Pharma Figures 2017
Belgium: a key role in the innovation and discovery of the medicines of the future
Responsible publisher: Catherine Rutten, pharma.be - Terhulpensesteenweg 166, 1170 Brussels - Belgium Legal deposit: D/2018/4021/7
Now more than ever, “Belgium is a pharma valley” Belgium is often referred to as “pharma valley“, a designation that is wholly warranted. Home to close to 200 biopharmaceutical companies (of which 130 are pharma.be members), at least 15 general headquarters, 14 research and development sites, 31 production sites and 14 bioincubators, Belgium holds a prominent position in the worldwide biopharmaceutical industry.
12 percent of the new clinical studies launched in Europe are conducted in Belgium
€27.7bn
10%
The figures for 2017 speak for themselves. In terms of employment, the industry continued to see its total workforce going up, and is now providing almost 36,000 direct jobs. The figure has been consistently rising since 2010. 2017 also proved to be a record year in terms of Research and Development investments: 3.5 billion euros (E) were invested into research for innovative therapies. This amount has virtually doubled since 2010.
In Europe, 27.7 billion euros were invested in Research and Development.
Belgium represents over 10 percent of the R&D investments in biopharmaceuticals in the EU.
Belgium is continuing to export biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines on a large scale to every corner of the globe, representing a total value in excess of 40 billion euros. The relative share of the biopharmaceutical industry in the total Belgian exports stands at 10.6 percent.
5.2%
FIGURES OF 2016
5.2 percent of all European biopharmaceutical industry employees work in Belgium.
As such, the biopharmaceutical industry is a major player in the Belgian economy. Read on to find out more about the performance of the biopharmaceutical sector in Belgium in 2017. Catherine Rutten CEO pharma.be 7 In relation to the number of residents – figures pharma.be
(E) Estimation
13% Belgian export represents 13 percent of all European exports of biopharmaceutical products.
2017 at a glance With Research and Development investments exceeding 3.5 billion euros for the first time ever, and the consistently rising number of jobs, 2017 only served to confirm Belgium’s position as a centre of global excellence in biopharmaceuticals. A country geared to the world at large to contribute, keen to resolving global health issues.
R&D 3.51 billion EUR
Jobs 35 711
Export 40.5 billion EUR
Researchers 5 098
Focus on jobs1 Compared against 2016, the number of jobs in the sector went up by 1.3 percent in 2017. This rise is explained by the higher level of investments, the growing degree of innovation and the need to maintain high-level expertise. Biopharmaceutical companies find an appealing environment in Belgium that is conducive to growth and development, thanks to the countries’ central location (for logistics e.g.) and to the close interactions between companies and scientific research hubs which is unique in Europe and stimulated by a government policy that supports innovation. The challenges faced by research endeavours and the pride of working in a sector that leaves no stone unturned to advance the health of patients make the industry a highly attractive proposition.
34 698
35 250
35 711
6.2%
7.6%
2015
2016
2017
2010
2017
EMPLOYMENT TREND IN THE BIOPHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY (NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED)
THE INDUSTRY’S SHARE IN TOTAL EMPLOYMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
1 Sources: National Social Security Office, calculations by pharma.be; labour force survey | (E) Estimation
In 2017, the Belgian biopharmaceutical industry employed 35,711 people Looking at the figures since 2010, the average annual employment growth rate in the biopharmaceutical industry stands at 1.6 percent. This figure is significantly higher than the average annual growth rate seen since 2010 (0.9 percent) in the private industry as a whole.
-1.3% MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
+0.9%
+1.6%
PRIVATE SECTOR
BIOPHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
EMPLOYMENT: AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE 2017(E) / 2010
THE TALENTS OF THE BIOPHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY: Given the first-rate quality of education at Belgian schools and universities, the biopharmaceutical industry is able to rely on a wide range of skilled people. Two thirds of the sector’s employees hold a university or a higher education degree. As such, the industry is able to draw on high added value expertise as an indispensable asset in today’s knowledge economy.
68.3% OF EMPLOYEES HOLD A UNIVERSITY OR A HIGHER EDUCATION DEGREE
The industry has a remarkable track record in terms of gender parity: 49% 51%
Focus on Research and Development2 2017 was a record year for investments into Research and Development! Investing in innovation is a top priority for the Belgian biopharmaceutical industry. This innovative capacity places Belgium in the world’s upper echelons in the field of Research and Development of new medicines and treatments. The figures speak for themselves. 3 508 (E) 2 889 2 589 2 453 1 804
2010
2014
2015
2016
2017
EXPENDITURE ON R&D BY PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES CONDUCTING FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH IN BELGIUM ON MEDICAL PRODUCTS FOR HUMAN USE (M OF EUR)
With biopharmaceutical companies investing 3.51 billion euros into fundamental research in Belgium aimed at developing medicines for human use, the industry is consistently upping its game and reaffirming its commitment to find innovative
treatments to help patients. This commitment was anchored in the “Pact of the Future” which was signed in July 2015 between the Belgian Federal Government and the biopharmaceutical industry.
2 Sources: pharma.be based on data supplied by pharma.be’s member-companies, which perform fundamental research into medicines for human use.3 Source: Le journal du médecin/deArtsenkrant - 26/05/2017 | (E) Estimation
3.51 billion euros invested, a figure which has nearly doubled in 7 years Taking a closer look at the Research and Development
+10%
efforts, we see that since 2010 the average growth rate of these investments reached 10 percent per annum!
+10% +10% +10%
R&D EXPERTISE LEADS TO ADDITIONAL JOBS: In particular, the rise in number of jobs created in R&D divisions is striking. Today, there are 5.098 researchers or staff working in the area of research at Belgian biopharmaceutical companies, i.e. about 1,000 additional jobs in four years time.
