Policies to support AI-related research and innovation.
Name in original language
AI Beleid van het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest
Initiative overview
The Brussels Region AI Policy is a strategic initiative designed to unleash the transformative potential of artificial intelligence across sectors in the Brussels Capital Region. It addresses the dual challenge of fostering innovation while ensuring AI development is ethical, inclusive, and aligned with societal values. The initiative leverages Brussels' unique positioning as a regulatory and institutional hub, aiming to create a thriving AI ecosystem that supports both industrial competitiveness and social well-being.One of the policy's key objectives is to stimulate AI-related research and innovation through targeted funding mechanisms and collaborative programs. Innoviris, the Region's public research and innovation funding body, has allocated over EUR 20 million to AI over the past two years. Central to this effort is the Joint R&D Projects program (formerly "Team Up"), which promotes collaboration between academia and industry, enabling researchers to engage with real-world challenges while providing companies access to cutting-edge academic expertise. Nineteen such projects have already received EUR 12 million in subsidies. Complementing this is the Anticipate program, which supports research on the societal and economic impacts of AI, helping to shape future AI governance.As the policy has evolved, the Brussels Region has shifted from a cross-sectoral to a more focused approach, launching specialized calls in areas such as predictive medicine and Industry 4.0. Furthermore, Innoviris provides over EUR 6 million annually through open calls to support AI/Data-driven initiatives, representing a quarter of its industrial funding budget. To support technical development, institutions like Sirris Brussels and ICiTy.Bru offer expert services, while Innovation Vouchers facilitate access to accredited AI labs. On the business side, the NextTech.brussels plan (EUR 8 million), coordinated by hub.brussels, drives AI adoption through tailored support, investment attraction, and workforce training, especially in regtech, govtech, civictech, and fintech.Looking ahead, the Brussels Region aims to scale its AI strategy by deepening community engagement and expanding training programs. Initiatives like the Data Science Community and Digityzer Hub, backed by regional funding, foster grassroots innovation and digital upskilling. New educational platforms such as Microsoft AI School and AI Black Belt are being introduced to cultivate AI talent. Through this coordinated and evolving policy, the Region intends to institutionalize a comprehensive AI support framework that ensures technological advancement aligns with economic growth and social responsibility.
Name of responsible organisation (in English)
Brussels Government
