Belgium, together with the Netherlands, is a leader in the biopharmaceutical sector. According to a 2019 report, the Benelux is on track to become the leading biotech and pharma hub in Europe. This is thanks to the unique combination of well-developed regional ecosystems (with a high concentration of SMEs in biopharma in specialised science parks), excellent universities and strong collaboration between knowledge institutions, clinical centres, companies and government.

The biopharmaceutical sector is the driving force behind innovation in the development of new medicines. The added value of drug innovations for patients and society, such as increased survival rates, improved quality of life and a significant socio-economic impact, is considerable and is endorsed by recent reports from Belgian and European umbrella organisations (Pharma.be, EFPIA). Nevertheless, there is still a lack of adequate treatment for many serious diseases. This applies to certain forms of cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and rare diseases, including childhood cancers, which are often associated with limited commercial interest. There are more than 6,000 known rare diseases, 95% of which currently have no treatment option. This results in a significant “unmet medical need”, which – together with challenges in the areas of affordability, accessibility and sustainable drug production – is at the heart of the renewed European policy to strengthen the pharmaceutical sector.