The Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology was a Flemish agency between 1991 and 2015. It was an externally autonomized agency of the

Flemish Government The Flemish Government ( nl, Vlaamse regering ) is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region of Belgium. It consists of a government cabinet, headed by the Minister-President and accountable to the Flemish Parliament, a ...

, in charge of

innovation Innovation is the practical implementation of ideas that result in the introduction of new goods or services or improvement in offering goods or services. ISO TC 279 in the standard ISO 56000:2020 defines innovation as "a new or changed entity ...

policy in

Flanders Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...

and located in the Ellipse-Building in

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

. Paul Zeeuwts was president of the agency until his sudden death in 2009. From 2010 to 2015, the agency was headed by General Administrator Veerle Lories. The Board of Directors was chaired by Professor Dr. Paul Lagasse. The agency ca e under the jurisdiction of the Flemish Minister for Employment, Economy, Innovation and Sport Philippe Muyters. On 1 January 2016, it merged into Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (''Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen'').

Mission

The agency's tasks were specified in a management agreement with the Flemish government, resulted in a yearly business plan, and were committed to: * Stimulate innovation through financial support, advice and coordination; * Stimulate knowledge development in companies, research institutes, government and other organizations; * Encouraging the development of new products, processes, services and concepts with added economic and social value.

Core tasks

Financial support: The Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology distributed about 300 million euros annually in subsidies. The grants went primarily to innovation studies, innovation and R&D projects submitted by

small and medium-sized enterprises Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are businesses whose personnel and revenue numbers fall below certain limits. The abbreviation "SME" is used by international organizations such as the World Bank ...

and large companies, universities, colleges and other Flemish innovative players; either individually or jointly. Part of the budget was distributed by the agency itself through its own support programs. For the remaining part, the agency acted as an intermediary: the preparation, monitoring and financial management was done by the agency in the name of the Flemish Government. Consultancy: The Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology wanted innovation processes to happen as efficient and simple as possible. The agency consulted Flemish companies and R&D-centers in their innovation projects and funds applications. Coordination and networking: The Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology also facilitated close cooperation between all players in the field of innovation in Flanders. The Flemish Innovation Network, for example, founded by the agency, brought together the knowledge and expertise of dozens of intermediary organizations. Policy: The Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology played an important role in the preparation of policies aimed at boosting innovation in Flanders.

External links

The English section of the IWT website
Scientific organisations based in Belgium Organizations established in 1991 Science and technology in Belgium Science and technology in Europe Flemish government departments and agencies Innovation organizations Research and development in Belgium 1991 establishments in Belgium {{sci-org-stub

Mission

Core tasks

See also

External links