pharma.be: Belgium, an innovative pharmavalley in Europe

Belgium, an innovative pharmavalley in Europe

Belgium holds a remarkable, leading position in the European (bio)pharmaceutical sector. Among all countries of the European Union, Belgium has the highest level of pharmaceutical investments in pharmaceutical Research and Development per inhabitant. Together with the second largest number of medicines in development (in clinical trials) and the third position in pharmaceutical R&D employment per inhabitant, Belgium truly is a gem in (bio) pharmaceutical innovation within the European Union.

With 11 million inhabitants, Belgium represents 2.2 percent of the EU population, and 2.9 percent of the GDP in the European Union. Centrally located in Europe, gifted with an entreprenial mindset and benefitting from excellent medical and road-infrastructure, a dense and fruitful ecosystem has been developed over the years. It fosters collaboration between private enterprises, academic centers, clinical trials units in hospitals, and the healthcare community as a whole. Hence, it does not come as a surprise, that Belgium is recognized as a leading pharmavalley in the European Union. The fact that these activities are focused on every phase in the pharmaceutical value-chain adds to the attractiveness of Belgium as prefered location for pharmaceutical activities: from basic research, over manufacturing and production facilities to supply chain, to its world renown expertise in pharmaceutical import and export. A leader in R&D and R&D employment According to the latest numbers available, in 2018, (bio)pharmaceutical companies in Belgium invested nearly 3.6 Billion euros in Research and Development of new pharmaceutical compounds. That is the equivalent of 10 million euros investments in Research and Development each day. These investments have surged with 40 percent over the last five years, compared to the 2.4 Billion euros investments done in 2014. It represents more than 40 per cent of all R&D investments by private companies in Belgium. This increased attractiveness has also been translated in a remarkable increase in the number of patent applications, and in growing R&D-employment in Belgium. 315 patent applications a year in the pharmaceutical and the biotech industry (2018), it means that nearly one patent is being applied for, every day. The number of patent applications has grown with 51 percent over the last five years. With nearly 5,300 employees in research positions, Belgium has the third largest number of researchers employed in the (bio)pharmaceutical sector per inhabitant in the EU. The huge investments in R&D combined with a high level of expertise put Belgium in second place in the EU, in terms of clinical trial applications per inhabitant. In 2018 two new clinical trial applications were submitted in Belgium every working day. 80% percent of these clinical trials are sponsored by private companies.

A leading hub for pharmaceutical exports Belgium not only leads the way with respect to pharmaceutical research. In absolute numbers, Belgium is the third largest exporter of pharmaceutical goods in the European Union. (Bio) pharmaceutical companies located in Belgium accounted for 12.1% of the total EU (bio)pharmaceutical exports in 2018. The value of (bio)pharmaceutical products that were exported from Belgium all over the world, totalled 42.9 Billion euros in 2018. Belgium’s pharmaceutical companies have a resolutely global outlook. Nearly half of all pharmaceutical exports (46%) go to countries outside the European Union, primarily the United States, Canada and China. Pact for the Future with the authorities In order to preserve and even strengthen this remarkable position in Europe, the Belgian federal government concluded in 2015 a so-called ‘Pact for the Future, for the patient, with the pharmaceutical industry’. The Pact is a long list of proposals to supporting growth and innovation, which have resulted in concrete measures supporting the innovative pharmaceutical industry’s activities in Belgium. Catherine Rutten, CEO of pharma.be © pharma.be

pharma.be vzw | asbl Terhulpsesteenweg 166 Chaussée de La Hulpe B-Brussel 1170 Bruxelles Tel.: +32 (0)2 661 91 11 - Fax: +32 (0)2 661 91 99 Email: info@pharma.be - http://www.pharma.be