Belgium promotes innovation and strategic ties with Korea
Belgian Ambassador to Korea Bruno Jans speaks during the "Belgian Innovation at the Heart of Europe: Unlocking Business Opportunities," event in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin
Belgium spotlighted its role as a hub for innovation, logistics and research in Europe during a high-level business event held in Seoul on Wednesday, emphasizing opportunities for Korean companies to expand into the European market.
The forum, titled "Belgian Innovation at the Heart of Europe: Unlocking Business Opportunities," was organized by the Embassy of Belgium in Korea in cooperation with Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) and the Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX).
Speaking at the event, Bruno Jans, the Belgian ambassador to Korea, highlighted the country's unique cultural and linguistic diversity as a strength that fuels innovation and entrepreneurship.
"Belgium is a diverse and dynamic market located at the crossroads of Europe," Jans said. "We attract a wide range of international businesses and talent, supported by a business-friendly environment and thriving sectors such as life sciences, green tech and semiconductors."
He emphasized Korea’s potential as a strategic partner, praising its technological leadership and research and development (R&D) prowess. “The synergy between Korean and Belgian companies can lead to groundbreaking collaborations,” he said, citing the upcoming presentation by LS Cable & Systems CEO Koo Bon-kyu as a demonstration of potential cooperation.
Following the ambassador’s address, Philippe Van Hoof, chairperson of the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea, underscored Belgium’s central role in Europe’s innovation ecosystem and its logistical advantages.
"Today we celebrate Belgium not just as a center for R&D but also as a gateway to Europe," Van Hoof said. "Belgium is among Korea’s top five export destinations in Europe, with strong ties in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery and food products. Few realize that vaccines from global pharmaceutical companies like GSK are largely produced in Belgium.”
Van Hoof also recalled previous cooperative efforts, such as a joint event on offshore wind and hydrogen held last year, emphasizing that Korea and Belgium already share a tradition of collaboration in advanced technologies.
"Belgium invests more than 3 percent of its GDP in R&D — placing it among the global leaders alongside South Korea," he added. "That’s nearly €198 billion annually ($222.6 billion). This event is not just about promoting trade, but also inviting Korean researchers and businesses to engage with Belgium’s innovation ecosystem."
He also stressed Belgium’s geographic advantage, noting that 75 percent of the EU market is within 750 kilometers of Brussels, offering unmatched access to major European cities and consumers. “With Europe’s logistics infrastructure and Belgium at its center, Korean companies can easily reach a 500 million-strong market,” he said.
In addition to Jans and Van Hoof, the event featured remarks by FIT representative Wouter Vanhees and AWEX representative Adrien Lacroix, who introduced their respective regions — Flanders and Wallonia — and outlined sector-specific investment opportunities.
The event marked a renewed commitment by Belgium to position itself as a European partner of choice for Korean innovators and investors in sectors such as semiconductors, nanotechnology and life sciences.