In 2005, the development of science and technology in Belgium was stable. The science and technology policy centered on the construction of the innovation system was constantly updated and improved. Investment in scientific research gradually increased. The development of scientific and technological human resources received much attention from the government. The resources were *** Diversified scientific research activities involving sharing and horizontal alliances are becoming increasingly active, and international scientific and technological cooperation is increasing. However, the current situation of scientific and technological development is not as expected. With the increasing development of science and technology, the bottleneck problems restricting scientific and technological innovation and development have become more and more prominent, especially the declining position in the European Union's scientific and technological innovation benchmark index system, prompting the Belgian Federation to The government has responded to changing circumstances and has successively implemented a series of important scientific and technological innovation plans and initiatives such as the "Talent Return Plan", "Innovation Fund", "Belgian Research Zone", and "Joint Research and Development". At the same time, the Walloon Region has launched the "Michel" plan aimed at promoting economic and technological development, the Flanders Region has increased investment in research and development, and the Brussels Capital Region has vigorously promoted technological innovation activities.
In terms of scientific and technological development, Belgium has also made important scientific and technological progress in space science, biomedicine, microelectronics, environmental science, etc.
1． Trends in science and technology policies of the federal government
(1) Promote the development of human resources and achieve sustainable development of science and technology
(2) Establish an "innovation fund" to provide conditions for the development of science and technology enterprises< /p>
(3) Establish a senior R&D 3% group to provide information consultation for science and technology and innovation decision-making
(4) Plan to create a “Belgian Research Zone” to enhance Belgium’s scientific research status in the world< /p>
(5) Take the road of joint research and development and promote the development of high-tech industries
2. Science and technology development policies and initiatives in the three major administrative regions
Belgium’s current federal system, except for space science, nuclear energy research, product standards, and medical medicine, is under the management of the federal government, and other science and technology management authority is delegated to the capital Brussels and Flanders The three major administrative regions of China and Wallonia make scientific and technological decision-making and planning independently.
(1) Flanders has outstanding scientific and technological advantages
(2) Wallonia relies on science and technology to revive its economy
(3) Capital The Brussels Region increases scientific research and technological innovation
3. Strengthening space legislation
With the rapid development of international space technology, the United Nations has successively formulated conventions and treaties related to outer space since the 1950s, and countries around the world have also continued to strengthen their legislation on outer space. Research. In order to adapt to and promote the development of Belgium's own space technology and protect its legitimate rights and interests in outer space, the Belgian Federal Parliament passed the Space Law on the Launch, Operation and Space Navigation of Space Objects (referred to as the Space Law) on June 28, 2005. , marking substantial progress in Belgium’s policy and legal research on outer space, and providing a basis for possible legal issues arising from space communications, navigation, monitoring and air traffic management in the future.
4. Continuously improve the construction of the national innovation system
The construction of the Belgian national innovation system began in 1996 and has taken shape so far. Its main features are to cultivate an innovation culture, build a legal framework conducive to innovation, from scientific research to Taking the three major aspects of innovation as the core, we will comprehensively optimize the construction of the national innovation system.
In terms of cultivating innovation culture: strengthen innovation education and training; encourage the mutual mobility of scientific researchers, teachers and students; improve public innovation awareness and participation; strengthen the innovation mechanism and management construction of enterprises; support innovation decision-making ; Encourage joint innovation.
In terms of building a legal framework conducive to innovation: strengthening the protection of intellectual property rights; simplifying administrative procedures; improving the legal and legislative environment; increasing financial support for innovation; and improving preferential tax policies.
In terms of moving from scientific research to innovation: strengthen scientific research activities, especially the development of enterprise scientific research activities; support the creation of technology-based enterprises; strengthen mutual cooperation between scientific research institutes, universities and enterprises; improve enterprises, especially Chinese Technology digestion and absorptive capacity building in small enterprises.
The success of the construction of Belgium’s national innovation system depends largely on the participation of the three major administrative regions of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels in the innovation system. To this end, the federal government has called for All regions should take corresponding practical actions and work together to build Belgium’s national innovation system.
5． R&D investment and output indicators
The Belgian government has always attached great importance to R&D activities, regarding them as the driving force for improving national productivity and competitiveness, and promoting sustainable social and economic development. It has always placed R&D and innovation at the forefront of its strategy Highly, use the R&D and innovation activity indicator evaluation system to continuously stimulate and promote the development of domestic R&D activities, and achieve the strategic goal of R&D expenditures accounting for 3% of GDP set by the European Union in 2010.
(1) R&D expenditure indicators
In 2005, Belgian research and development (R&D) expenditures were approximately 5.515 billion euros, accounting for 2.17% of the GDP.
In terms of R&D funding sources, 65% comes from enterprises, 21% comes from government departments, and others account for 14%.
Since 1999, Belgium's R&D expenditure has been above 2% year after year, higher than the EU average of 1.93%, but still significantly lower than countries with high R&D investment such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. In view of this, the Belgian government has decided to increase its investment in R&D funding year by year and strive to achieve the strategic goal of R&D spending accounting for 3% of GDP by 2010.
(2) Human Resources
Belgium currently has 56,000 full-time equivalent R&D personnel, accounting for approximately 1.26% of the labor force. The number of R&D personnel has grown at an average annual rate of 5.4% since 1995. Judging from the distribution of R&D personnel, 63% are from enterprises and 29% are from universities, which once again shows that enterprises are the main execution department of Belgian R&D activities.
(3) Output indicators
Scientific and technological papers. According to the latest statistics from the Federal Office for Science and Technology Policy, in 2002, the number of scientific papers published per 10,000 people in Belgium was 11.6. The proportion of the number of scientific papers internationally and within the EU was 1.2% and 3.7% respectively. The citation rate of scientific papers was approximately is 1.0%.
Patent. Since 1991, the number of Belgian patent applications accepted by the European Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office has continued to rise, reaching more than 1,400 in 2002, with the largest proportion of applications in the fields of information and communication technology (ICT) and biotechnology. , 20% and 14% respectively, accounting for more than 1/3 of the total applications.
Import and export of high-tech products. Belgium's main trading partners for the import and export of high-tech products are the four EU member states, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Netherlands, accounting for 2/3 of its total import and export volume.
6． International Science and Technology Cooperation Trends
The Belgian federal government actively advocates foreign science and technology cooperation policies. So far, it has signed bilateral science and technology cooperation agreements with China, Russia, France, Bulgaria, Poland, Argentina, Vietnam and other countries. The areas of cooperation include: Focusing on space and environmental protection technologies, a bilateral scientific and technological cooperation joint committee was established to plan, guide and coordinate the development of cooperation projects.
7. Major scientific research trends
The birth of “medical babies”.
Established Stem Cell Research Institute.
Breakthroughs in cancer research.
New discovery that atmospheric aerosols contain isoprene oxide.
Build an Antarctic research vessel.
A new method for detecting surface water samples has been developed.
New breakthroughs in theoretical research on hepatitis.
Experimental use of measles vaccine to treat AIDS.
GSK's research is based on a non-human adenovirus and another vaccine using an adjuvant (ADJUVANT).
Research on nanoelectronics and microelectronics technology has made progress. Nitrogen flash memory technology is expected to achieve a breakthrough.
The miniature temperature difference generator is released.
The application of 193nm immersion lithography technology has been successful.
In addition, with the completion of IMEC’s 300mm wafer clean room, it also provides a good platform for its research and development in the field of 45nm electronics.
The Belgian government is taking precautions against bird flu.