5 098 4 472
4 237
2017 2016
4 119 2015
3 930 2014 2010
EMPLOYMENT IN R&D IN THE BIOPHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY. (NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED)
Every day, a patent application for a new medicine is filed in Belgium.3
Focus on exports4 Exports of biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines remain at a very high level. In 2017, the total value of the biopharmaceutical products exported from Belgium across the globe stood at 40.5 billion euros. This figure is comparable to that for 2016. The average annual growth rate between 2010 and 2017 stands at 0.73 percent. The biopharmaceutical industry greatly contributes to the drive and dynamism of the Belgian economy. The sector represents on its own just under 11 percent (10.6%) of all Belgian exports.
2015
40 499
2016
2017
EXPORT DYNAMIC CONFIRMED BY THE TRADE BALANCE: In 2017, the difference between the value of biopharmaceutical product exports and imports is strikingly positive. This surplus has risen further compared against 2016 with almost 700 million euros.
CHANGES IN EXPORTS OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS (M OF EUR)
2015
2016
2017(e)
7 895
2014
40 728
7 220
39 844
5 314
41 008
TREND IN THE BALANCE OF TRADE IN BIOPHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IN BELGIUM
4 Sources: National Bank of Belgium, calculations by pharma.be. 5 Source : Belgian Foreign Trade Agency, statistics. 6 Figures pharma.be
40.5 billion euros: Belgium remains an export champion
EUROPEAN UNION NORTH AMERICA 1,8%
2%
REST OF EUROPE
%
4,
3,7
8,9
ASIA
%
CENTRAL AND
13,0%
51,2%
SOUTH AMERICA
17 ,2%
AFRICA OCEANIA
GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD OF BELGIAN EXPORTS OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS (AS % OF TOTAL) IN 2017
TOP 3 OF THE DESTINATION COUNTRIES OF BELGIAN BIOPHARMACEUTICAL EXPORTS INSIDE THE EUROPEAN UNION
8.8%
For Belgian exports as a whole, three quarters (72.4 percent) go to the European Union and just over one quarter is shipped to the rest of the world5. However, for the biopharmaceutical industry taken on its own, we are looking at very different proportions: about half of the exports of biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines is destined to countries outside the EU. This figure underlines the vital role that Belgium plays in the global supply of biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines.
TOP 3 OF THE DESTINATION COUNTRIES OF BELGIAN BIOPHARMACEUTICAL EXPORTS OUTSIDE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
9.3% GERMANY
UNITED KINGDOM
2
EXPORT DESTINATIONS OF THE BELGIAN BIOPHARMACEUTICAL MEDICINES AND VACCINES
1
14.6% UNITED STATES 8.6%
4.2%
ITALY
SWITZERLAND
3
2
Vaccines represent 13.4% of pharma exports in 20176.
3.0% PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
1
3
Belgium on the European stage (2016)6 When it comes to biopharmaceutical innovation in Europe, Belgium naturally appears in the list of leading countries. At a European level, Belgium ranks second in terms of Research and Development investments and holds the same position for a number of clinical trials7 conducted. To illustrate, one in five of all clinical trials in the fight against cancer is conducted in Belgium. POSITION OF THE BELGIAN BIOPHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR IN EUROPE: AN OVERVIEW (RANKING PER CAPITA)
INVESTMENT IN R&D
EMPLOYMENT IN R&D
1
DK
BE
SW
1
DK 2
3
EMPLOYMENT IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR (TOTAL)
BE
VK
1
IE 2
3
DK
SI
BE
7 In relation to the number of residents – figures pharma.be
EXPORTS OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS
1
IE 2
3
4
BE
DK
2
3
Now more than ever, “Belgium is a pharma valley” Belgium is often referred to as “pharma valley“, a designation that is wholly warranted. Home to close to 200 biopharmaceutical companies (of which 130 are pharma.be members), at least 15 general headquarters, 14 research and development sites, 31 production sites and 14 bioincubators, Belgium holds a prominent position in the worldwide biopharmaceutical industry.
12 percent of the new clinical studies launched in Europe are conducted in Belgium
€27.7bn
10%
The figures for 2017 speak for themselves. In terms of employment, the industry continued to see its total workforce going up, and is now providing almost 36,000 direct jobs. The figure has been consistently rising since 2010. 2017 also proved to be a record year in terms of Research and Development investments: 3.5 billion euros (E) were invested into research for innovative therapies. This amount has virtually doubled since 2010.
In Europe, 27.7 billion euros were invested in Research and Development.
Belgium represents over 10 percent of the R&D investments in biopharmaceuticals in the EU.
Belgium is continuing to export biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines on a large scale to every corner of the globe, representing a total value in excess of 40 billion euros. The relative share of the biopharmaceutical industry in the total Belgian exports stands at 10.6 percent.
5.2%
FIGURES OF 2016
5.2 percent of all European biopharmaceutical industry employees work in Belgium.
As such, the biopharmaceutical industry is a major player in the Belgian economy. Read on to find out more about the performance of the biopharmaceutical sector in Belgium in 2017. Catherine Rutten CEO pharma.be 7 In relation to the number of residents – figures pharma.be
(E) Estimation
13% Belgian export represents 13 percent of all European exports of biopharmaceutical products.
Pharma Figures 2017
Belgium: a key role in the innovation and discovery of the medicines of the future
Responsible publisher: Catherine Rutten, pharma.be - Terhulpensesteenweg 166, 1170 Brussels - Belgium Legal deposit: D/2018/4021/7