Brussels' public incubators focus on innovation first

What makes these incubators unique? Who are they intended for? How can I join them? What should I expect? How long can I stay there? 

Ludivine Rattin, a member of hub.brussels' support and partnerships coordination team, has the answers to these questions and many more. For three years, she has been handling a threefold mission in Brussels' public incubators: coordinating joint projects across all four incubators; maintaining links between the incubators and the political sphere; representing the ecosystem towards the Region’s partners who may be in a position to support the incubated businesses.

Four incubators serving innovative entrepreneurship

What is an incubator? "The Brussels Regions' public incubators aim to contribute to the development of innovative entrepreneurship", she explains. "They were originally co-founded with the universities. Recently, the concept of academic partners has extended to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, with university spinoffs accounting for roughly 5% of the incubated businesses. However, close relationships with universities and the academic world are very important for the incubated start-ups, because this gives them a unique and wonderful opportunity to access people and cutting-edge expertise."

Today, the Brussels Region has four incubators, each with a specific aim, but all oriented towards innovation:

• EEBIC (Erasmus European Business and Innovation Center) - a multi-sectoral incubator in West Brussels, the Region's first public incubator was created in 1992 in collaboration with ULB. It is located on the Erasme campus in Anderlecht in a passive building, which has been awarded the Ecodynamic Enterprise certification. With over three decades of experience, EEBIC has supported many promising start-ups, which have now become great success stories. Although the incubator is multi-sectoral, the projects must still have an innovative nature.
   
• ICAB (Incubatiecentrum Arsenaal Brussel), created in early 2000 in collaboration with VUB and located in Arsenal, Etterbeek, specialises in the digital, ICT and engineering sectors. It also offers a co-working space within the incubator, via Beta Cowork;
   
• BLSI (Brussels Life Science Incubator), created in 2006 in collaboration with UCLouvain and located on the university's campus in Woluwe, specialises in life sciences and health. The incubator offers laboratories as well as offices;
   
• Greenbizz, the newest incubator created in 2016, was co-founded with Buildwise (formerly the CSTC - Centre d’innovation du secteur de la construction) and is located close to Tour & Taxis in Laeken. Specialising in sustainable projects, it provides offices as well as production workshops, and is also home to a fablab (Cityfab1). Greenbizz is a passive building that has been awarded four ecolabels (Ecodynamic Enterprise; Green Key; Exemplary Building; Brussels Health and Safety).

A public incubator management team in Brussels is made up of 2 or 3 people. In 2023, the four incubators boasted a total of 143 incubated businesses, representing 612 jobs.

A wide range of services

In practical terms, each of these incubators offers the incubated start-ups a wide range of services.

Firstly, they provide access to a coaching programme (Excelerate, initially funded by Innoviris), shared by the four public incubators and exclusive to the incubated start-ups, which must nevertheless meet certain criteria.

Secondly, they offer all their incubated start-ups easy access to a range of public or private players who support entrepreneurship, are based in the Region, and/or work in the academic world. For their incubated start-ups, the incubator managers represent the first link in this regional support, and are there to listen, guide and redirect entrepreneurs.

Finally, they offer a physical home for their businesses, in modern offices equipped with the latest technological innovations and premises dedicated to activities that the organisation favours.

The incubators' management teams also work hard to give their start-ups the opportunity to benefit from inspiring connections with their colleagues facing the same challenges. Indeed, these teams maintain and drive the ecosystem within the incubator itself. In 2023, the four incubators organised 58 events aimed at their incubated businesses, whether information and awareness-raising sessions, presentations on a new partner or new product, or networking evenings to encourage connections and discussions. Each incubator provides a communal area to encourage informal meetings between entrepreneurs, while the organised events are a chance for these discussions to become more formalised. International opportunities are also not overlooked: each time an event is organised abroad, hub.brussels makes sure to inform the incubated start-ups concerned.

Although each public incubator is an independent organisation, the collaboration between the four is nothing short of excellent, and this alliance has been made concrete with the creation of a shared brand: incubators.brussels.

Our public incubators are one of a kind

Brussels' public incubators operate in a very diverse context. Indeed, how are the public incubators positioned amongst co-working spaces, business centres and private incubators?

Unlike co-working spaces, the incubators place innovation at the heart of their mission, and enjoy strong links with the academic world and R&D. Yet, innovation is synonymous with risk. Generally, private incubators invest in the projects they incubate, which involves a certain return on their investment over the short/medium term on the part of these projects. Public incubators supplement this private offering. They play the role of a public service, providing support to more high-risk projects.

Other players active in Brussels include business centres whose mission is different to that of the public incubators: "A business centre aims to revitalise the district in which it is located", explains Ludivine Rattin. "Its geographical position is therefore a strategic decision. Business centres work closely with the local economy offices to support the businesses they host. Their mission therefore differs from that of the public incubators, even though some also work in specific sectors, and they work closely with the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem."

Finally, there are also public or private 'young' incubators, or 'pre-incubators' such as startLab.brussels, Start Lab ICHEC, EPHEC Entreprendre or start it@KBC. The role of all these organisations is to support project leaders looking to become entrepreneurs but who don't yet have a company number. As Ludivine Rattin explains, "These are the partners we work closely with. We put tools in place to help those who have just started out on their first innovative entrepreneurial experience in this field to explore the option of joining one of the public incubators."

Making an informed selection

To join one of Brussels' four public incubators, start-ups must meet certain conditions.

Firstly, in terms of selection, the applicant project must be innovative, on a technological, environmental and/or social level. It must also meet the specific sectoral characteristics of the incubator requested (see the specific characteristics of each of the incubators listed above).

Furthermore, in terms of their status and financial autonomy, the businesses applying to join one of Brussels' public incubators are in the start-up phase, but they must still be able to demonstrate some activity, have their company number, "and it's essential to already be generating some income to meet the costs of the accommodation", Ludivine Rattin warns, "although the rate for the incubators is very competitive, offering an all-inclusive, flat-rate fee. You need to allow approximately €25 to €30/m². Starting from €400/month, it is possible to rent a private office for 2 or 3 people (all inclusive)."

"There are many different ways to join", explains Ludivine Rattin. "The hub.info advisors are able to spot the potential of certain start-ups, but interested entrepreneurs can also browse the websites and social media and then contact the incubator managers directly to ask any questions they have and to submit their application. As for the incubators themselves, they are working to ensure they're raising their profile so they can attract new prospects."

Flexibility and continuity

The incubated start-ups don't sign a lease with the incubator, but rather an open-ended agreement. "This structure was chosen for flexibility reasons", Ludivine Rattin points out. "The incubators' policy is to set up an easy in/easy out model. The offices are modular and the surface areas can be adapted as the business grows. The agreement generally allows for a deadline of two to three months' notice when a business leaves."

The point to bear in mind is that you don't establish your business in a regional public incubator indefinitely. You don't come intending to stay there forever. It's a place to pass through, at the start of your project, allowing you to limit the risks inherent in innovation, and getting all the necessary partners around the table to support your project. It's an ongoing discussion between the incubator manager and the incubated projects.

Once the decision to leave has been made, the business isn't left to its own devices. "Citydev, a partner of the region, is then involved and intervenes to support the departing company. They help to find new, long-term premises where the business can continue to operate", Ludivine Rattin highlights, concluding: "It is clear that Brussels' entire entrepreneurial ecosystem is still there for the businesses even after they've left. They can still access the opportunities that the Region offers."