Few domains are at the cutting edge of cross-sectoral collaboration and innovation like aerospace is. Luckily, in Flanders, your company can find all the specialists you need to accomplish your mission. Learn how a constellation of experts can help your business skyrocket and prepare your innovative endeavors for liftoff!
In Flanders, you don’t need to venture into the vast expanse of aerospace business and innovation opportunities on your own. Far from it! Below are just some of the main “crewmembers” that can back your ambitions.
Several federations and clusters stand ready to represent the interests of the aerospace sector and associated industries in Flanders. They can also help drive your business by promoting and facilitating innovative collaborations, among other things. Two prominent organizations in this regard are:
Flanders Space
Flanders Space is Flanders’ cluster organization for the space industry. It, unites companies, knowledge institutes, research centers and the like to shape the industry’s future and put it on the map internationally.
In doing so, Flanders Space focuses on four key areas:
Agoria-FLAG
Agoria-FLAG unites companies that are active in the aerospace market. It aims to support the development of aerospace and related technologies in Flanders and boost their visibility around the globe.
To support its members, Agoria-FLAG provides:
While the entire academic world in Flanders is highly active in both aeronautics and space R&D, some research centers and knowledge institutes stand out:
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300 sensors from SCK-CEN aboard NASA’s Artemis I mission Part of an international consortium of eight laboratories, Flanders’ nuclear research center SCK CEN provided 300 sensors for the Artemis I lunar mission, which saw the launch of NASA’s powerful SLS rocket on 16 November 2022. The rocket was carrying the Orion, an unmanned spacecraft designed to orbit the moon. But ‘unmanned’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘crewless’… Aboard the Orion were not one but three manikins, two of which were equipped with cutting-edge radiation detectors from SCK-CEN. Going by the names of Helga and Zohra, the manikins were developed using materials that mimic human tissue. Their goal? To map out exposure to cosmic radiation during a lunar mission – all while putting a new type of protective space vest to the test. |
Is your innovative aerospace idea promising but not yet ready for launch? Good news: Flanders is home to a variety of incubators and accelerators that foster close ties between the private, public and academic sectors for enhanced innovative and business success. Some of the main go-to partners are:
Flanders’ space industry is proving to be a driving force for the creation of start-ups and innovation in other sectors, ensuring that Flanders continues to accumulate crucial expertise, knowledge and IP rights. Meanwhile, the growing domain of NewSpace – where space activity becomes increasingly privatized – provides a major opportunity for Flanders. It is known to be a region of agile SMEs and disruptive niche players who are used to working with other business partners: the perfect prerequisite for space industry success.
The aerospace industry and its applications have become indispensable to our daily lives. From precision agriculture and construction to transportation, traffic and logistics, life sciences and smart health, telecommunications, finance and insurance … So many industries use (aero)space technologies and/or data in one way or another. And often, these applications help tackle global challenges such as climate change, the carbon-neutral transition and security threats.
In Flanders, numerous niche players and enablers provide crucial technology, components and expertise in these and other domains. Their specializations range from machinery and robotics, components, maintenance, repair, (space) systems, satellites and sensors to consulting, training, testing, 3D printing, cybersecurity and more. Check out some prominent examples below!
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Made in Flanders: key rocket parts for Elon Musk When conducting test flights, aerospace manufacturers usually launch a concrete block or a massive piece of steel to simulate the weight of the rocket’s payload. In that case, there’s no need for any insulation. However, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, likes to do things differently. In February 2018, Musk decided to launch a Tesla roadster into outer space, requiring top-notch insulation. That’s where Recticel came in. Headquartered in Brussels, the capital of Belgium and Flanders, Recticel made a customized foam solution to help fulfill the idiosyncratic CEO’s childhood dream. “Our product insulates the rocket cabin’s interior, protecting it from sound vibrations during takeoff and safeguarding onboard satellites,” explains Olivier Chapelle, CEO of Recticel. Learn more about Recticel’s contribution to the Falcon Heavy rocket. |
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How QinetiQ’s facility in Flanders supports ESA’s Proba-3 mission Imagine a pair of satellites flying in formation to study the sun’s corona closer to the solar rim than ever before. Sounds like an extremely precise endeavor… Well, it’s exactly what ESA aims to accomplish with Proba-3: the first precision formation flying mission in the world, scheduled for launch in 2024. In 2022, the two satellites involved in the mission arrived the QinetiQ facility in Kruibeke, Flanders. QinetiQ’s local division was trusted with developing the avionics system, integrating all the electronic units within the platform, performing overall system verification and preparing for operations. Talk about taking on an astronomical responsibility! |
If you decide to establish activities or headquarters in Flanders, your business can reap the rewards of:
Request a free copy of our brochure to discover more about government support in Flanders.
Flanders offers access to tax incentives that are particularly relevant to research-intensive domains such as aerospace and aeronautics. Examples include:
