Sector builds very first training centre for pharmaceuticals and biotech in Flanders with ViTalent
Specialised training to get started and stay in the pharmaceutical and biotech sector? From the beginning of 2022, students, job seekers and employees from the sector can contact ViTalent at the Science Park in Niel. This very first training centre for the life sciences is a first for Flanders. It sets out to be a […]
BASF Antwerp builds pilot installation to produce absorbent material in nappies more sustainably
Have you heard of super-absorbent polymers or SAP for short? They ensure dry bottoms in baby nappies, among other things. BASF Antwerp is investing 25 million euros in a high-tech pilot installation to make SAP production more sustainable and digital. An investment in the future and an extra asset for the chemicals sector in Flanders. […]
Chemicals and life sciences sector again attracts most foreign investment
With 40 investment projects, providing 877 new jobs and a total investment amount of more than 408 million euros, the chemicals and life sciences sector was again number 1 in Flanders in 2020 for attracting foreign investments. This is evident from figures from FIT (Flanders Investment & Trade). Due to the difficult economic context, the […]
EU Biotech School & Health Hub: a flagship project for the international development of Belgian biotech and biopharma
Train more talent, support more start-ups and scale-ups, so that biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals, such a key sector for the economy, prosperity, and employment in Wallonia, develop internationally and are ready for the next generation of therapies and production processes. This is the ambitious goal of the EU Biotech School & Health Hub, a state-of-the-art training […]
WeteWaWerkt: new series of videos places young STEM talent in the spotlight
WeteWaWerkt: in this series of videos from Technopolis and the ‘Vlaamse Ondernemers’ (Flemish entrepreneurs) of which essenscia is part, eight young business employees from various sectors demonstrate what their jobs entail and explain which routes they took to end up working in a STEM profession. The aim is to inspire third grade secondary school pupils, […]
Univercells builds two production plants in Jumet
The biotechnology company Univercells is setting up its subsidiary Exothera in Jumet, on the former site of the IT company Systemat, to offer complete development and manufacturing services for viral vectors for the development of vaccines and gene therapies. Exothera relies on the use of innovative production platforms to reduce costs and make these treatments […]
Educational first: chemical and pharmaceutical sector puts employees part-time in front of the classroom
Dual teaching is an innovative educational concept in which employees from chemical and pharmaceutical companies can teach temporarily and part-time in a secondary school. This brings practice closer to STEM education and at the same time tackles the shortage of specialist teachers. The pilot project was established in collaboration with the Flemish ministers of Education […]
Janssen and TotalEnergies commit to ToekomstATELIERdelAvenir (TADA)
The ToekomstATELIERdelAvenir in Brussels, or TADA, is an initiative to guide socially vulnerable young people towards a promising future. Every year at TADA, hundreds of teenagers from deprived neighbourhoods are taught on Saturdays by enthusiastic professionals who give an insight into their daily practice. Johnson & Johnson Benelux, the parent company of Janssen Pharmaceutica, and TotalEnergies are also involved. […]
Diversity, equality, and inclusion on the agenda at Solvay
The Solvay Chemical Group is implementing the “Solvay One Dignity” programme, which aims to change the culture of the organisation in terms of diversity, equality, and inclusion. The programme aims to eliminate all forms of discrimination and cultivate an inclusive and diverse environment that promotes equal opportunities for employees of all backgrounds, ages, genders, nationalities, […]
Attracting talent through sector-specific job fairs
essenscia organises sector-specific Jobdays in Wallonia and We Are Chemistry in Flanders, which aim to attract more technical and scientific talents to the chemical, plastics and life sciences industry, and thereby help companies fill their vacancies. The “Chemistry, Plastics, Pharma & Biotech Jobdays” are organised by essenscia wallonie in collaboration with Forem and Actiris and supported by partners such as the business parks of Liège and […]