Belgium Enters a New Era of AI-Powered Biotech Innovation

Belgium has long been one of Europe’s biotech powerhouses, home to thriving research hubs in Leuven, Ghent, and Brussels. With a rich ecosystem of startups, universities, and multinational life sciences leaders, the country consistently punches above its weight in global biotech. By March 2024, Belgian listed biotech companies had reached a combined market capitalization of €66.8 billion a 42.7% increase year-on-year (Biovox, Labiotech.eu).

Institutions like VIB (Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie) and imec are central to this success, anchoring Belgium’s ecosystem and providing the bridge between groundbreaking research and commercial applications.

Belgium’s biotech clusters are increasingly defined by their ability to integrate AI into scientific workflows. This shift is visible in several critical areas:

• Automated Labs: Robotics and AI-driven platforms are streamlining lab work, reducing error rates, and accelerating experimentation.

• Computational Drug Design: Startups like BioStrand are using their LENSᵃⁱ™ platform to combine multi-omics data with novel machine learning algorithms, helping researchers design effective therapies faster.

• AI-Driven Clinical Trials: From patient recruitment to monitoring, AI tools are being deployed by players like icometrix (Leuven) and Radiomics (Liège) to enhance trial efficiency and diagnostic precision.

These innovations are not only transforming how therapies are developed but also helping Belgian biotech maintain its competitive edge against larger global markets.

The true promise of AI in biotech is its ability to tailor treatments to individual patients. Belgium is fast becoming a hub for precision medicine, with AI being used to:

• Analyse genomic and patient health data at scale.

• Predict which therapies will be most effective for specific populations.

• Reduce adverse reactions by identifying risk factors early.

Companies like Sanofi Belgium (pioneering NANOBODY® proteins in Ghent and biologics in Geel) and etherna (RNA-based therapies, backed by $38.9M in Series B funding) exemplify how Belgian firms are pushing personalised medicine closer to reality.

This transformation demands hybrid experts who blend biology, data science, and regulatory knowledge. The most in-demand skills include:

• Bioinformatics and AI fluency: Analysing complex genomic and clinical datasets.

• Bioprocess and Lab Automation: Designing automated R&D workflows.

• Regulatory Affairs and Data Ethics: Navigating EMA regulations while ensuring AI systems meet compliance standards.

• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Bridging gaps between scientists, engineers, and strategists.

Belgium’s dense ecosystem of research institutes, agile startups like Timefold (AI-based planning tools in Ghent), and innovation hubs like Quantum Biospace near Brussels creates a fertile environment for professionals to build careers at the intersection of biotech and AI.

At Panda International, we specialise in connecting biotech innovators with the AI-ready talent that drives research forward. Whether companies need computational biologists, automation engineers, or regulatory experts, our network ensures the right professionals meet the right opportunities.

By combining deep sector knowledge with an international reach, we help Belgian biotech firms sustain their leadership in innovation and support professionals in shaping impactful careers in one of Europe’s most dynamic biotech ecosystems.

Shaping the Future of Biotech in Belgium

Belgium’s next biotech wave is powered by AI as the research catalyst. From Leuven to Ghent, the country’s leading hubs are harnessing data, automation, and AI to accelerate discovery and deliver precision medicine at scale. For candidates, this means the opportunity to build a career at the cutting edge of biotech and AI. For employers, it means access to AI-ready talent capable of driving research forward. Panda International connects both sides—helping professionals step into transformative roles and enabling companies to secure the expertise they need to shape the future of healthcare.

👉 Interested in exploring how this could support your journey? Reach out directly to Gabriel to start the conversation.