LIMBURG SCIENCE PARKS

[BIZ: Hasselt, November 6]
The Limburg (B) investment company LRM and the City Council of Genk decided on October 4 to take an important step in the development of the Waterschei mine site. LRM is selling the site to the City, which as the new owner will take an active role in the development of the site into a high quality business park. This business park will also include a science park that will be developed by the Louvain and Limburg Association.

The mayor, Jef Gabriëls, says that ‘science parks are important instruments in encouraging a knowledge-intensive economy. As a result of the activities of science parks, innovative research is transformed visibly into economic activity and employment. Thanks to partnership with the University of Hasselt and the focus on innovation by the University of Louvain, it will be possible to develop the science park in Waterschei to a dynamic center of economic growth and the creation of prosperity.’

The University of Hasselt president, Luc De Schepper, adds: ‘The University of Hasselt is particularly active in the area of applied research and Flanders is, in relative terms, a leader. The University of Hasselt is now looking at seven spin-off companies and the size of the portfolio of contract research for companies was 60% of the university’s additional funding in 2005.’ Mr Schepper went on to say that they were pleased that they were able to work with the University of Louvain to achieve an agreement in order to allow both Limburg science parks to develop further, and there is to be further cooperation.

The university will have a location on the science park in Waterschei and it will be able to offer the University of Louvain a location in the science park in Diepenbeek. There will a consultative committee, which will determine on an equal basis the type of company to be brought into the science park.
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