Logistech
1. Intense concentration of logistech activities in Flemish-Brabant
There are more than 500 companies with logistical activities based in Flemish-Brabant.
In addition to the intense concentration of developers, producers and distributors of high-quality IT and telecommunications products, Flemish-Brabant is characterised by the prominent presence of pharmaceutical businesses; agro- and food logistics also accounts for a high proportion of logistical activities in the province. Players include Toyota, Colruyt, Asco, Caterpillar, NXP and Pfizer.
Moreover, the presence of Brussels Airport combined with good links with various maritime ports means that the whole world is within easy reach. This is a particular advantage for high-value products, such as pharmaceutical products (as mentioned earlier), but also diamonds from Antwerp, luxury goods, horses and other livestock.
2. Important research activities leading to high-tech development
Sustainability, environmental impact, reliability, safety, quality and functionality are just a few examples of aspects of logistics where quality demands and requirements are increasing and will continue to do so in the future. To be able to meet this demand, it is necessary to respond within the logistics and transport industry and make use of new knowledge and technologies and innovative products, services and concepts.
At the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and K.U.Leuven, as well as at their partners, there are more than ten research groups active in the field of logistics and transport. Research into multimodal transport, route planning, travel time forecasting, traffic modelling, sustainable transport and electrical and hybrid vehicles is ensuring that innovative new technologies are constantly being developed and refined.
3. Flemish-Brabant: the site of choice for sea-air cluster activities
The province of Flemish-Brabant is situated at an intersection of motorways, railways and waterways linking Northern Europe with Southern Europe and the United Kingdom with Eastern Europe.
As the second largest economic centre in Flanders, Brussels Airport is the economic gateway and centre for logistical activities in the province of Flemish-Brabant and the Brussels region. For instance, Brucargo, the freight section of Brussels Airport, accounted for 666.000 tonnes of air freight in 2008, while during the same period a further 300.000 tonnes of freight was brought in and/or dispatched by road.
Brussels Airport occupies a prominent place in the European ranking of favourite airports for non-home based full freighters and airports for scheduled full freighters.
Moreover, in Brucargo Brussels Airport also has a state-of-the art business park on the airport site.
For more information about our Logistech activities, please contact Sara Geris at sara.geris@flanderssmarthub.be or give her a call at +32 496 70 58 79.