The Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie, IWT) is a public institution in Flanders

Flanders

Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...

 (Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

) to provide R&D and innovation support. The institute was established by the Flemish government

Flemish government

The Flemish Government is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region. It consists of up to a maximum of eleven ministers, chosen by the Flemish Parliament...

 in 1991. To support its goal the institute has several financial tools and an annual budget of 190 million EUR (in 2002) at its disposal. Paul Zeeuwts

Paul Zeeuwts

Paul Zeeuwts was President of the Flemish IWT from 1991 until his death in 2009. He was Chief of staff for the Belgian science policy from May 1988 until July 1991.-Sources:* * *...

 was its President from 1991 until 2009.

Mission

Besides direct funding of projects, the institute provides a variety of services to the local industry in the field of technology transfer, partner search, information about international subsidy options, etc. Part of its mission is to promote a strong co-operation between all organisations in Flanders, offering technological innovation services to companies. Over the years the institute has become the knowledge center for R&D and innovation

Innovation

Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society...

 in Flanders.

See also

• Science and technology in Flanders
  Science and technology in Flanders
  Science and technology in Flanders, the northern region of Belgium , is well developed with the presence of several universities and research institutes...
  
  
• Lisbon Strategy
  Lisbon Strategy
  The Lisbon Strategy, also known as the Lisbon Agenda or Lisbon Process, was an action and development plan devised in 2000, for the economy of the European Union between 2000 and 2010....
  
  
• TAFTIE
  TAFTIE
  The European Network of Innovation Agencies is a network of national public organisations from 20 different European countries, which works on establishing collaborations in the field of business led innovation and enterprise led R&D programmes in each country. Through TAFTIE, the national...
  
  
• BIPIB
  BIPIB
  The Belgian Interdisciplinary Platform for Industrial Biotechnology or BIPIB is a Belgian organization which consists of three working groups which come together on biomass supply, bioprocesses and bioproducts, bio-energy. It was founded by Els Van Weert, Flemish secretary for sustainable...
  
  
• Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
  NFWO
  The National Fund for Scientific Research is a government institution in Belgium for supporting scientific research...
  
   (FWO)
• Flemish Council for Science Policy (VRWB)
• Flanders Interuniversity Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)
• Flemish institute for technological research
  Flemish institute for technological research
  The Flemish institute for technological research or VITO, is a research centre, located in Mol, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium. The institute performs contract research and develops products and processes in the fields of energy, environment and materials, for both the public and the private sector...
  
   (VITO)
• FlandersBio
  FlandersBio
  FlandersBio is a non-profit organization which represents the cluster of Flemish life sciences in Belgium. The members of FlandersBio are organizations involved with Research and Development, and production in life sciences, or organizations and companies servicing Flemish life sciences...
  
  
• GIMV
  GIMV
  Gimv is a European investment company with experience in private equity and venture capital. The company is listed on Euronext Brussels. Gimv currently manages around EUR 2.0 billion of assets ....
  
  
• Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC)
• Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen
  Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen
  The Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen is an independent organization owned by the Flemish government which supports economic investment initiatives in Flanders.-History:...
  
  
• Technopolis
  Technopolis (Belgium)
  -Flanders Technology International:Technopolis is an initiative which grew out of the Flanders Technology International Foundation, which was an initiative of the Flemish government. Since 7 October 1999, the FTI offices are located within the premises of the Technopolis centre and the name of the...
  
  
• Agoria
  Agoria
  Agoria is Belgium's largest employers' organisation and trade association. The companies represented by Agoria are active in 13 branches of the technology industry: aerospace, automotive, construction products, contracting & maintenance, electrical engineering, industrial automation, ICT,...