nobel prizes with the technological innovations they have developed.

Technology in Antwerp

‘We support every technical aspect of communication, ranging from voice to data and video communication services, for fixed and mobile telecommunications. We supply equipment but also services. For example, we make broadband networks for all the major operators in the world, including here in Belgium,’ says Luc Defieuw. ‘Our IP network and hosting solutions ensure a smooth-running internet and we develop applications for anything from video-on-demand to televoting and mobile payments. We also invented the technology behind the Pay & Go prepaid mobile phone cards. Another concrete example is that we developed a loyalty and discount card for the City of Antwerp.’ Building the future together

The Antwerp division of the multinational was formed from the historic Bell Telephone company. However, you 16

| Antwerp Headquarters

have to search pretty hard to find a link in the company to Alexander Graham Bell, the man who took out the first patent on the telephone. ‘We are not doing ourselves any great favours by looking back to that grandiose past,’ says CEO Luc Defieuw in reply. ‘Nowadays, we have virtually nothing more to do with what we were doing ten years ago. That is how fast things evolve in our sector. Indeed, we must get out of bed every day and ask ourselves the question, 'where do we want to go?' It is all about the future here, not the past.’ Technological innovation is a spearhead for Alcatel-Lucent Bell. ‘ADSL, for example, was born here.’ The Asymmetric

Alcatel-Lucent employees have won 7 Nobel prizes to date. Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is the cornerstone of powerful data communications such as faster internet connections. ‘There are those who say the A in ADSL stands for Antwerp,’ Luc Defieuw says with a smile. ‘A lot of the technology was developed here in Antwerp. 40% of the worldwide market share for broadband comes from here.’ Alcatel-Lucent is active in 130 countries. The vision of a company that is helping to build for the future is nowhere clearer than in a room where a number of new communication prototypes are on display. CEO Luc Defieuw introduces a 3D television, offering depth of field without the need for special 3D glasses, all kinds of multimedia and home automation systems, the principles behind mobile advertising and more. He also demonstrates how our mobile phones will soon serve as electronic wallets. ‘When you buy something, you just hold your mobile phone over a scanner, the Touchatag system, enter a code and you’ve paid.’

On top of this there are technologies such as green DSL and smart grids, in which intelligent networks are made energy efficient. These are all communication systems designed to make life easier in contemporary society.

‘Antwerp is an attractive location for foreigners because of the high standard of living.’ Luc Defieuw

Influx of talent is a major plus

Via Bell Telephone, the telecom giant has strong historic ties with Antwerp but it could just as easily have left the port city back in 2003 when relocating its offices. Back then, the management nevertheless decided to stay in the city on the Scheldt. ‘We worked out that all our employees lived in the Ghent-Brussels-Antwerp triangle and we wanted to ensure our people would follow us after the relocation. The City of Antwerp was very active in helping us relocate to this new office district. They were also looking for space for their personnel and they were able to use our old buildings. Regardless of the outcome of subsequent local council elections, we have always been able to arrive at advantageous agreements with the mayor and councillors.’

'40% of the worldwide market share for broadband comes from Antwerp.' Alcatel-Lucent Bell’s employees are in any case very satisfied with the new location. ‘Half of our people come to work by train. We give them the choice between a reserved parking space – we have 750 bays – or free use of public transport. Many regard the location as ideal next to the Central Station. With the Thalys high speed train we are also within easy reach of the head office in Paris,’ says Luc Defieuw. Antwerp has many aces up its sleeve, according to Luc Defieuw. ‘Belgians are multicultural, both customer- and result-oriented, and they adapt quickly to change. Belgium is a small country and it comes as second nature to the people here to look beyond their borders.’ The influx of new talent is also a major plus: ‘Naturally, we recruit a lot of engineers. People with a passion for electronics do not have many alternatives in Belgium. We therefore enjoy a very privileged relationship with our universities.’ ‘Antwerp is an attractive location for foreigners because of the high standard of living,’ says Luc Defieuw. ‘The cost of living, however, is lower than large European cities in neighbouring countries. The infrastructure is good, as is healthcare. There are international schools and you can easily get by with English. And when it comes to the social, cultural and culinary scene, there is never any shortage of things to do in Antwerp.’ <

