Belgian biopharmaceutical industry remains among European leaders, but loses ground

The biopharmaceutical industry in Belgium remains among the European leaders, but is losing ground, according to a new report by the sector federation pharma.be. Caroline Ven, CEO of pharma.be, advocates a clear Belgian and European strategy to support the industry.

While Belgium was still the second largest exporter of biopharmaceutical products in the European Union in 2022, the country dropped to third place in 2023. The total value of these exports at that time amounted to 73.8 billion euros. “This is due to a double movement,” explained pharma.be. “The decline in exports of COVID-19 vaccines and the big leap forward made by Ireland.” Ireland became the second-largest exporter after Germany.

In terms of total investment in research and development, Belgium also lost ground, with 5.7 billion euros in 2023. While Germany remained the clear leader with 9.9 billion, France overtook Belgium with 5.9 billion euros. In relation to the number of inhabitants, Belgium remains by far the largest investor with 481.5 euros per capita, ahead of Denmark (298.5 euros) and Slovenia (142.2 euros).

"With a decline from 446 to 417 patent applications per capita, there has been a decline for the first time in years"

In terms of patent applications per capita, the Belgian biopharmaceutical sector remained second in Europe in 2024, behind Denmark and ahead of the Netherlands. However, with a decline from 446 to 417 patent applications per capita, there has been a decline “for the first time in years”, notes pharma.be.

In 2023, the Belgian biopharmaceutical sector still employed nearly 6,500 researchers. This meant that the country just fell outside the top three in terms of the number of jobs in research and development per capita.

"Worrying trend"

Caroline Ven, CEO of pharma.be, says in a foreword to the report that the figures show “a worrying trend”. “Belgium's leading position in the biopharmaceutical sector in Europe is under threat,” she wrote. “The biopharmaceutical sector is still the innovative powerhouse of the manufacturing industry in our country, but Belgium cannot afford to lose what has been built up with dedication and vision over many years.”

"Belgium cannot afford to lose what has been built up with dedication and vision over many years”

Ven advocates a clear Belgian and European strategy, and “not a patchwork of separate initiatives”, to support the industry. She calls for “targeted support, smart regulation and a renewed focus on innovation”.

^{Illustration © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}