Monday, 01 February 2010

Leaning on the strong concentration of research activities in the Region, the Brussels-Capital Region offers a very dynamic environment for the support of innovative and high-tech activities, especially in the medical technologies sector.

The Brussels Regional Investment Agency, Business Angels Connect, the Participation Fund, the Warranty Fund, Venture Capital providers and business oriented banks offer different possibilities of funding start-ups and fast growing companies.

The Brussels Regional Authorities have created efficient financial mechanisms in order to support the scientific research and the technological development efforts of the companies in the Brussels area : subsidies or interest less loans can be obtained for R&D activities. Regional financial support can also be granted from the Foreign Trade Office for helping companies to export their products and services.

Incubation infrastructures have been created at the initiative of the Brussels-Capital Region in order to help start-ups and spinoffs. The existing Erasmus European Business and Innovation Centre (EEBIC) is housing and providing managerial support to many young entrepreneurs and companies in the medical technologies sector.

Another initiative of the Brussels Regional Authorities is the creation of the Brussels Enterprise Agency (BEA). Through its “Healthcare Business Unit”, the Agency develops different kinds of services for the Brussels companies active in the medical technologies sector : technology and commercial partnership, strategic information, project validation, industry-university collaboration, participation to international events, a new dedicated catalogue "Medical Technologies in Brussels", etc.

A Medical Technologies tour in the Brussels-Capital Region will not be completed without underlying the presence of dedicated professional associations.