Investment budget R&D in Belgium: EUR 150 million Employees worldwide: 77,000 Nationalities at the company: 37 Active in Antwerp since: 1882 How is the entrepreneurial climate in Antwerp: ‘Everybody looks beyond their borders here.’

www.alcatel-lucent.com

Antwerp Headquarters | 17 Antwerp Headquarters | 17

Logistics

[ CEO Fernand Huts from Katoen Natie ]

‘Antwerp offers every CEO his heart’s desire’

We construct with you ! ! We construct for you

Fernand Huts is head of the logistics group Katoen Natie and is a typical entrepreneur. He concisely summarises the main challenges facing the logistics sector: ‘You constantly have to try and boost your efficiency while reducing costs.’

EO Fernand Huts from Katoen Natie is well known in Antwerp as a practical man. Work hard, play hard resounds the motto, apparently. Fernand Huts believes very strongly in informal structures. ‘It rarely works through formal channels. The only way is to invest in grandiose ambiance!’

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Fernand Huts also follows in the footsteps of Antwerp’s historic Maecenas. Like his wife, Karine, he is a big art lover. Every year, Katoen Natie spends EUR 2.5 million, or 0.3% of the company’s turnover, on art, culture, heritage and architectural projects. The collection comprises, among others, a large Cobra collection including paintings by Pierre Alechinsky, Lucebert, Karel Appel, Asger Jorn and Corneille; works by Wim Delvoye and Antwerp artists such as Jan Fabre and Panamarenko. Katoen Natie was founded in 1854 and was originally engaged in loading, unloading and handling cotton. Nowadays, the company takes on all manner of logistics assignments from consumer goods to petrochemicals. Katoen Natie now boasts 154 ‘The Port of Antwerp has a unique capacity for expansion.’ Fernand Huts

Cofinimmo is Belgium’s foremost listed investor in rental property, with a portfolio of offices, nursing homes and corporate operating facilities throughout Belgium, France and the Netherlands.

sites and terminals with 4.8 million m2 of storage space in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The group employs around 3000 people in Belgium. According to Fernand Huts, the logistics sector is facing at least two new challenges: the organisation of the Flemish ports and improvements in infrastructure. ‘Developing new ideas and saving costs: those are always the biggest challenges for any company.’ Antwerp is the second largest port in Europe and after a dip in 2008 and 2009 as a result of the financial crisis, the traffic figures are again at impressive levels. The list with planned investments by the Antwerp Port Authority is also impressive, representing EUR 1.6 billion of investments in the port between now and 2025.

‘Developing new ideas and saving costs: those are always the biggest challenges for any company.’ Logistics in Antwerp

According to Fernand Huts, Antwerp offers CEOs of multinationals everything their hearts desire. Antwerp may be on a smaller scale than world cities such as London and Paris, but it still has everything in store to meet the needs of large companies, like a quality logistics infrastructure and Antwerp’s outstanding location as a gateway to the European markets, both critical assets. Katoen Natie also cites Antwerp’s capacity for expansion, which is not always the case in other European (port) cities located on major supply routes.

Investment budget: EUR 200 million Employees in Europe: 9000

Our portfolio represents a coverage of more than 1.7 million m and a value of over 3 billion euros.

Number of nationalities in the company: always changing

We are an independent company managing our properties and clients-tenants in-house.

Active in Antwerp since: 1845

How is the entrepreneurial climate in Antwerp: ‘The entrepreneurial climate here is fun, stimulating and volatile.’

www.katoennatie.com 18

| Antwerp Headquarters

Antwerp Headquarters | 19

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Living in Antwerp

Belgium is the best place in the world for expats with children, according to a survey conducted by the British bank HSBC. Antwerp is the Belgian city with the most vibrant energy. Life is good in Antwerp.

