Situated in the heart of Europe, the city of Antwerp, Belgium, has always been a bustling international metropolis driven by the relentless pursuit of innovation. With its impressive history of pioneering endeavors in both commerce and technology, the city’s rich tradition of innovation has transformed the city of Antwerp into a gateway to one of the world’s most prosperous regions. It now hosts a multitude of highly innovative businesses, welcoming over 170 nationalities and nurturing a vibrant cultural landscape. Antwerp is currently elevating its status by focusing on digital innovation, sustainable chemistry, energy transition, and healthcare, all of which are set to underpin its future economic growth.

What factors make the city of Antwerp an ideal destination for open innovation?

Focus on global connectivity and strategic position

Due to its geographic location, the city of Antwerp is positioned as the optimal entry point, conveniently situated in proximity to both European and international industrial and consumer markets. The city’s road, air, rail, barge, and sea connectivity facilitate rapid and cost-effective access to the European hinterland. Antwerp’s excellent port connectivity and high level of integration ensure that companies have everything they need to work together to build a sustainable future in a stable business environment. Serving as the launching pad for the most direct path to European clientele and industries, the city holds the distinction of being the starting point for this swift route.

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In the European Cities of the Future 2022/23 ranking by fDi Intelligence (a specialist division from The Financial Times), the city of Antwerp was recognized as the second most connected large city. This ranking surpasses cities like Glasgow and Hamburg, underscoring the extensive interconnection of businesses in Antwerp with the rest of the world.

The city of Antwerp’s rich history in open innovation for sustainable growth

Another crucial factor in Antwerp’s entrepreneurial environment is that the city boasts a remarkable history of excellence in innovation and trade. Its robust economic foundations, a long-standing tradition of fostering innovation, and a meticulously designed innovation strategy aligned with the following United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have collectively fostered an environment where groundbreaking businesses thrive.

The city of Antwerp’s innovation strategy strives to formulate solutions to five priorities:

1. Combating climate change
2. Building the port of the future
3. Achieving sustainable transition of the chemical cluster
4. Making Antwerp a healthier city
5. Innovating in traditional sectors such as diamond, fashion, and retail

Antwerp is also a hub for highly skilled, multilingual, and diverse talent. The city hosts over 50,000 students annually across various domains, preparing them for international careers. Moreover, the city of Antwerp offers renowned programs tailored to its economic clusters. This diverse range of study programs cultivates a specialized talent pool contributing to the city’s future. Businesses value Antwerp’s talent’s adaptability and international focus, as they are multilingual and excellently trained for the global stage. The residents’ unparalleled quality of life and affordable living costs enhance their creativity, productivity, and forward-thinking mindset.

Belgium’s economic engine driving open innovation across industries

Next to the city’s connectivity and highly productive workforce are other factors that position Antwerp as a Belgian economic powerhouse. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges stands as Europe’s second-largest port and serves as the primary pipeline hub in Western Europe. As the first European port for conventional cargo, it offers a broader spectrum of value-added logistics and industrial services compared to its European counterparts. The port provides approximately 162,000 jobs and contributes an added value of nearly 21 billion euros, making itself an indispensable pillar of the Belgian economy. On top of that, the Port is becoming a central European hub for hydrogen and taking the lead in transitioning to a carbon-neutral port.

The Port also boasts Europe’s largest integrated chemical cluster (and the second-largest chemical cluster in the world), globally renowned for its remarkable degree of integration and diversity throughout the value chain. This cluster gathers cutting-edge logistics experts for securing storage, handling, and distributing oil, chemicals, and gasses, aided by an advanced 1,000-kilometer pipeline network. Since all major international chemical and refinery companies have their European headquarters in Antwerp, this cluster consistently attracts substantial international investments. The chemical cluster is highly driven by innovation: the presence of research institutions, universities, and innovation hubs in the vicinity fosters collaboration between academia and industry.

When it comes to the diamond trade, Antwerp is home to the oldest, largest, and most transparent diamond industry worldwide: it controls over 85% of the world’s trade in rough diamonds and 50% of trade in polished diamonds. The city remains the hub for creative master polishers, a center for diamond industry innovation and prototyping, and a leader in setting high standards for consumer confidence through the Diamond Office and the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. The city of Antwerp’s diamond trade has endured for centuries due to its pioneering efforts in creativity, transparency, and a combination of cutting-edge craftsmanship with innovative technologies. These elements put Antwerp on the map of today’s global diamond business.

Antwerp also enjoys a unique status in global fashion because of its renowned fashion programs at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and the ModeMuseum’s international reputation. The Academy graduates often launch their own collections or secure positions at acclaimed fashion houses. The city is also home to internationally acclaimed designers and retail concepts, such as Dries Van Noten and Essentiel Antwerp. The city of Antwerp places a premium on innovation in this traditional sector, emphasizing sustainability and digital fashion. Designers delve into the metaverse, establishing Antwerp as an experimental incubator and a dynamic center for groundbreaking fashion entrepreneurs. Discover how our Maritime platform in Antwerp is spearheading maritime trends with decarbonization tech and digital twins for a sustainable future.

