Post by ERA_FABRIC

🇧🇪 Belgium continues to demonstrate how strong multi-level governance can drive one of Europe's most advanced research and innovation ecosystems. 🚀 The ERA Country Report 2025 highlights Belgium's continued leadership in research excellence while introducing new initiatives to strengthen science-policy interfaces, responsible AI, industrial competitiveness and regional innovation ecosystems. 🔹 🔬 Belgium remains deeply embedded in the European Research Area, participating in 30 European Research Infrastructures and reinforcing its commitment to host the Einstein Telescope, one of Europe's most ambitious scientific infrastructure projects. 🔹 🏛️ The Science4Policy programme is strengthening evidence-based policymaking through cross-sectoral research, rapid-response scientific advice and stronger coordination between federal and regional authorities. 🔹 🤖 Belgium is advancing the responsible use of AI in research, integrating trustworthy AI principles into research funding, governance and public administration while supporting AI uptake across academia, business and the public sector. 🔹 🌱 Regional initiatives continue to accelerate circular economy, clean technologies, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, with dedicated programmes in Flanders, Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region strengthening place-based innovation ecosystems. 🔹 🌍 Belgium also continues to promote citizen science, research security, science diplomacy, research management and next-generation biomedical research through non-animal testing methodologies (NAMs). 📊 Belgium remains one of Europe's strongest innovation performers, investing 3.36% of GDP in R&D, including 2.43% from the business sector, while 11.48% of its scientific publications belong to the world's top 10% most cited. 💡 For ERA_FABRIC, Belgium illustrates the value of coordinated multi-level governance, where federal and regional authorities combine strategic investments, research infrastructures, industrial policy and stakeholder collaboration to strengthen resilient innovation ecosystems. At the same time, the report highlights that even high-performing innovation systems must continue improving technology transfer, innovation diffusion and the translation of research excellence into economic and societal impact. 🌍 Belgium's experience confirms that Europe's future competitiveness depends not only on investing in excellent research, but also on connecting science, policy, industry and society through well-governed, place-based innovation ecosystems. https://lnkd.in/dhh3c6dv #ERAFABRIC #EuropeanResearchArea #InnovationEcosystems #ResearchAndInnovation #KnowledgeValorisation #ResearchInfrastructure #OpenScience #ArtificialIntelligence #SciencePolicy #HorizonEurope