De Singel

Some people say French cuisine is the best in the world but that the best place to try it is Belgium! Especially in Antwerp, with starred chefs such as Johan Segers of 't Fornuis or Julien Burlat of Dôme. The city by the Scheldt is home to every possible cuisine from every corner of the globe. Everyone is sure to find their heart’s – and stomach’s – desire. Antwerp is also famous for its beer – specifically the bolleke De Koninck – its diamonds, chocolates and fashion. The

fact that Michelle Obama wears a dress by Antwerp designer Dries Van Noten barely rates a mention here in Antwerp. For the ‘Antwerp Six’, comprising Dries Van Noten, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Bikkembergs, Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Van Saene and Marina Yee, conquered the fashion world years ago. Foreign visitors are also always surprised by the wide range of museums and theatres dotted about the city. The Flemish Opera and the Singel, for instance, are genuine cultural temples: ‘There is a great wealth of artists and theatres here. The whole world is jealous of what regularly crops up from Antwerp’s fertile soil,’ says artistic director Guy Cassiers of the Toneelhuis. Guy Cassiers has his base in the magnificent Bourla Theatre and is one of the most important and innovative theatre makers in Europe. His productions have earned him a string of successes from Berlin to La Scala in Milan.

Expats learn to live the good life

n old Flemish paintings, they are often depicted in the midst of mirth with glowing, plump cheeks: the Burgundians, who made a name for themselves as flamboyant lovers of life. Antwerp was part of the Duchy of Burgundy in those days, which no doubt goes some way towards explaining the present-day inhabitants’ love of a good celebration.

A cultural temple which brings 22

a great wealth of artists. | Antwerp Headquarters

Antwerp Headquarters | 23

Living in Antwerp

Antwerp’s TOP FIVE

Travel journalist Debbie Pappyn - who also writes for the internationally renowned Monocle of Tyler Brulé - travelled to four continents in 2010, discovered 22 countries and took 91 flights. And yet she is always glad to return to home base in Antwerp: ‘Despite a number of big-city draw cards like the enormous port, Antwerp still has an intimate and small-town feel about it,’ the adventuress explains. ‘Foreign visitors are immediately attracted by that intimacy and small scale. The city is easy to explore on foot or by bike and for many visitors this is a major bonus. As a visitor, it is easy to get a sense for the layout of the city and there are no neighbourhoods you need to avoid, unlike certain other large cities in the world. Antwerp is very much a safe city.’ ‘Foreigners are regularly charmed by the small, narrow streets, the cafés, streets full to the brim with antique stores such as Kloosterstraat… I like walking through the Botanic Gardens and tasting the sweet delights at Het Gebaar created by Roger Van Damme, the best dessert chef in the world,’ says the journalist.

For her (and him)

Chocolate

Beer Cafés

Delvaux [Komedieplaats 17] Handmade leather handbags with a tradition spanning 180 years of Belgian luxury.

Del Rey [Appelmansstraat 5] Artisanal pralines inspired, among others, by fashion designs.

Den Engel [Grote Markt 3] Café next to the Antwerp City Hall where politicians and citizens often meet.

Dries Van Noten [Nationalestraat 16] The emperor of the Antwerp designers has his own ‘Fashion Palace’ here.

Chocolatier Goossens [Isabellalei 6] Favoured by the Belgian royal family and the American ambassador.

Het Elfde Gebod [Torfbrug 10] Full of holy figures and other religious relics, this is the ideal place to wash away your sins with beer.

Michaël Verheyden [Oudaan 15] Young handbag and accessory designer with his first flagship store.

Popoff [Oude Koornmarkt 18] Small, refined and specialised in pies and tarts with the best Sachertorte in Belgium.

