Research and Innovation background
In Belgium, most of the research and innovation competences belong to the Regional and Community level:
- Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels Capital Regions have main competences of research, innovation and economic development support (to region-based companies, clusters and research institutes).
- The French-, Flemish- and German-speaking communities of Belgium are mainly competent for education and research policy for universities and higher education institutes.
- In Flanders, regional (territory-based) and community (person-related) competences are united in one Flemish government, while they are divided in Wallonia into a Regional government and the French-speaking community government called “Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles”.
- The Federal level remains competent for a restricted number of research programmes and international agreements of national interest, e.g. space, polar, defence research.
The Federal Science Policy Office is responsible for the policy coordination with the federated entities, for own research programmes and federal scientific institutions, and the Belgian networking with European and international institutions. For example, Belgium is involved in the AIRBUS European aeronautical development programme, which is a major transport research initiative in the EU.
Within the Flemish government, the Department of Economy, Science and Innovation develops, evaluates and monitors R&I policy. The Science, Technology & Innovation publication describes the broad context and performance of the research and innovation landscape in Flanders. The two implementing agencies responsible for research and innovation funding policies are:
They are complemented with public investment organisations, namely: PMV and Limburg Reconversion Company (LRM).
Belgium has developed a comprehensive set of strategies and planning documents to guide sustainable transport and mobility, focusing on a just transition to a more eco-friendly urban environment. Some key transport strategies and planning documents guiding sustainable transport and mobility include:
- National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP): Outlines Belgium's commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with specific targets for the transport sector to shift towards low-emission and electric vehicles.
- Climate Plan for the territory of the City of Brussels: Outlines targets for the City of Brussels that will enable it reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
- Good Move Regional Mobility Plan (2020): This plan aims to reduce car use, enhance public transport, and promote cycling and walking across Brussels.
- Regional Sustainable Development Plan (PRDD): Integrates mobility with broader urban planning to ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities.
(Last updated: 04/11/2024)
Institutional framework of transport research
Transport policy is defined by several levels of government and various organisations, including:
- The transport sector at the federal level is the responsibility of the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport which prepares and implements federal policy on mobility.
- The Walloon Government has a public service for Mobility and Infrastructure, responsible for coordinating transport and mobility in the region.
- The Flemish Government has a Department of Mobility and Public Works which coordinates mobility and infrastructure policy in the region.
- Finally, in the Brussels-Capital region, transport and mobility are regulated by several units of the Ministry of the Brussels-Capital (Bruxelles Mobilité).
In this institutional set-up, transport research is funded through various mechanisms. The Federal Government funds research programmes of national interest, the largest one being space.
In Brussels-Capital Region, INNOVIRIS (Brussels Institute for Research and Innovation) is the public funding agency for scientific research and technological innovation.
(Last updated: 04/11/2024)
Funding Sources and Support Initiatives
Recent programmes and frameworks for funding research on transport related topics include:
- City of Things 2023: Smart Cities and Municipalities (2023) - Gives Flemish cities and municipalities the opportunity to get started with smart city applications.
- Flanders Make competence cluster "Motion Products".
- Mobilidata - Creates innovative traffic solutions to make traffic safer, more efficient and sustainable for all road users.
- Intelligent Transport Systems - The Federal ITS Plan aims to provide innovative services that enable sustainable mobility by integrating information and communications technology in road transport and its interfaces with other modes of transport.
- National Recovery Plan - Additional rail investments as part of the National Recovery Plan to strengthen the reliability and safety of the rail system; increase the accessibility of the rail system; and improve the punctuality of rail services.
- Vision Rail 2040 - Project which will create conditions for a modal shift to allow rail to act as the backbone of a more sustainable mobility system whilst reducing CO2 emissions, improving mobility, reducing traffic congestion and road accidents, and supporting the economy.
(Last updated: 04/11/2024)