Creating value through knowledge, partnerships, and expertises
The year 2025 confirms the essential role of the universities of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation as drivers of innovation, economic development, and societal transformation. Through the coordinated efforts of our member institutions’ knowledge valorization teams, the LiEU Network continues its mission: ensuring that research results find their way to businesses, public authorities, and society at large.
The results presented in this report bear witness to the vitality of our ecosystem. More than 7,000 research projects were submitted this year; nearly 800 involved non-academic partners, and over 230 secured funding. Behind these figures lie thousands of researchers, companies, and public stakeholders working together to build solutions to the economic, health, environmental, and technological challenges of our time.
2025 was also marked by a special focus on skills development. Knowledge and technology transfer professions are evolving rapidly, driven by digital transformation and the rise of artificial intelligence. Against this backdrop, the LiEU Network developed a training program on artificial intelligence for valorization professionals through its KTOAcademy. This initiative reflects our commitment to helping teams acquire new expertise, thereby strengthening their ability to identify, protect, develop, and transfer research-based innovations.
The steady growth in intellectual property activities, industry collaborations, service contracts, and the creation of innovative companies demonstrates the increasing maturity of our valorization system. Each invention, license, partnership, and spin-off represents another step toward an economy increasingly driven by knowledge and innovation.
These achievements are, above all, the result of the daily dedication shown by KTO teams and researchers, as well as the support of our universities, public authorities, and all our partners. We extend our thanks to them.
Together, we will continue to strengthen the bridges between research, innovation, and society, ensuring that the knowledge generated in our universities creates an increasingly tangible impact for the benefit of all.
Nathalie Burteau – President of the LiEU Network
Eric Wyart – Chief Operating Officer