Kulminator [Vleminckveld 32] Declared best pub in the world by RateBeer.com boasting around 600 varieties of beer.

Wouters & Hendrix [Lange Gasthuisstraat 13] Katrin Wouters and Karin Hendrix are goldsmiths and jewellery designers.

Chocolate Line [Meir 50] Dominique Persoone sells chocolate in Napoleon’s old palace.

Afspanning De Hand [Boomgaardstraat 1-5] The brasserie run by and across the road from the De Koninck city brewery with as many ‘bollekes’ as you can drink.

Galalith [Zirkstraat 42] An antique store filled with thousands of shiny buttons and accessories.

Pierre Marcolini [Kelderstraat 3] Top Belgian chocolatier from Brussels with his famous Grand Cru chocolate.

Pelgrom [Pelgrimsstraat 15] The real medieval experience with overflowing pitchers of beer in a candlelit cellar.

pictures ©Antwerp Tourism & Convention

Every year, the Antwerp Sportpaleis sells more than one million concert tickets for popular artists such as Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and U2. The Sportpaleis is among the top 3 best-selling concert venues in the world. For connoisseurs of more relaxing music, there is the annual Middelheim Jazz Festival, a favourite haunt of harmonica legend Toots Thielemans. Antwerp is also a city of largescale events. Any list would be scandalously incomplete, but nevertheless: a stage of the Tour de France, the ‘Summer of Antwerp’ theatre festival, the Tall Ships Race, the Antwerp Ten Miles and marathon…

‘Another interesting spot is the area around the Island and the docks. You have space there, water, light, tranquility… It’s great to see how the MAS museum has given new verve to the Island. ‘The great thing about coming home is finding your own pace; going to your trusted local supermarket or the Turkish shop around the corner. And when you cycle through the city, you always discover new things that have cropped up while you were away,’ says Debbie Pappyn, confirming that life is good in Antwerp and that it is always hard to say goodbye. <

Best country to raise children as an expat

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Belgium Spain France Hong Kong Germany

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6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Canada Australia Netherlands China Singapore

For him (and her)

Art

Restaurants

Mike’s Havana House [Ernest Van Dijckkaai 11] Here the Cohiba Behike, the world’s best cigar, is aged in a fabulous humidor-cellar.

Zeno X Gallery [Leopold De Waelplaats 16] Gallery curator Frank Demaegd represents Michaël Borremans and Luc Tuymans.

‘t Fornuis [Reyndersstraat 24] The number 1 for Antwerp gastronomy with eccentric chef Johan Segers.

Huis Verloo [Amerikalei 158] No better address for lovers of whisky and other spirits, tobacco fanatic and above all pipe smokers.

Raf Van Severen [Minderbroedersrui 61] A discrete shop with top Flemish paintings from 1850 to 1950.

Sir Anthony Van Dyck [Oude Koornmarkt 16] Top-class restaurant owned by Marc Paesbrugghe, hidden away in the medieval Vlaaikensgang.

Guy David [Mechelsesteenweg 20] Tailor-made shirts and a collection of antique cufflinks from Guy David Lambrechts.

Axel Vervoordt Antiques [Sint-Jobsteenweg 64, ‘s Gravenwezel] Vervoordt lives in a castle where he receives such customers as Madonna, Sting and Bill Gates.

Dôme en Dôme sûr mer [Grotehondstraat 2] Feast on the delights by chef Julien Burlat beneath a beautiful atrium, close to his seafood restaurant.

In ‘t Zonneke [Sint-Jorispoort 8] For the handy man: an antique hardware store with thousands of nails and screws.

Campo & Campo [Grotesteenweg 19-21, Berchem] Art Gallery and auction house with a rich tradition dating back to 1897.

Piétrain [Lange Lobroekstraat 25] Tournedos of double-muscled beef with witloof salad or fried Koningsballen (also known as bull’s testicles).

