In terms of connectivity (mobility and transport infrastructure, IT, human networks, etc.), Wallonia is considered the 2nd most performing region according to the latest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) ranking. This result reflects the investment efforts made in recent years to make the Belgian region a leading economic hub in Europe. What about the future? On the occasion of the largest global real estate fair (MIPIM), the main cities of Wallonia came to present their projects aimed at strengthening Wallonia's central position as a land for sustainable and international investments.
Where is the best place to launch or boost your business with Europe? Are you still wondering what the main gateway to the European market is? After the northern Netherlands, Wallonia ranks 2nd in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) ranking of regions with remarkable assets in terms of connectivity (mobility and transport infrastructure, IT, human networks, etc.) and access to major business and production centers in Europe...
Connected to 3 international airports (Brussels, Charleroi & Liège), 3 port areas (Antwerp, Liège, and Calais), several major railway routes (Paris, Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt, and even... China for freight!), Wallonia offers foreign companies dynamic ecosystems built around state-of-the-art logistics platforms, dedicated R&D university centers, and industrial hubs undergoing transformation to meet sustainability and connectivity challenges and expectations.
Wallonia, Gateway to Europe
Located in the heart of Europe and a market of 500 million consumers, Wallonia is a territory where companies come to establish and develop themselves to benefit from both a business-friendly environment and multiple logistic connections to the Eurasian and African continents.
Known as the "pharma & greentech valley", Wallonia is a place of innovation and competitiveness, an attractive and competitive region where companies benefit from intelligent taxation and a wide range of financial, social, and environmental aid.
Did you know that Wallonia offers a wide range of land, semi-industrial buildings, and/or offices? Moreover, Wallonia has an extensive network of contacts in the real estate sector and will help you find infrastructure specially adapted to various sectoral activities.
Business parks dedicated to cutting-edge sectors
In collaboration with eight local economic development institutions, Wallonia manages 282 economic activity parks, including seven scientific parks, six logistics sites, and 11 multimodal infrastructures, covering a total area of 13,318 ha. The seven Walloon scientific parks form a network that promotes the reception and support of technological companies in the region. They provide the keys to stimulate the economic and technological growth of innovative projects: a concentration of technological actors (companies, research centers, universities), infrastructures, and services adapted to the needs of economic actors and foreign investors, across all sectors: Louvain-La-Neuve Science Park, Liège Science Park, Crealys, Aeropole, Initialis, Qualitis & Novalis.
MIPIM 2024: Emblematic projects presented by Wallonia
A6K-E6K (Charleroi)
Inaugurated in January 2020, the A6K-E6K project aims to consolidate and accelerate the growth dynamics of technological and digital actors who have demonstrated their ability to recreate employment locally by co-locating their activities in a single emblematic place. Currently installed on 7000 m² in the heart of Charleroi, this hub brings together two projects:
- A6K (Atelier 6000), which brings together more than 50 organizations on 5000 m², is an ecosystem where industrial companies, startups, research centers, competitiveness clusters, universities, and training operators coexist to promote innovation in engineering fields. Notably, companies like Alstom or Aerospacelab are present, with Aerospacelab soon opening its satellite factory nearby, still with the support of local investment.
- E6K (École 6000), which spans nearly 2000 m² and brings together various public and private education operators, is a center for various technological and digital training programs, both in content, duration, and learning techniques. Actors such as IFAPME, Technofutur TIC, or Becode have been present there since the early days. In 2023, nearly 1000 people underwent training there, and the number of learners continues to increase in these areas.
Canal Street (Mons)
Facing the new IKEA / GRANDS PRES shopping center, behind the passage of the new multimodal station designed by Santiago CALATRAVA and the ‘Daniel LIBESKIND’ Congress Center (MICS), next to the INITIALIS Scientific Park and a stone's throw from GEOTHERMIA, a new zero-emission business district, Canal Street, is emerging. Canal Street will be an office district consisting of 2000 m² units with adjacent units on 3 to 4 floors that can enhance the appearance of the main boulevards given to this part of the municipal territory. A first unit was built in 2018 and is dedicated to the economic sector of construction and its associated services. The next units are being delivered.
Creative District (Liège)
Located in the center of Liège, the Grand Léopold district is undergoing a major economic transformation and is a major challenge for the city. It is within this district that emblematic projects are taking off, such as La Grand Poste, the Fiacre creative hub, Madeleine 4.0, Noshaq offices, etc.
The "Creative District" project aims to contribute to the economic revitalization of this district, such as by supporting creative companies integrating actors active in the research, development, and entrepreneurship of the Media and Tech sector.
Quantum Biospace (Wavre)
Quantum Biospace is a 63,000 m2 business park project set to be located north of Wavre, capital of the Walloon Brabant province and located near the Walloon ‘biotech valley’. This real estate project aims to bring together pharmaceutical companies, companies specialized in biotechnology and artificial intelligence in one place. Located less than 30 km from Brussels, Quantum Biospace benefits from a premium location in terms of access to talent pools and opportunities for European university and industrial collaborations.
For an overview of hundreds of projects available or in the finalization process in Wallonia, visit: https://www.wallonia-mipim.be/projects