Finally, the diverse and inclusive nature of industries fosters cross-industry innovation. Antwerp, with its vibrant retail and gastronomy sectors, cultivates an open atmosphere for innovation. With a robust consumer base and ambitious vision, the city of Antwerp emerges as the perfect springboard for cutting-edge businesses.

City of Antwerp's strong commitment to digital innovation, sustainable chemistry, and healthcare makes it an ideal place for open innovation

The city of Antwerp has emerged as a compelling hub for tech expansion, supported by the following key indicators:

• Antwerp boasts 100+ investors and VCs, including Fortino and imec.istart.
• The city features three innovation hubs: The Beacon, BlueChem, and Dunden.
• It houses 12 incubators and accelerator programs, such as Start it @KBC and Maritime Campus Antwerp.
• With over 700 startups, Antwerp is an attractive hub for international tech companies to thrive.
• The city of Antwerp is home to notable startup initiatives like startups.be | scale-ups.eu or SCALE.CITIES.
• The city offers support programs for entrepreneurial talent, such as TAKEOFFANTWERP.

Antwerp’s thriving ecosystem encompasses digital innovation, sustainable chemistry, and healthcare, solidifying its position as a global innovation hub. The city’s commitment to sustainable chemistry aligns with its focus on circular innovation, with key players like the pre-incubator BlueApp and incubator BlueChem located at the innovative spaces of Blue Gate Antwerp and NextGen District & Demo. Antwerp’s digital prowess shines through IoT, AI, and smart city solutions initiatives, while the health sector emphasizes areas like pandemic readiness, e-health, and medical technology. Noteworthy projects like the vaccine trial facility Vaccinopolis and pre-accelerator programs powered by imec.istart underscore the city’s dedication to innovation and progress.

Check our case study for Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Awake.AI

Together with the Port of Antwerp-Burges, the city of Antwerp also partners with Plug and Play. Our collaboration centers on maritime innovation in Antwerp, shaping the sector’s future through a blend of solutions from our vast startup network and local expertise. This partnership cements Antwerp’s role as a pivotal center for nautical innovation.

The advancement of a robust digital network has also played a pivotal role in fostering innovation in the city. Notably, the city of Antwerp is now home to the world’s fastest fiber network, boasting 25 gigabit technology developed in collaboration between Nokia and Proximus. Besides, the city established private 5G networks, solidifying Antwerp’s position as a forefront runner in cutting-edge technology.

A hub for business growth and government collaboration in open innovation

Flanders, the Belgian region housing Antwerp, has cultivated a conducive business environment for companies based in the area. This is achieved through a blend of groundbreaking knowledge institutions, robust infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and business-friendly policies. The government facilitates a range of grants and incentives for strategic transformation projects, eco-friendly initiatives, R&D projects, and the like. It also offers a phased reduction in the corporate income tax rate and advantages for companies headquartered in Flanders.

Regarding innovation, funding opportunities and legislation play an essential role in creating a business-friendly climate. In this regard, the city of Antwerp boasts a solid financial sector, hosting headquarters of key Belgian banks and subsidiaries of major multinational banks. Entrepreneurs can be eligible for diverse funding options, including crowdfunding, traditional bank and non-bank financing, mezzanine financing, and VC. In its turn, legal certainty is presented through legislation supporting trade, robust business and intellectual property protection, straightforward environmental regulations, and transparency.

In addition, Antwerp leads Europe in investing in research and development. In 2020, Flanders allocated a substantial 3.6% of its GDP to research and development, securing its top position ahead of Sweden.

Lastly, Antwerp offers affordable business spaces (lowest prices per square meter) compared to other big cities in the area, such as Amsterdam, Paris, and Frankfurt. Not only does the city ensure competitive pricing for permanent offices, but so do coworking spaces. This provides companies with more flexibility and networking opportunities, cost savings, and enhanced work-life balance, making the city of Antwerp attractive for domestic and foreign businesses.

City of Antwerp: Fostering open innovation for future economic growth

The city’s strategic geographic position and highly productive and innovative workforce contribute to its status as a Belgian economic powerhouse. Antwerp’s economic engine is fueled by its world-class port, leading chemical cluster, diamond trade, fashion industry, and diverse sectors, fostering cross-industry innovation. Besides, the city is actively working on its innovation strategy, which is aligned with the UN’s SDGs and a robust startup ecosystem. The city’s commitment to digital innovation, sustainable chemistry, energy transition, and healthcare positions it for future economic growth. With a business-friendly environment, government support, and a focus on research and development, the city of Antwerp remains an ideal destination for open innovation and a hub for promising entrepreneurial talent.

Plug and Play’s office in the city of Antwerp, Belgium is located in an area with a rich history of groundbreaking ventures and is often regarded as a gateway to Europe, one of the world’s most prosperous regions. For more information aboutjoining our platform, please contactMerjen Meretgulyyeva, Program Associate.