New research centre should ensure Flanders’ global leadership in innovation
The Research Park Zellik, which officially opens on 7 May, is expected to put the Flemish periphery, the 19 Flemish municipalities bordering Brussels, on the map as one of the most innovative regions in the coming years.
The research centre, serving as a testbed for decarbonisation, robotics and cutting-edge medical technology, is a joint initiative between Flanders Technology & Innovation, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and UZ Brussel university hospital, intended to ensure that Flanders remains a global leader in innovation.
"Through the strategic use of technology and innovation, Flanders wants to become the best place in the world to live, work and relax by 2030," said Flemish minister president Jan Jambon (N-VA).
Pioneering research
The research park, supported by a 30 million euro Flemish subsidy, is intended to become a meeting point for companies and academics to address contemporary challenges. It will house, among other facilities, the first Flemish Tier-1 supercomputer, the second most powerful computer in the world after Tier-0, which costs approximately 12 million euros.
Additionally, the research park should become the home of several firsts in research and development. Among the pioneering projects planned are the first Flemish Decarbonisation Institute, a robotics cluster and the most advanced medical scanner in Flanders.
"The intention is to conduct research and development here," said Jambon. Thus, the Research Park of VUB and UZ Brussel will become an innovative hub accessible to companies. "Through the strategic use of technology and innovation, Flanders wants to become the best place in the world to live, work and relax by 2030."
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO TIMON RAMBOER
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