This legal framework lays the foundations for long-term investment in innovation, research and production.
The federal Government is backing its defence industry and fully committing to innovation. It has approved a preliminary draft law creating a legal framework for companies, research centres and knowledge institutes working on defence-related technologies, products and capabilities. This proposal was put forward on the initiative of Defence Minister Theo Francken, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy David Clarinval, and Minister for the Self-Employed and SMEs Eléonore Simonet, and constitutes an important tool for the Defence, Industry & Research Strategy (DIRS).
SMEs are given a significant place so that they are not overlooked in this long-term strategy.
“The DIRS is the biggest accelerator and incubator of innovation we have ever set up. Whoever invests in Defence must also invest in their own industrial and technological base. We want our companies and research centres to help build the defence capabilities of tomorrow. This strengthens our security, our strategic autonomy, and generates highly skilled jobs and innovation in our own country”, said Defence Minister Theo Francken.
Investing in Defence also means investing in innovation
In these times of geopolitical uncertainty, it is important to keep investing in Defence in order to safeguard the security of our society and protect our freedom and way of life. At the same time, we must ensure that these investments benefit the innovative capacity and competitiveness of our own industry.
With the DIRS, the Government aims to strengthen the Belgian defence-related industrial and technological base (BITDB), boost innovation, and turn companies and knowledge institutes in our country into strategic partners of Defence, notably through multi-year grants and repayable advances.
Legal certainty for long-term projects and innovation
The new legal framework provides the legal certainty needed to support projects spanning several years. This enables companies, research centres and knowledge institutes to invest in developing innovative technologies, products and capabilities that contribute to our country's security and the competitiveness of our economy.
Companies as strategic partners of Defence
This support targets projects with a clear added value for our economy, employment and industrial development. At the same time, these projects must enable our own companies to play a lasting role as strategic partners of Defence.
Our economic players, large and small, must be able to benefit fully from this strategy and the opportunities it offers. That is why SMEs are being included in the process.
To support this ambition, the Government plans to mobilise up to €350 million per year under the DIRS until 2033, compared with €50 million per year previously.
“It is essential that Belgian companies active in the defence sector can invest in research and innovation. By supporting their innovative capacity, we strengthen our defence-related industrial and technological base and continue to build an internationally recognised ecosystem. Every euro invested contributes to the growth of our industry, job creation and the development of our economy”, said David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy.
“Our ambition is clear: to structurally integrate our SMEs into Defence value chains. With 45% of companies active in Defence employing fewer than 50 staff, it is essential to give them the means to grow and innovate.”, concluded Eléonore Simonet, Minister for the Self-Employed and SMEs.