Pioneer in ICT
Innovation and technological progress are no strangers to Bruges. The city has a long tradition of looking beyond borders to build a creative society. In doing so, we encourage dynamic entrepreneurship and this is paying off. A diverse and dynamic business ecosystem, ICT, smart activities and innovation including mobility play an important economic role.
The ICT sector in figures
The ICT sector in the city of Bruges counted 799 wage-earners, or 10.8% of the total number of wage-earners in West Flanders (7,367 wage-earners) within the ICT sector (figures from late 2020) (*).
High-quality education as a driver of innovation
KU Leuven set up a brand-new campus in Bruges for students of industrial sciences, rehabilitation sciences and physical therapy in 2017. The West Flanders University of Applied Sciences (Howest) and the Vives University of Applied Sciences also have campuses in Bruges. Together, they focus on innovative and creative teaching and high-quality research. Moreover, by joining forces with some of the leading computer science companies, they are taking on a pioneering role.
Brugge.inc
Brugge.inc unleashes the economic power of the Bruges region and provides entrepreneurs with tools for successfully incubating innovative ideas. This incubator was established in November 2020 by the City of Bruges, Voka West Flanders and POM West Flanders. The partners are working towards some important goals:
- Providing maximum support for people with entrepreneurial blood to achieve their ambitions.
- Putting the Bruges region on the map at home and abroad as a hub for entrepreneurs.
- To further grow and prosper the ecosystem by bringing together start-ups, scale-ups, corporates, knowledge institutions and government.
The corporate businesses Alstom, Artes, AZ Sint-Jan, CNHi, Citymesh, Group Daenens, ICO Terminals, MBZ, Pattyn Packing Lines and TE Connectivity fully support this project. They work with applications from start-ups and in this way give Brugge.inc extra relevance and clout.
ICT conferences that took place in Bruges
(*) Source: POM West Flanders
Further information
Delineation of ICT sector: nace 26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4, 26.8, 46.5, 58.2, 61, 62, 63.1, 95.1