Helping to progress towards the Barcelona objective (devoting 3% of the GDP to research and development), participating in job creation and well-being through innovation, optimising the running of the Belgian research area, fighting against climate change: such are the major stakes Belgium has to face. With its 2,800 employees, the Federal Science Policy department contributes significantly to meeting these objectives.
Through the major research programmes we manage, we also offer the government reliable, validated data, allowing it to take decisions with full knowledge of the facts in areas such as sustainable development, the fight against climate change, biodiversity, energy, health, mobility and the information society.
We also manage the Belgian contribution to the European Space Agency. Since Belgium is the fifth net contributor to the ESA, this participation is strategic for our country and crucial for our companies. At the same time, we offer R&D aid to companies with the desire to participate in various AIRBUS programmes, which is essential to their positioning in the ruthless battle raging in this sector on a global level.
The 10 federal scientific Institutes offer scientists an exceptional framework and research materials. They also house artistic and historical collections, which are visited by more than 1.2 million people every year.
The “Space Research and Applications” directorate is responsible for managing Belgium’s space programme on a daily basis, both on a European and bilateral level. Belgium has been active in the space sector for the past thirty years and was at the origin of the foundation of the European Space Agency (ESA). The directorate manages all the space programmes, i.e. space sciences, earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, international space station, exploration, launchers, technology and science programmes. For this purpose, it is in permanent contact with the industrial and scientific world to ensure its maximum involvement in these different programmes. Special attention is given to the development of products with a high technological value, ensuring a maximum return on investment in terms of our country’s financial help.
Within the Belspo website you can find various job opportunities, including those that are aimed at young professionals or trainees.