An Interview with Mrs. Barbara Trachte
Secretary of State for the Brussels-Capital Region, Responsible for Economic Transition and Scientific Research
What are your priorities for the new term of office of the Brussels-Capital Government?
The priorities of the next Brussels Government are not yet known at this stage. However, my wish is obviously to see the major guidelines that we have set over the last five years continued and even strengthened. The Region is a trailblazer, particularly in social innovation. Several support programs enable the ecosystem to address and explore societal issues specific to a city-region like Brussels and to propose and test innovative solutions.
What do you see as the strengths of scientific research in the Brussels region?
There are many! I will focus on three exemplary areas. Firstly, health research: in addition to the many university hospitals, which are an undeniable asset for Brussels, our approach to encouraging a global and integrated view of health and social issues seems particularly relevant.
How does the Regional Government support scientific research?
Regional support for scientific research focuses on applied research. In other words, projects must demonstrate their relevance to the Brussels context and their potential for practical applications. The government has an annual budget of around €50 million to fund research, development, and innovation projects through Innoviris.
Could you give us a few examples of research projects supported by the Regional Government?
One notable example is an inter-university and inter-hospital project on Alzheimer’s disease, supported since 2024. This initiative consolidates extensive expertise, fosters collaboration across networks, and structurally integrates the involvement of the primary care sector.
Could you remind us what the Shifting Economy is all about? Where are we two years after its launch?
The Brussels economic transition strategy, the ‘Shifting Economy,’ is a global reorientation of all economic and R&D&I tools in Brussels. This reorientation aims to address social, environmental, and climate challenges, particularly the decarbonization of our economy.
How can scientific research contribute to economic transition? What current projects illustrate this contribution?
We have aligned our R&D&I strategic priorities with the major societal challenges facing Brussels. Since the economic transition directly addresses these challenges, we now see that a majority of research projects—regardless of their initiators—contribute to this transition.
