Science and technology in Flanders, being the Flemish Community and more specifically the northern region of Belgium (Europe), is well developed with the presence of several universities and research institutes. These are strongly spread over all Flemish cities, from Kortrijk and Bruges in the Western side, over Ghent as a major university center alongside Antwerp, Brussels and Leuven to Hasselt and Diepenbeek in the Eastern side.
Institutes of higher education in the Flemish community
Universities Six Flemish universities issue academic bachelor, master and doctoral degrees on a broad range of disciplines: University of Antwerp ('UA'), Antwerp Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel ('HUB'), Brussels (former Katholieke Universiteit Brussel) Vrije Universiteit Brussel, ('VUB') Brussels Ghent University ('UGent'), Ghent Hasselt University, Hasselt KU Leuven, Leuven and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Campus Kortrijk, Kortrijk
As a result of an international treaty between the Netherlands and Flanders, a co-operation between the Universiteit Hasselt (Flanders) and the Maastricht University (the Netherlands) is recognised as the Transnational University Limburg, Hasselt
According to the Webometrics Ranking of World UniversitiesWebometrics Ranking of World Universities Cybermetrics Lab, Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain. Retrieved on January 16, 2007 and the THES - QS World University Rankings,THES - QS World University Rankings 2007 QS Education Trust. Retrieved on January 16, 2007 four Flemish universities (Universiteit Antwerpen, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universiteit Gent and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) are among the top-150 universities in Europe and top-300 universities worldwide.
University colleges All recognised Flemish university colleges are associated with a Flemish university. The following colleges, which issue professional bachelor, academic bachelor's and master's degrees, are recognised by the Flemish government:
Antwerp University Association: University Colleges associated with the University of Antwerp Artesis Hogeschool Antwerpen (Antwerp, Merksem, Lier, Mechelen, Turnhout), public Hogere Zeevaartschool Antwerpen (Antwerp), public Karel de Grote-Hogeschool (Antwerp), catholic Plantijn Hogeschool (Antwerpen, Boom), public
Ghent University Association: University Colleges associated with Ghent University Arteveldehogeschool (Ghent), catholic Hogeschool Gent (Ghent, Aalst, Melle), public Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen (Bruges, Kortrijk), public
University Association Brussels: University Colleges associated with Vrije Universiteit Brussel Erasmushogeschool Brussel (Brussels), public
KU Leuven Association: University Colleges associated with Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Groep T Hogeschool (Leuven), catholic Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel (Brussels), catholic Hogeschool Sint-Lukas Brussel (Brussels), catholic Hogeschool voor Kunsten en Architectuur (Brussels, Ghent, Leuven, Genk), catholic Katholieke Hogeschool Brugge-Oostende (Bruges, Ostend), catholic Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen (Geel, Lier, Turnhout, Vorselaar), catholic Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven (Leuven, Diest), catholic Katholieke Hogeschool Limburg (Diepenbeek, Hasselt, Genk), catholic Katholieke Hogeschool Mechelen (Mechelen), catholic Katholieke Hogeschool Sint-Lieven (Ghent, Aalst, Sint-Niklaas), catholic Katholieke Hogeschool Zuid-West-Vlaanderen, (Kortrijk, Roeselare, Tielt, Torhout), catholic Lessius Hogeschool (Antwerp, Sint-Katelijne-Waver), catholic
Limburg University Association: University Colleges associated with Hasselt University Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg (Hasselt, Diepenbeek), public XIOS Hogeschool Limburg (Diepenbeek, Hasselt), public
Registered institutes of higher education Finally, the Flemish government has recognised a number of "registered" institutes of higher education, which mostly issue specialised degrees or provide education mainly in a foreign language: College of Europe (Bruges): postgraduate degree in European studies Continental Theological Seminary (Sint-Pieters-Leeuw) Evangelical Theological Faculty (Leuven): BA, MA and PhD studies on theology Brussels Faculty for Protestant Theology (Brussels): BA, MA and PhD studies on theology Flanders Business School (Antwerp) Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine (Antwerp), postgraduate degrees taught in French and English Vesalius College (Brussels) Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School (Leuven, Ghent): MBA and other management degrees taught in English and Dutch.
Technology funding The following institutions provide various forms of public funding for research and development: Institute for the promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) Flemish Council for Science Policy (VRWB)
Technology institutes Flanders is home to several science and technology institutes. Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC) Flanders District of Creativity (Flanders DC) Flanders DRIVE Flanders Institute for Logistics (VIL) Flanders' Mechatronics Technology Centre (FMTC) Flanders Multimedia Valley Flemish Innovation Center for Graphic Communication Interdisciplinary institute for BroadBand Technology (IBBT) Flanders Interuniversity Institute of Biotechnology (VIB) Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) Technopolis Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde
Science parks Several science parks associated with the universities are spread over Flanders: Arenberg Research-Park Greenbridge science park Haasrode Research-Park Innotek Limburg Science Park Waterfront Researchpark Zwijnaarde science park
See also Science and technology in Belgium Science and technology in the Brussels-Capital Region Science and technology in Wallonia Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) Economy of Belgium Agoria Ghent Bio-Energy Valley Science Parks of Wallonia
References
External links Flemish Science Policy Council Presentation of R&D policies in Belgium (European Commission website, ERAWATCH)
Flanders' Mechatronics Technology Centre