“This advanced technology is essential for biotechnological research, but for start-up companies it often represents too large an investment. Thanks to the collaboration with UHasselt, they now also gain access to this infrastructure and can further develop their innovations. It is precisely this kind of cross-fertilisation between university and industry that we aim to actively stimulate at Health Campus,” says Tom Vandeput, Deputy for Economy and Chairman of POM Limburg.
Consultation Rooms for Patients
At the same time, the Limburg Clinical Research Center (LCRC) will also be housed in the new building. This academic collaboration between UHasselt and the Jessa and ZOL hospitals focuses on patient-oriented medical-scientific research. “It is the first time that the LCRC will have a physical presence on our campus, creating additional opportunities for collaboration with BIOMED. In addition to office space, consultation rooms are also provided where patients participating in medical studies can come. This physical location will therefore truly represent significant added value for our research,” says Prof. Dr. Piet Stinissen, Director of the LCRC.
12 Million Euros, with Support from Europe
The new BIOMED-VISION building costs 12 million euros. In addition to its own resources, UHasselt can also rely on support from the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and from the Fund for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FIO) of the Flemish government. Construction will continue until summer 2027.
Thomas de Béthune, representative of the European Commission in Belgium, welcomed the realisation as follows: “Proud that, with an investment of 3 million euros in European funding, we can contribute to a new haven for medical science. By working together with UHasselt and the Flemish government to focus on healthcare and innovation, we place people at the centre. We are very pleased that both the medical treatments and the jobs of the future will soon be able to fully develop here.”
