Science and technology in Flanders, being the Flemish Community and more specifically the northern region of Belgium (Europe), is well developed with the presence of several universities and research institutes. These are strongly spread over all Flemish cities, from Kortrijk and Bruges in the Western side, over Ghent as a major university center alongside Antwerp, Brussels and Leuven to Hasselt and Diepenbeek in the Eastern side.
Six Flemish universities issue academic bachelor, master and doctoral degrees on a broad range of disciplines:
Universiteit Antwerpen ('UA'), Antwerp
Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel ('HUB'), Brussels (former Katholieke Universiteit Brussel)
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, ('VUB') Brussels
Universiteit Gent ('UGent'), Ghent
Universiteit Hasselt, Hasselt
KU Leuven, Leuven and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Campus Kortrijk, Kortrijk
As a result of an international treaty between the Netherlands and Flanders, a co-operation between the Universiteit Hasselt (Flanders) and the Universiteit Maastricht (the Netherlands) is recognised as the
Transnational University Limburg, Hasselt
According to the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities and the THES - QS World University Rankings, four Flemish universities (Universiteit Antwerpen, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universiteit Gent and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) are among the top-150 universities in Europe and top-300 universities worldwide.
All recognised Flemish university colleges are associated with a Flemish university. The following colleges, which issue professional bachelor, academic bachelor's and master's degrees, are recognised by the Flemish government:
Antwerp University Association: University Colleges associated with the University of Antwerp
Artesis Hogeschool Antwerpen (Antwerp, Merksem, Lier, Mechelen, Turnhout), public
Hogere Zeevaartschool Antwerpen (Antwerp), public
Karel de Grote-Hogeschool (Antwerp), catholic
Plantijn Hogeschool (Antwerpen, Boom), public
Ghent University Association: University Colleges associated with Ghent University
Arteveldehogeschool (Ghent), catholic
Hogeschool Gent (Ghent, Aalst, Melle), public
Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen (Bruges, Kortrijk), public
University Association Brussels: University Colleges associated with Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Erasmushogeschool Brussel (Brussels), public
KU Leuven Association: University Colleges associated with Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Groep T Hogeschool (Leuven), catholic
Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel (Brussels), catholic
Hogeschool Sint-Lukas Brussel (Brussels), catholic
Hogeschool voor Kunsten en Architectuur (Brussels, Ghent, Leuven, Genk), catholic
Katholieke Hogeschool Brugge-Oostende (Bruges, Ostend), catholic
Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen (Geel, Lier, Turnhout, Vorselaar), catholic
Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven (Leuven, Diest), catholic
Katholieke Hogeschool Limburg (Diepenbeek, Hasselt, Genk), catholic
Katholieke Hogeschool Mechelen (Mechelen), catholic
Katholieke Hogeschool Sint-Lieven (Ghent, Aalst, Sint-Niklaas), catholic
Katholieke Hogeschool Zuid-West-Vlaanderen, (Kortrijk, Roeselare, Tielt, Torhout), catholic
Lessius Hogeschool (Antwerp, Sint-Katelijne-Waver), catholic
Limburg University Association: University Colleges associated with Hasselt University
Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg (Hasselt, Diepenbeek), public
XIOS Hogeschool Limburg (Diepenbeek, Hasselt), public
Finally, the Flemish government has recognised a number of "registered" institutes of higher education, which mostly issue specialised degrees or provide education mainly in a foreign language:
College of Europe (Bruges): postgraduate degree in European studies
Continental Theological Seminary (Sint-Pieters-Leeuw)
Evangelische Theologische Faculteit (Leuven): BA, MA and PhD studies on theology
Faculteit voor Protestantse Godgeleerdheid Brussel (Brussels): BA, MA and PhD studies on theology
Flanders Business School (Antwerp)
Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde (Antwerp), postgraduate degrees taught in French and English
Vesalius College (Brussels)
Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School (Leuven, Ghent): MBA and other management degrees taught in English and Dutch.
The following institutions provide various forms of public funding for research and development:
Institute for the promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT)
Flemish Council for Science Policy (VRWB)
Flanders is home to several science and technology institutes.
Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC)
Flanders District of Creativity (Flanders DC)
Flanders DRIVE
Flanders Institute for Logistics (VIL)
Flanders' Mechatronics Technology Centre (FMTC)
Flanders Multimedia Valley
Flemish Innovation Center for Graphic Communication
Flemish Quality Management Center (VCK)
Interdisciplinary institute for BroadBand Technology (IBBT)
Flanders Interuniversity Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)
Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO)
Technopolis
Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics
Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde
Several science parks associated with the universities are spread over Flanders:
Arenberg Research-Park
Greenbridge science park
Haasrode Research-Park
Innotek
Limburg Science Park
Waterfront Researchpark
Zwijnaarde science park
