Flanders launches new entertainment cluster to boost innovation

The Flemish Government has launched a new spearhead cluster for the entertainment sector, bringing together stakeholders from media, gaming, events and culture. Minister-president Matthias Diependaele (N-VA) officially introduced ENT.A (Entertainment Association) on Wednesday at a kick-off event attended by around 100 companies, knowledge institutions and organisations.

Focus on collaboration and innovation

ENT.A aims to accelerate innovation, collaboration and internationalisation across the broad entertainment sector, which employs more than 350,000 people in Flanders and generates an estimated added value of over 13 billion EUR.

"With ENT.A, we are bringing the broad entertainment sector together to focus even more on collaboration, innovation, and internationalisation," said Diependaele. "In doing so, we ensure that Flanders remains a frontrunner in Europe."

The cluster is already working on 29 project ideas involving more than 60 partners. These include MUMIA, an AI application that converts media archives into personalised audio and video content, and REGAIN, which aims to improve the visibility of Flemish news media in AI-driven search environments.

Other initiatives focus on making events more accessible for people with sensory disabilities and on developing immersive technologies for orchestral music.

Flemish minister of Mmdia Cieltje Van Achter (N-VA) highlighted the sector’s economic potential. "Games are not only entertainment, but also innovation, employment and economic growth," she said.

Funding and future plans

ENT.A forms part of the Entertainment Technology Project approved by the Flemish Government in June 2023. The agency VLAIO is supporting the cluster with 1.3 million EUR over its first three years, with members contributing an equivalent amount.

In the longer term, the initiative is expected to lead to Stage Tech Flanders, a research programme on stage technology with pilot locations in Ghent, Hasselt and Antwerp.

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