Seven business centres in Brussels, forming the Brucenter network, currently host over 250 companies. More than just office spaces, they embody a political vision of local, inclusive and sustainable economic development. Boris le Polain, a coordinator at hub.brussels, looks at the origins, mission and impact of this model.
What is a business centre?
Public business centres are spaces that host young companies. They are renovated former industrial buildings where entrepreneurs can rent all types of spaces at affordable prices.
But a business centre is much more than a building with offices, "it's a place where entrepreneurs meet and exchange ideas. It's a safe space where they can experiment while being protected from the external constraints inherent in entrepreneurship," explains Boris le Polain.
The public business centres are deliberately located in the heart of the city. Their aim is not just to rent spaces, but to create an ecosystem where collaboration and local roots are central. hub.brussels coordinates this network to ensure quality, coherence and a link with Brussels' entrepreneurial policy.
Seven centres with a common mission
The business centres are designed to help revitalise the socio-economic fabric of the districts in which they are located. "While they have a common mission, each centre has its own specific features and history," explains Boris. "Some, like Dansaert and Euclides, host companies from all sectors, while others host companies in a specific sector."
Pepibru, for example, targets audiovisual and communications companies, while La Lustrerie focuses on the cultural and creative industries. "This gives the Brucenter network a complementary offering that is in line with the needs of Brussels' economic fabric."
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The Brucenter network currently comprises seven business centres
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Tailored services to meet companies' needs
Specifically, each of the centres provides companies with:
- Accommodation and a reception infrastructure tailored to their needs. The spaces on offer vary from centre to centre, but include workshops for production, private or shared offices and coworking spaces.
- A wide range of services, including secretarial services, basic furniture, parcel dispatch and receipt, the organisation of free training courses and access to meeting rooms.
- Highly flexible annual contracts and a flat all-inclusive fee, including all costs such as taxes and energy charges. "There are no hidden costs here and their model is designed to give entrepreneurs peace of mind," explains Boris le Polain.
Businesses also have the opportunity to benefit from free, tailored support offered by coaches from a local economy office (GEL) to maximise their development and sustainability.
"Business centre managers are committed to getting to know the companies they host, to be able to advise and guide them as effectively as possible according to their situation and needs." It is for this reason that these centres are often said to be a gateway to entrepreneurial support in Brussels. And it is clear that this is the case: "More than half of the hosted companies are or have been supported by hub.brussels or a GEL," he adds.
What makes these public business centres different from the private sector?
"While private business centres seek profitability, the Brucenter network centres pursue a public mission of general interest," stresses Boris le Polain. "It's an essential part of their DNA." In addition, they are in places where the private sector probably would not be, "in districts that are less attractive on paper, but rich in potential."
More specifically, unlike private business centres, which offer very rigid leases, public centres provide flexibility through their all-inclusive annual packages, which can be terminated each year. This formula makes it possible to respond to the realities and needs of young companies at prices that are often below market levels.
Boris le Polain stresses the importance of openness to the district and the conviviality of the premises: "The business centres are integrated into their environment. They host events, associations, markets, open their doors to certain schools... The aim is not to create a closed economic enclave, but a living, receptive space, tied to the neighbourhood."
Measurable results
In early 2025, hub.brussels carried out an in-depth study to measure the impact of the public business centres, both on the companies they host and on the districts in which they are located. "The aim was to measure their true added value, not only for the entrepreneurs they host, but also for their direct environment and for the Brussels Region as a whole," explains Boris le Polain.
This study revealed some key figures:
- 75% of tenants say that their move to a business centre is contributing to the stability of their company.
- 85% of companies cite the affordable cost of the rent as the main reason for their move, followed by the location (76%), the architectural quality of the premises and the contractual flexibility.
- Over 90% of the hosted companies are from Brussels and remain active there after their stay.
- 42% of the companies provide demonstrable social or ecological added value. "Particular attention is paid to the social or environmental added value of companies within the centres; business centres act as catalysts to spread these practices," continues Boris le Polain
In terms of the impact on districts, "we see that entrepreneurs hire local residents, collaborate with local suppliers and actively participate in neighbourhood life," highlights Boris le Polain. "As such, we are not only strengthening companies, but also the city's socio-economic structure."
Beyond their entrepreneurial impact, the study confirms that the centres play a key role in strengthening the local socio-economic fabric. Located in districts that are sometimes poorly covered by private initiative, they target different audiences from traditional business centres, and develop social, cultural and educational initiatives that enrich their local roots.
More than just accommodation, "being part of a larger whole."
Boris le Polain sums it up: "Our centres are safe havens for young companies. A place where you can test, experiment and learn, without being immediately trapped by burdensome and restrictive lease contracts. But it's also a place where you're part of a larger whole – a network of entrepreneurs, coaches and district initiatives. This makes them powerful drivers for a supportive, inclusive and sustainable city."
Want to find out more?
All information on the business centres can be found on the Brucenter network website: www.brucenter.brussels
Do not hesitate to contact them to arrange a visit or obtain further information.
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Advantages of business centres at a glance ✅ Affordable and flexible workspaces |