Gateway to Research and Technology in Wallonia

As soon as the first wave of biotechnology rose in Europe, Wallonia saw an opportunity to enter this key sector. The Wallonia authorities started to help newborn companies to devise their strategic plans. Moreover, as these start-ups were facing a highly competitive environment, the risk of "sudden death" was great. This did not deter the entrepreneurial mind in Wallonia. On the contrary, biotechnology was chosen as a top priority sector to position the region at the forefront of European Bio-regions. The existing chemical and pharmaceutical companies provided the industrial expertise necessary to appreciate the results of the highly innovative research that was taking place in the universities. The life sciences sector could now enter a new phase of development. The ambition of many of these entrepreneurs has since turned to a rapid expansion and a shift of their activities towards the segments with the highest added values.