www.iwt.be

Mission:
As a Flemish government institution, IWT supports and stimulates industrial research and development in Flemish industry and offers general support services for innovation and technology transfer.

Budget:
122 m in 1999

Activities:
The Scientific-Technological Section of IWT manages the financial support for industrial research and development. Support is available through IWT's own "autonomous" funding budget for bottom up R&D initiatives of industries and through a number of specific research programmes, financed by and targeted to domains of special interest of the Flemish Region including long term strategic research in universities and research institutes. Furthermore IWT manages the Flemish Region's fellowship programme for doctoral and post-doctoral research fellows. IWT also supports international collaboration in R&D, through the funding of Flemish companies and academic institutes in the framework of EUREKA.

The Section for Innovation, Technology Transfer and General Services stimulates the exploitation of research project results, either within the company or through a transfer of technology, and locates new technologies on behalf of the companies. Special attention is given to SME's. Through the SME-Steering Committee, IWT co-ordinates a network, gathering the Flemish public bodies and organisations offering technological advice and services to companies.
Participation of Flemish companies in the European research programmes and the exploitation of European research projects is promoted by the Flemish Innovation Relay Centre (VIA), supported by the European Commission, and hosted by IWT jointly with the Flemish Administration for Science and Innovation (AWI). IWT acts as CRAFT Focal Point.

Finally, IWT incorporates The IWT Observatory . The mission of this new entity is to develop a quantitative monitoring instrument for the Flemish Innovation System in support of the needs of IWT and technology and innovation policy in general.

Staff:
95

Contact:
Paul Zeeuwts.
IWT, Bischofsheimlaan 25, B-1000 Brussels Belgum
tel. +32 2 20 90 900, fax +32 2 22 3 11 81
E-mail:
Website: www.iwt.be