Auteur: AIVP
Source: Port of Oostende
Date de parution: Mardi, 22 Février 2005
Type de Document: Actualité
Thème: 2.08 - Nouvelles Technologies de l'Information, 5.07 - équipement universitaire et de recherche, 3.03 - stratégie locale de développement portuai
Langue originale: Anglais, Neerlandais
Localisation: Europe : Belgique : Ostende
Langue: Français, Anglais, Espagnol

La première pierre du Greenbrige incubator a été posée le 19 février 2005 à Ostende, en présence des autorités locales et gouvernementales. Cet incubateur, implanté sur la zone portuaire, constitue la première étape d'un parc scientifique que veulent initier les acteurs locaux (Université de Gand, Académie catholique Brugge-Ostende , GOM West-Vlaanderen, Plassendale) afin de favoriser l'innovation et le développement des nouvelles technologies.

As early as in August 2001, the University of Gent signed an intention agreement in order to take a long lease on an industrial area in the hinterland of Oostende. The basic aim of this is to found a second science park. This area, 20 ha and situated in the industrial area of Plassendale I, belongs to the Region of Flanders and is managed by Plassendale NV (Independant Public company Port of Oostende). Situated next to the E-40 highway, the canal Gent-Oostende, the port and the airport Oostende, this area is international easily accessible. The main objective of this industrial area, named Greenbridge, is to become an example to other industrial sites being organised ecologically with water and green areas in this way offering a unique environment in which companies can develop.

This industrial area offers a solution for the need of exploitation space which is a struggling point for the University of Gent at the moment. In Zwijnaarde on the Campus Ardoyen, the university disposes of a science park of approximately 20 ha. Besides some ICT-companies, this park has become one the most important biotech clusters in Europe.

The foundation of the Greenbridge incubator is the first initiative originating from this new exploitation park in Plassendale. The incubator will support the development of high-tech starting companies, including for example spin offs of the Ugent and the KHBO. An existing management team will, together with the department of Technology transfer of the University of Gent, support the companies with their product development and their international collaboration. New high-tech employers can appeal to finances, patents, business development and commercialising of their intellectual properties.

The incubator, 3000 m², offers beside bureau space, both adequate lab infrastructure and workshops for bigger experiments, as many starters initially need infrastructure for research and development as well.

The Greenbridge incubator is the source of new initiatives regarding the science park. Mainly this may be local high-tech sectors as the naval sciences, environmental technology, chemistry and nutrition. The foundation and exploitation of the incubator was realised trough founding a separate corporation, Greenbridge NV, that is financially decisive by over 2 million EUR.

In 2004, the Greenbridge project was boosted by the European Union when they decided to invest 653,000 EUR in the development of the Greenbridge incubator in Oostende within the European subsidy program "5Bphasing out EFRO". This investment helped the durable construction of the incubator and the extension of its professional management.

Practical The first stone will be laid on Saturday 19th February 2005, at 10.15 a.m. on the Plassendale area alongside the Esperantolaan. Next, at Telindus (John Cordierlaan 9, 8400 Oostende), an academic meeting takes place at 11.00 a.m. This meeting will allow Yves Leterme (prime minister of the Flemish government), Johan Vande Lanotte (vice prime minister of the federal government), Andreas De Leenheer (rector Ugent) en Guy Haemers (CEO Greenbridge NV) to speak their minds. Following, we offer you a reception.

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