Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology

The Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) was established in 1991. It is an externally autonomized agency of the Flemish Government, in charge of innovation policy in Flanders. The IWT is located in the Ellipse-Building in Brussels.

Paul Zeeuwts was President of the IWT until his sudden death in 2009. Since 2010, the agency is headed by General Administrator Veerle Lories. The Board of Directors is chaired by Prof. Dr. Paul Lagasse. The agency comes under the jurisdiction of the Flemish Minister for Employment, Economy, Innovation and Sport Philippe Muyters.

Mission

The agency's tasks are specified in a management agreement between the Flemish Government and the IWT for 2011-2015 and will result in a yearly business plan.

Summed up, the IWT is committed to:

Core Tasks

Financial support: The IWT distributes each year about 300 million euros in subsidies. The grants go primarily to innovation studies, innovation and R&D projects submitted by SMEs and large companies, universities, colleges and other Flemish innovative players; either individually or jointly. Part of the budget is distributed by the IWT itself through its own support programs. For the remaining part IWT acts as an intermediary: the preparation, monitoring and financial management is done by the agency in the name of the Flemish Government.

Consultancy: The IWT wants innovation processes to happen as efficient and simple as possible. The IWT consults Flemish companies and R&D-centers in their onnovation projects and funds applications.

Coordination and networking: The IWT also facilitates close cooperation between all players in the field of innovation in Flanders. The Flemish Innovation Network (VIN), for example, founded by the IWT, brings together the knowledge and expertise of dozens of intermediary organizations.

Policy: The IWT plays an important role in the preparation of policies aimed at boosting innovation in Flanders.

See also

External links


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