The Minister for IFAPME and Competence Centres, Willy BORSUS, is backing a major project to boost the quality of training, worth €30,244,700.
As part of Wallonia's Recovery Plan, the Walloon Government wanted to invest in the youth and talent of the people of Wallonia. One of the strategic objectives of this focus area is to reorganise and simplify the training landscape, notably by investing in training infrastructure and equipment.
The aim is to upgrade and strengthen this equipment and infrastructure to ensure the quality of training in the Competence Centres and the IFAPME centre network. These subsidies aim to address the digitalisation of learning methods and the evolution of professions, while maintaining and supporting the upskilling of jobseekers, learners, students, trainers, teachers and workers undergoing career retraining.
According to Minister Willy BORSUS: “Vocational and work-study training, along with skills development, are fundamental pillars of the dynamism of the Walloon economy, as they can lead to numerous lasting, quality jobs. By supporting IFAPME and the Competence Centres, we are helping to reduce talent shortages, whether structural or temporary. I would remind you that there are 158 bottleneck occupations in Wallonia, 92 of which are in shortage.”
The subsidy from the Walloon Region amounts to €30,244,700. It is distributed among the operators as follows:
IFAPME: €13,713,000
The subsidy amount will be used to finalise and/or launch the following IFAPME infrastructure projects:
| IFAPME Centre | Amount | Type/categories of infrastructure |
| Arlon | 1.810.000 | Extension of the Arlon Centre by 730 m² on the existing site to open new IT training courses and meet the demand for evening training. |
| Braine-le-Comte | 2.000.000 | Purchase of land and construction of a +/- 1,750 m² facility to house training activities in urban market gardening, the wood sector, green jobs and electric bicycle mechanics. |
| Gosselies | 1.750.000 | Extension of the Gosselies Centre by +/- 750 m², intended to host all sections related to construction trades such as painter, bricklayer, heating technician and alarm system technician (currently in Gilly) |
| La Louvière | 2.305.000 | Extension of the La Louvière Centre by +/- 500 m² to relocate decentralised services to this new extension. |
| Libramont | 780.000 | Extension of the Centre (184 m²) and relocation of the work-based training service to the main building, renovation and conversion of former service premises into training rooms (308 m²). |
| Marloie | 756.000 | Extension of the Marche-en-Famenne (Marloie) training centre in existing premises of approximately 260 m² (healthcare cluster) to open new courses in both qualifying and continuing training. |
| Villers-le-Bouillet | 4.312.000 | Extension of 1,500 m² on the land adjoining the existing infrastructure to continue and launch training in green jobs. |
| Total | 13.713.000 |
Competence centres: €16,531,700
The 2024 subsidy amount will be used to strengthen and upgrade the cutting-edge equipment of the 22 Competence Centres:
| CDC | Amount | Brief description |
| Aptaskil (Seneffe) | 1.413.300 | Replacement of obsolete equipment in the chemistry cluster and reinforcement of equipment in the biopharmaceutical sector
Examples of planned equipment: absorption and regeneration pilot unit for polluting gases including CO2; fermenters; aseptic isolator… |
| AutoFORM | 334.000 | Equipment for soft mobility workshops (bicycles), light vehicles (electric vehicles) and bodywork.
Examples: electrical and electronic learning modules, teaching vehicle, plug-in hybrid, bicycles for educational use… |
| Cefoverre | 165.400 | Equipment to replace obsolete material for safety training and glass trades
Examples: industrial cobots, industrial compressor, didactic model for glass recycling… |
| Cepegra | 692.663 | Expansion of equipment for training in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI)
Examples: digital creation software and augmented intelligence licences, XR equipment, 3D printer… |
| Construform Hainaut | 1.362.100 | Expansion and replacement of equipment for all sections of the CDC related to construction trades
Examples: 5-tonne mini excavator; telescopic platform, educational system for batteries and residential photovoltaic panels… |
| Construform Liège | 1.308.200 | Expansion and replacement of equipment for all sections of the CDC related to construction trades
Examples: manual spindle moulder, heat recovery ventilation system, dumper, tandem roller… |
| Epicuris | 713.200 | Replacement, expansion and upgrading of equipment for the bakery/pastry, butchery and food trade sections
Examples: industrial kitchen sauté pans, industrial freezers… |
| Forem Business | 406.100 | Replacement of audiovisual and digital equipment |
| Forem Environment | 440.600 | Expansion of equipment for training in renewable energy
Examples: pellet stove; photovoltaic system… |
| Forem Logistics Hainaut | 2.092.487 | Expansion of equipment in the logistics, transport and vehicle maintenance clusters to keep pace with technological developments in the sector, mainly at the Estaimpuis and La Louvière sites.
Examples: driving instruction vehicle, hydraulic teaching bench, heavy goods vehicle brake tester, HEV teaching bench… |
| Forem Logistics Liège | 831.550 | Expansion of equipment for the logistics cluster, audiovisual equipment for distance training
Examples: order preparation system, licences for transport management software… |
| Forem Polygone de l'eau | 861.800 | Replacement of equipment destroyed in the floods and equipment useful for digitalised training
Examples: virtual reality system, tablets, electric welding and drilling machines… |
| Forem Green Sectors | 1.135.870 | Replacement of equipment in agricultural and horticultural trades and purchase of 3 mobile units
Examples: forestry brushcutters, tracked transporters, chainsaws… |
| Forem Tourism | 10.000 | Replacement of IT equipment for training in tourism trades |
| Forem Wallonia Wood | 142.500 | Replacement and expansion of obsolete equipment in the joinery sections. |
| FormAlim | 1.681.500 | Replacement of sections and equipment destroyed during the floods
Example: mini-factory, food packaging line, |
| TechniFutur | 986.150: | Replacement, expansion and upgrading of equipment for the digital, industry and mobility clusters.
Examples: engine test bench, 3-axis milling machine, cybersecurity system… |
| Techno.bel | 481.000 | Equipment for training in cybersecurity, cloud programming, network upgrades, for laboratory and collaborative workspaces |
| TechnoCampus | 275.600 | Replacement, expansion and upgrading of technical and digital equipment
Examples: virtual reality system; applications and licences for learning with digital twins, welding stations |
| TechnocITé | 310.400 | Replacement, expansion and upgrading of equipment for ICT and CCI training
Examples: studio equipment (sound and image), licences and workstations focused on virtualisation and graphic design. |
| Technofutur TIC | 310.580 | Replacement, expansion and upgrading of equipment for ICT training
Examples: servers, licences, clusters, laptops. |
| WAN | 576.700 | Replacement, expansion and upgrading of equipment for training in aircraft maintenance and cabin crew, and acquisition of mandatory teaching tools and equipment for accreditation by the Directorate-General for Air Transport (DGTA)
Examples: radar, electronic and electrical systems equipment. |
| TOTAL CDC | 16.531.700 |