Factories of the
future
Belgium is aiming to lead Europe in building the factories of the future. These next-generation facilities will reimagine the entire operation of a plant to support the green transition, make the most of novel biomanufacturing platforms, and realise the full potential of digitisation.
CDMO excellence
The rise of novel modalities such as cell, gene, and mRNA therapies and innovative vaccines has required a significant investment in new manufacturing capabilities.
CDMOs have been able to flexibly adapt production, drive a rapid growth in capacities and capabilities, and help the industry to ramp up in areas such as vaccine production.
Legend Biotech, first European production facility for CAR-T therapy
Thanks to the investment in our CAR-T facilities in Ghent we become part of the strong local ecosystem for biopharma and life sciences. By getting access to the incredible talent pool in Flanders/Belgium, we are convinced our company will be successful and will contribute to the further expansion of the local life sciences ecosystem.
Eurogentec investing in gene therapy
Kaneka Eurogentec is a global leader in the production of plasmid DNA. In 2017, the company became one of the first in Europe to commence CDMO activities for mRNA.
The mRNA facility was GMP certified by the Belgian Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products in 2019.
A new €14 million investment in additional clean rooms and a wide range of equipment will triple the existing manufacturing capacity for mRNA and therapeutic oligonucleotides.
Kaneka Eurogentec is proud to be one of the world’s leading service providers for microbial Biopharmaceuticals and tools for gene therapy.
Leading the digital transition
Belgium is a hotbed for the adoption of deeptech and digitech in drug discovery, clinical trials, and biomanufacturing.
Thanks to entities such as imec, we are helping to shape the future through innovation in nano and digital technology.
And by investing in the Health Data Agency, Belgium is facilitating the reuse of data for research and innovation in healthcare.
Data saves lives. With the Health Data Agency we want to make the difference by facilitating better secondary use of health data. Doing this together with all stakeholders will have a huge impact.
Program Manager, Health Data Agency
Our intention for Gosselies, in the heart of a growing Biopark close by to the Charleroi airport is to create a specialized cell and gene therapy campus for clinical and commercial-scale manufacturing, recognized as a center of excellence worldwide aiming for large-scale commercial production while continuing to develop cutting-edge processes and analytical methods. All this goes hand in hand with strong digital platforms that help our organization to be faster and more efficient, not only in the tools we use but also in the way we train our employees on a daily basis. I am confident that Gosselies and Belgium in general will continue to flourish and be the number one hub in Europe for pharma industries.
I started AcademicLabs to empower scientists in finding the newest scientific developments to chase their ambitious goals of realizing breakthrough research. Today, our missionary team is proud to serve leading global BioPharma and Biotech with our sophisticated and easy-to-use life science R&D landscaping platform.
Accelerating the green transition
The Belgian biotech and biopharma industry is minimising its environmental impact at every step of the value chain, from the supply of raw materials to production and shipment.
Working towards a greener, healthier tomorrow, our production sites are continually investing in green technologies such as solar panels, heat pumps, and wastewater recycling.
Takeda wins three major sustainability awards
Takeda has been recognised for accelerating the shift to sustainable facility design at its plasma-derived therapies production site in Lessines, Belgium.
Transport & Logistics Award 2023 for the new net zero-carbon warehouse.Facility of the Year Award 2023 for plasma-derived therapy production line. Wallonia Technical Team of the Year 2023.
What seemed like science fiction is now a reality. In a not-so-distant future, net-zero manufacturing sites will be the norm and Belgium has a golden opportunity to become a leader in sustainable factories of the future. By prioritizing eco-friendly technologies and practices, Belgium can demonstrate its commitment to environmental stewardship, attract sustainable investments, and inspire other nations to follow suit. This transformative shift can forge a path towards a greener, more prosperous future, where industry and sustainability go hand in hand.
Janssen, the first to apply deep geothermal energy on a large scale
In October 2022 Janssen was able to generate the first heat via deep geothermal energy. Janssen is the first industrial player in Belgium to apply deep geothermal energy on this scale for its own energy needs. With geothermal energy as a heat source, Janssen can reduce CO2 emissions at their site in Beerse by 30% and help support and accelerate the transition to sustainable energy in Flanders. The Janssen geothermal project was realized in part thanks to financial support from Flanders (the Flemish Energy and Climate Agency, the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) and from the European Union (€1.5 million from the European Fund for Regional Development, EFRO Flanders).
Janssen fully opts for a healthy and sustainable future. Not only do we want to contribute to a better society through innovative medicines, Janssen also cares deeply about the future of our planet and the next generations. It is our goal to be CO2 neutral for all our own activities by 2030. To achieve this, Janssen invested in deep geothermal energy, among other things. Patients are at the heart of what we do. Innovation and sustainable business practices are at the heart of how we do it.
