Belgian industrial Research and Development
Awards Ceremony
Challenges & Opportunities for Industrial Research in Belgium. Seminar on 18 March 2011, at the Bibliothèque Solvay
"In an increasingly globalizing knowledge driven economy, the position of industrial research in Belgium needs to become stronger. A substantial contribution could come from more long-term collaboration between the industry and universities, in a spirit of trust. In addition, more students - in particular women-, should be attracted to engineering studies and research careers."
This was the main message that had been voiced at the lively seminar on Friday 18 March 2011, in the prestigious Bibliothèque Solvay in Brussels, in the presence of H.R.H Prince Philippe.
The event was organized by BiR&D (Belgian industrial R&D), an association of international companies, that have a leading research centre in Belgium: AGC-Glass Europe, Alcatel-Lucent, Atlas Copco, Bekaert, GSKBio, Janssen Pharmaceutica, OCAS-ArcelorMittal, P&G, Recticel, Solvay, Total Petrochemicals, UCB and Umicore.
Together they represent more than half of the industrial research effort in Belgium.
Their president, Dominique Neerinck, CTO of Bekaert, said: "By deploying diverse initiatives, we wish to contribute to the consolidation of the high level of industrial research in Belgium, in close cooperation with the professional organizations Agoria an essenscia."
With the presence of all Belgian Universities, as well as representatives of many research centers and governments, BiR&D has already demonstrated its ability to make the bridge.
In his keynote speech, Dr Jens Rostrup-Nielsen stressed the urgency for European countries such as Belgium, to strengthen the level of research, in the light of the enormous efforts being made by Asian countries. As the sole industrial representative in the European Research Council (ERC), he announced a new European program to support top research individuals or teams.
In an animated debate, a panel of top-representatives from the industry exchanged views with representatives of the Universities, about what would be the best course of action for the future: Léopold Demiddeleer of Solvay, president of EIRMA (European Industrial Research Management Association), Jean-François Heris, CEO AGC Glass Europe, Dr Ludo Lauwers (Senior Vice-President R&D, Janssen Pharmaceutica) en Jos Pinte (Directeur Mechatronica & Mechanica, Agoria and General Manager SIRRIS).
Accordingly, Egbert Lox, corporate R&D manager of Umicore, announced the third Call of BiR&D directed to Universities and Academic High-Schools, for the realization of Interdisciplinary Master of Science Thesis projects: a financial support package for projects whereby technical, human and economical science students work together on research topics that have a high technical, industrial as well as social relevance. A taste of the open multidisciplinary research environment of the future.
As laureates of the Call 2009, BiR&D elected three students from the Université Catholique de Louvain (Jean-Baptiste de Harenne, Gilles Hector, Ferdinand Terlinden) and two students from Universiteit Gent (Wim Bothuyne, Tom De Nies).
In a short award ceremony, Prince Philippe conferred the BiR&D Awards to the students present, after they had professionally presented the results of their team research work.