Belgian Industrial Policy – From Heavy Industry to Smart Specialization – Understanding the Evolution, Instruments, and Regional Strategies Behind Belgium’s Industrial Transformation (C308-I)

This course explores Belgium’s industrial evolution, policy instruments, and regional strategies for competitiveness and sustainability. You’ll gain: Historical & Structural Foundations Understand the legacy of coal, steel, and textiles in Wallonia and Flanders Learn the transition to high-value sectors: chemicals, pharma, logistics, and advanced manufacturing Explore EU industrial policy alignment and regional specialization frameworks Policy Instruments & Governance Analyze subsidies, tax incentives, clusters, and innovation platforms Examine the roles of regional agencies: VLAIO, SPW Économie, hub.brussels Coordinate with chambers of commerce, sector federations, and EU programs (Horizon, ERDF) Monitoring & Impact Track sectoral performance, employment trends, and innovation metrics Build dashboards for policy evaluation, ESG integration, and competitiveness indicators Support transparency, regional benchmarking, and strategic foresight Integration & Strategy Align industrial policy with climate goals, digital transformation, and circular economy Embed equity, regional cohesion, and SME support into industrial frameworks Monitor institutional coordination, reform agendas, and EU Semester targets Tools & Platforms Use platforms like Statbel, NBB, VLAIO, SPW, and EU Open Data Portal Automate data analysis, policy tracking, and sectoral benchmarking Monitor alerts, KPIs, and resilience indicators Strategic Impact Improve productivity, innovation, and sustainability Reduce regional disparities, carbon intensity, and industrial decline Support ESG goals, inclusive growth, and long-term resilience