Oud Huis ‘De Messenwinkel’ [Mechelseplein 7] Shiny knives for everything from the kitchen to the hunting party, from razor blades to scissors.

De Zwarte Panter [Hoogstraat 70-74] Adriaan Raemdonck exhibits art in the chapel of the old St Julianus Hospital.

Pazzo [Oude Leeuwenrui 1] Culinary heaven created by wine connoisseur William Wouters and chef Ingrid Neven. Antwerp Headquarters | 25

Office districts

Docklands The major asset here is volume

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Living with a VIEW.

Four office districts for exacting customers Antwerp totals nearly 1.9 million m2 of office floor space. The range is highly varied and the value for money excellent. Over the coming ten years the city aims to expand, with an additional 600 000 m2 of high-quality office space in four new office districts.

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ntwerp’s market for offices continues to grow. There is an extensive supply of strategically located and affordable office locations. And – of particular interest to foreign investors – there is room to grow, with several new office sites already in the development phase. Antwerp also boasts considerably lower real estate prices than in Brussels, Amsterdam and other large European cities.

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In 2005, Antwerp drafted an Office Report. The report announced the development of four new important office districts, based on a new vision of living and working in the city. The City has stimulated project developers in these districts to construct new, large-scale and high-quality offices. The Antwerp City Council also sees the Office Report as a

www.immpact.be

commitment to support office developments in these four city districts and ensures, for example, that investors are fasttracked as regards building permits. Each of the four districts has its own characteristics. The Antwerp Docklands office complex, for example, is located in the north of the city between the port and the centre of town; an ideal location for port-related offices in terms of the balance between working, living and recreation. Antwerp Berchem, on the other hand, is located close to the ring road, Berchem international train station and Deurne Airport. It is an ideal base for offices that regard international mobility as an important factor. The Antwerp Diamond District has long been a multicultural district with a very international

12/02/11 19:46

Antwerp Headquarters | 27

Berchem

Diamond District

Left Bank

Good connections with Brussels are an important success factor

focus. Several nationalities are employed in the diamond sector and work in close collaboration. Thanks to the adjacent Central Station, this office district is not only located right in the heart of the city but is also very easily accessible. Finally, there is the Antwerp West Park office district, located on Antwerp’s green and spacious Left Bank. The commercial and residential projects here are in the early stages of development. The council, for example, is planning a major Flemish landscape park with a perfect integration of working and living. It is an ideal location for offices seeking green surroundings. Fast, efficient tram lines connect Antwerp West Park with the city centre. Antwerp Docklands

The highest number of cranes are to be found in the burgeoning district of the Antwerp Docklands, located halfway between the city centre and the port. The district is home to the Port House, the Taxation Department, container terminal operator PSA, the Cadixwijk

| Antwerp Headquarters

development, etc. The north of Antwerp is getting a massive injection of infrastructure which gives breathing room to the port. As a result, a large diversity of companies have established themselves here on the edge of the port. The greater that diversity of businesses in a concentrated area the better, as it provides the city with a wider economic platform. At the Antwerp Docklands, port-related companies have an ideal location for both offices and production or storage space. The major asset here is volume because Antwerp is big enough to absorb growth and therefore attracts institutional investors who see potential in the current low real estate prices. Certainly in comparison with expensive, densely constructed cities such as London, Paris and Amsterdam. Antwerp Berchem

The office strip along the Antwerp Ring road is bang on target for a variety of businesses, thanks largely to being on the way to Brussels, and for its easy accessibility. It is

West Park

A triple-A location for many large companies

worth noting that good connections with Brussels are an important factor in the success of any Belgian office district. The Antwerp Berchem office district also benefits from being close to Berchem station on the Amsterdam– Brussels–Paris line. Thanks to the wide range of possibilities on offer, prospective occupants are sure to find an office suited to their needs and at very advantageous rental terms. Antwerp West Park

The Antwerp West Park office district on the Antwerp Left Bank is designed in American campus style with a lot of greenery between the buildings. There is some 40,000 m2 of office space available. The Left Bank is a triple-A location for many large companies, such as the media group Concentra. There are fast connections to Ghent and two routes to Brussels.

