Belgium, Flanders

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) SARS-CoV-2 is experiencing a resurgence, with the risk of future outbreaks from emerging variants remaining substantial. To stay ahead of the curve, continued investment in both preventative measures and novel therapies is vital. Groundbreaking Belgian research is leading the way with high-potential compounds targeting SARS-CoV-2, offering a promising new avenue for treatment and pandemic preparedness.
A fresh chapter in Flemish healthtech and life sciences has begun with the launch of Biovia: the health innovation cluster resulting from the merger of flanders.bio and MEDVIA. Unveiled at Knowledge for Growth, the flagship annual conference of the Flemish life sciences sector, this new industry-driven organization brings more than 450 members together in one unified ecosystem – cultivating connections and forging a path to a healthier future for people and planet.
The biotechnology sector has always been characterized by long, uncertain timelines. But with increasing scientific, regulatory, and market complexities, biotech development is now taking longer and costing more than ever before. Investors are being faced with a growing gap between initial investment and successful exit, and it’s vital for entrepreneurs to know how to handle this shift.
Ghent, February 26, 2025 — 4Tissue, a pioneer in biotechnology that is revolutionizing regenerative medicine, has successfully completed an additional €1.5M funding round, consisting of €1M in equity investments and additional grants. This funding will support the further development of the company’s groundbreaking bioresorbable hydrogel technology, which has the potential to significantly improve breast reconstruction and other tissue regeneration applications. This represents an important step forward in the evolution of regenerative medicine, with a particular focus on women’s health.
Meeting the needs of a growing global population while addressing the clear demand for a more sustainable food supply is challenging but not impossible. Innovative biotechnological tools are constantly being created, and they are increasingly available on the market. However, the industry is in desperate need of support, as EU legislation can act as more of a hurdle than a facilitator, hindering local advancement. flanders.bio is committed to advocating for the sector and highlights the most pressing challenges in their latest policy paper.
Ghent, Belgium, 15 January 2025 – ONTOFORCE, a leader in semantic technology for life sciences, headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, and Rancho Biosciences, the leading data science services company headquartered in San Diego, California, have announced a joint collaboration. This partnership aims to transform high quality data-driven research and drug development, providing scientists with unparalleled insights that drive discovery and innovation in the life sciences.
Galapagos intends to create a new company with approximately €2.45 billion in cash dedicated to building a pipeline of innovative medicines through transformational transactions. Galapagos will gain full global development and commercialization rights to its pipeline, focusing on accelerating cell therapies and building a global, decentralized manufacturing network. Galapagos to implement a strategic reorganization to position the Company for long-term growth and cell therapy leadership in oncology.
As 2025 comes peeking around the corner, we invite you to look back with us at some of the most exciting science topics we covered this year. From advances in women’s health, organoids, and organ-on-a-chip models to the challenges of data science and innovations in animal science and sustainable biotech; let us walk you through the Benelux life sciences landscape of 2024 as we reflect on the vast amount of knowledge and know-how characteristic to this region.
Leuven, Belgium – December 4th, 2024 – miDiagnostics is pleased to announce the completion of a €30 million Series D funding round, led by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science. This investment will accelerate the development of a groundbreaking sterility test for batch release and related quality control tests for the BioPharma Industry, utilizing miDiagnostics’ proprietary qPCR technology.
Ghent, Belgium, 4 December 2024 – European health technology (HealthTech) is at a critical crossroad. Despite groundbreaking research, a thriving startup scene and ambitious talent, the sector struggles to translate innovation into actionable impact. Challenges such as regulatory restrictions, fragmented markets, and funding gaps are slowing progress, while the clock is ticking and other regions of the world are surging ahead.
Ghent, Belgium, 4 December 2024 - At MEDVIA, we see the future of HealthTech filled with potential – a future powered by the intersection of health and technology. This is where breakthroughs in healthtech, medtech, AI and digital solutions promise to transform care delivery. It’s where patients have a voice, hospitals and caregivers have access to cutting-edge innovations, and technology like AI is making personalized medicine a reality. That future isn’t distant; it’s already here.
Antwerp, Belgium / Warsaw, Poland – December 4, 2024 – QbD Group and SciencePharma have reached an agreement for QbD Group to acquire SciencePharma. The deal is expected to close by early 2025, pending antitrust clearance.
Data science is vastly changing the way we do research. Veterinary research is, however, still lagging behind its human counterpart. Why is this the case and can we learn from human health data to close this gap?
RootWave’s technology kills weeds using electricity, offering farmers an eco-friendly alternative to chemical herbicides. The eWeeding solution supports our transition towards a more sustainable agricultural industry, protecting the health of both people and the planet.
Would you like the opportunity to explore your genetic predispositions? Genetic testing can be empowering, helping you to make informed decisions about your healthcare. But using DNA analysis to diagnose and predict certain health conditions calls for trained genetic professionals to explain complex results, answer lingering questions and provide emotional support to people, especially when they’re receiving unexpected news. Genetic counselors are an important link in this chain, but their crucial healthcare role is yet to be recognized in Belgium.