The business incubator Brussels Life Science Incubator (BLSI) just turned five years old. Inaugurated in 2012 on the Woluwe campus by UCL and the Brussels Capital Region, the BLSI today boasts an impressive record. In five years, it has incubated 81 businesses that have generated 262 jobs.
Ideally located mere steps from UCL’s Health Sciences Sector faculties and research institutions, as well as Saint-Luc University Hospital, the BLSI provides emerging companies a particularly attractive environment conducive to research collaboration. The incubator currently hosts 33 young companies whose average age is two years and that generate a total of 83 jobs. In the first ten months of 2017, no fewer than 14 new companies have taken up residence at the BLSI. As for UCL, four spin-offs have benefited from the springboard of this special environment. Two of them, Intuitim and Novadip Biosciences, were selected by the BLSI during their creation; the former develops consistent annotation solutions for medical imaging, and the latter is at the world’s cutting edge of cell therapy. Two additional spin-offs are currently or will be installed at the BLSI: one is yet-to-be determined, and the other is Domobios, which develops devices for trapping domestic pests such as dust mites.
In five years, the BLSI has succeeded in forging a major presence in the start-up support environment of Brussels, which has evolved significantly over the past three years. It continues to offer a unique range of services, especially those particularly adapted to health sector projects, mainly by providing a high-quality environment. In real terms, the incubator makes available 2,350 m² of office and equipped research laboratory space, as well as logistical technology and business services. BLSI tenants benefit from an array of services, such as privileged access to UCL technology platforms and tailored support that encompasses all the strategic skills necessary for managing technology companies, as well as support from the UCL Louvain Technology Transfer Office (LTTO).
Since it began operations in February 2012, the BLSI has promoted the commercialisation of scientific research and supported young entrepreneurs in creating innovative businesses in the life sciences and health sector. By creating within a single location an ecosystem that combines a project’s clinical, research and business aspects, UCL reinforces the ambition of its Brussels Woluwe campus to be an international centre of expertise and innovation.
Credit photo : Modulo Architects