With public transport – a tram under the river Scheldt – you can be in the city centre in a matter of minutes. Antwerp Diamond District

The Antwerp diamond sector is good for some 34,000 direct and indirect jobs. The core of the Antwerp Diamond District is formed by three streets: Schup-, Rijf- and Hoveniersstraat, also known as ‘the diamond square mile’. 80% of the world’s rough diamonds and 50% of all polished diamonds pass through this patch of real estate at some point in their lifetime. Diamond dealers traditionally used to establish themselves next to the Central Station, as rail was formerly the fastest and safest way to transport their valuable goods. The first among them constructed their offices and four diamond exchange buildings here in this district. The station for high-speed train connections is also right alongside the recently developed Kievit district. A number of multinationals, such as AlcatelLucent, are established in the high-rise office buildings here. <

Antwerp Headquarters | 29

Location

Sustainable growth requires control

Antwerp lies at the centre of the universe

Central Station

Ask any proud Antwerpian and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll tell you: all roads lead to Antwerp. Indeed, the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Take advantage of our Transport & Logistics expertise Running a transport and logistics company is a specialised business. Generally the investments are substantial. Therefore in this sector - more than any other - you need to have a clear vision of your businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future to be able to take the wisest and most profitable decisions. Such a vision is only feasible by thoroughly analysing your company and cost structure. No matter how obvious this

excellent geographical location

may seem, it is far from easy. A word of advice: speak to your ING specialist. With his professional experience in your sector, expertise with regulations and knowledge of your specific needs, he can help you to build strong and sustainable growth.

and accessibility have a lot to do with Antwerpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prosperity.

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For most business people, however, this form of transport is just a little too slow. Not to worry though, because few cities in the world are as readily accessible as Antwerp. Train, tram, bus, car or plane; excellent infrastructure can be found for every mode of transport.

BUILDING DREAMS CREATING SPACE

Rail passengers are sure to be impressed by the majestic Antwerp Central Station, located right next to the Zoo, the Diamond Museum and the planned Convention Centre. The station has been declared the fourth most beautiful building in the world by the American magazine Newsweek. The high-speed train connections to Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris are a major asset and connect business travellers with any destination in Europe. The Diabolo project, soon to provide direct rail connections with Brussels Airport, along with several other mobility measures, are ensuring that Antwerp will remain easily accessible well into the future.

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ne way to get to Antwerp is by cruise liner. In 2010, around sixteen large cruise ships moored at Antwerp. These luxury liners, such as The World, dock at the Cruise Terminal right in the middle of the Antwerp old town and a stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s throw from the City Hall, the Grote Markt and the cathedral.

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Antwerp can also thank its business airport in Deurne for its good international accessibility. The regional airport is known for its 20-minute concept. Its small scale means passengers save a lot of valuable time. The airport is well connected with several motorways and offers free parking for passengers. Private airlines such as FLYINGGROUP, a major business airline in Europe with a fleet of 27 aircraft,

ensure that you can fly to any destination in Europe. You can even fly non-stop to the USA in a Falcon 7X jet. Because Antwerp is the world diamond capital, many diamond dealers use the airport to fly to places such as London. The Antwerp airport therefore has many frequent flyers; people who fly every week and sometimes even every day to London or Manchester or vice versa. Monday mornings also see many passengers arrive from London for work in the city, either in the diamond trade, the financial sector or in the port.

The regional airport is famous for its 20-Âminute concept. Antwerp Headquarters | 31

Innovation

[ Dean Philippe Naert (Antwerp Management School) ]

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he University of Antwerp invests a great deal in research, which has in turn resulted in a number of successful spinoffs. A few cases in point are 3WIN with the Deep Brain Stimulator (DBS) – implants which, as the name suggests, stimulate the brain – and Multiplicon, a joint spinoff of the University of Antwerp and the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) aimed at the development and sale of molecular diagnostic analysis techniques. The research conducted by professor and molecular biologist Christine Van Broeckhoven on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is world renowned. Professor Van Broeckhoven has headed a laboratory for molecular genetics at the University of Antwerp since 1983.

'Belgium’s healthcare system is the best in the world. There are opportunities for turning it into a pure export product.' Philippe Naert

Antwerp has an excellent reputation in the field of education and research institutions. The University of Antwerp has a total of 14,300 students under the wings of nearly 2000 academic staff, of whom 406 are professors or lecturers. The total budget for education and research at the University of Antwerp was EUR 170 million in 2010. The University of Antwerp website has a link in English for international students and expatriates are also welcome to enrol at the university for courses such as languages.

Antwerp Headquarters | 33

Innovation

ÂŠAntwerp Tourism & Convention

Active professionals, managers and expats looking for a specialised MBA or management course need look no further than Antwerp Management School. According to the Financial Timesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ranking of fulltime Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programmes, it is the highest rated management school in Flanders. The Antwerp Management School also develops customised degree programmes for companies and their management.

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The University of Antwerp Expatriates are welcome to enrol

Antwerp Management School has a very broad international focus. The school works closely, for instance, with the Russian International Business School in Moscow and recently launched the 3Continent Master of Global Management. This programme is aimed at preparing participants for a new, globalised world. 'Our final objective is to instil a global citizen mind set,' says Dean Philippe Naert. The 3Continent Master of Global Management programme comprises a full year in which the 60 participants, themselves from every corner of the globe, spend four months studying at each of Antwerp Management School, Xavier Institute of Management in Bhubaneswar, India and Fordham Graduate Business School in New York. Managers must serve society at large

The three pillars at Antwerp Management School are self-awareness (the best basis for cooperation), a global perspective (leading to better enhanced creativity and ingenuity) and societal consciousness (the foundation of all sustainable enterprise). 'It is a good thing that managers devote their talents to a company but in so doing, they must also serve society at large. That is part of their role as managers. Philips spent an enormous amount of money developing the energy-saving lamp, for example. And look now: it is not only generating profits for the company but also benefits society and the environment. That is an example of a win-win situation between enterprise and society.'

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'Creative and cultural industries represent strong areas of growth for our economy.'

Dean Philippe Naert keeps coming back to the importance of innovation as a key to success. In that context, he refers to the formula proposed by Urbain Vandeurzen, former chairman of the Flemish Chamber of Commerce, Voka. 'It is a clear formula: E=TI2. Excellence equals technology, innovation and internationalisation. If you define technological ambitions such as micro-electronics or

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biotechnology, then you are also defining other domains such as education and healthcare. Belgiumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s healthcare system is the best in the world. There are opportunities for turning it into a pure export product.' Antwerp Management School also supports the development of special economic sectors in Antwerp such as the fashion and diamond industries. 'Creative and cultural industries represent strong areas of growth for our economy. They are seen by many as the key to economic growth and the development of innovation within a country or region. Creativity is the enterprise.' Dean Naert refers to the book by Antwerp Management School lecturer, Jamie Anderson, The Fine Art of Success: 'The book contains lessons we can learn from what pop stars, such as Madonna, artists and other creative people have achieved in terms of innovation, competitive advantage and leadership. Fashion, the diamond and jewellery world, product development, art and culture are all important creative economies for Antwerp. But there is also a need for greater professionalism. There is a lot of potential which we hope to build on at Antwerp Management School and project to the world.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

www.ua.ac.be | www.antwerpmanagementschool.be 34

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Antwerp Headquarters | 35

Politics

The transition to the new economy The City of Antwerp and the Flemish Government are committed to fostering innovation. Sustainable chemicals, e-logistics, ecoinnovation are the new spearheads of the future economy. The Blue Gate Antwerp industrial park is the icing on the cake.

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he City of Antwerp and the Flemish Region are planning on converting the polluted and largely abandoned Blue Gate Antwerp site (the former Petroleum South) into an industrial park of the future. Eco-effectiveness will be the common theme of the 113 ha industrial site. Renewable energy (solar panels, wind turbines and biomass are all possible options) will also be a core feature of the development. Linked to inland shipping routes – a very sustainable mode of transport – the development has high ambitions with regards to the fight against carbon emissions. Each new site will be required to be CO2 neutral, and Blue Gate Antwerp even has the strong ambition of being CO2 negative. Innovation also plays a defining role in the kinds of companies Blue Gate Antwerp aims to attract. It is a goal for both the logistics zone (to be developed from 2012) and the production zone (scheduled from 2015). Urban distribution and smart logistics and, among other things, the use of the latest ICT applications make up the programme for the logistics zone. Furthermore, the City of Antwerp and the Flemish Region aim to attract production companies which will form the foundations for an eco-effective economy. The ‘blue economy’ is taking shape right here. Finally, extensive room is being given to research and development. The park’s fantastic location, just a stone’s throw from the city, offers companies the ability to attract highly qualified researchers and expats. Ambitious City Administration

Blue Gate Antwerp is a prime example of the Antwerp City Council’s grand ambitions. The Council understands that merely further developing existing economic structures will

not be sufficient to guarantee prosperity. The priorities include sustainable chemistry, e-logistics and ecoinnovation. As such, the park builds upon the traditional cornerstones of the Antwerp economy while at the same time representing something of a break with convention. In order to achieve that break, the city administration aims to strike several collaborative agreements. First of all, there is the collaboration with the corporate world. Antwerp Headquarters, a 50-50 joint venture between the City Council and the private sector, is an excellent example of that. Secondly, there is close collaboration with the University of Antwerp. The UA is working fervently on integrating the discipline of industrial science with a view to drastically boosting its spin-off activities. University, business and local government will come together more and more in the future in the domain of innovation. A fine potential example is the Hexagon case – a showpiece of sustainable chemistry. The Hexagon project is aimed at developing incubation centres for research and development where the wider public can learn about sustainable chemistry while at the same time new companies and initiatives can be developed. A decision on the matter should be reached this year. Antwerp is candidate no. 1 for a Hexagon site. It is hard to think of a better illustration of the transition from the conventional to the new economy.

Developing Blue Gate Antwerp into an industrial park of the future. Antwerp Headquarters | 37

ANTWERP,

Quotes

your prime business destination

‘Antwerp is a festival of colours.’ U2 frontman Bono is a friend of Antwerp fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck and is happy to be guided by Walter around the city’s many museums.

Lady Gaga even speaks a word of Dutch! She did a shoot for Vogue with photographer Mario Testino in the Museum of Fine Arts, and later played the roof off the Sportpaleis during her Monster Ball Tour.

‘I got some excellent treatment here in the Monica Hospital. Doctor Martens is a real professional.’ Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, better known as Real Madrid football pro Kaka, is satisfied with his knee operation at the hands of world-famous surgeon, Marc Martens in Antwerp.

‘When Hillary heard that I was in Antwerp, she immediately replied saying: Don’t forget to bring me back some diamonds.’

‘I love you all, my kleine (little) monsters! Tonight in the Antwerp Arena we’re gonna be super free!’

“Antwerp offers all the benefits major cities have, good accessibility, the abundance of high quality office space and the comfortable balance between working and living, all at an affordable price.”

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN ANTWERP? CONTACT ANTWERP HEADQUARTERS AT

www.antwerpheadquarters.be

+32 3 338 20 01

Former US President Bill Clinton begins his speech at the prestigious Gala Dinner of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre on a playful note.

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