Walloon Government launches innovation partnership with €81 million budget over three years, dedicated to ATMPs, in collaboration with BioWin and the Public service of Wallonia

Innovation partnership specific to Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) brings together 26 partners for 12 work packages 

Suarlée, Namur, Belgium, January 17, 2024 – In late 2023, the Walloon Government approved funding for an unprecedented Technological Innovation Partnership – ATMP-Partenariat d’Innovation Technologique (ATMP-PIT) proposal – for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs). Minister of the Economy and Vice-President of Wallonia Willy Borsus instigated the initiative under the Walloon Recovery Plan. It is part of a co-construction process involving all stakeholders in the sector, led by BioWin, the health cluster of Wallonia, and the Research and Technology Development Department of the Public service of Wallonia for the Economy, Employment and Research. The project involves 26 partners and has a budget of €81 million ($88.9M). Around 60% of this comes from public funds, with 40% being privately funded. Almost €23 million ($25.3M) was already allocated in 2023. 

ATMPs are the next-generation biomedicines designed to address unmet medical needs. They are among the most innovative and promising developments in modern medicine. The PIT encompasses various aspects of these novel approaches, including cell, gene, exosome and phage therapies. The emphasis is on the suitability of planned developments for large-scale manufacture, with the effect of boosting Walloon businesses’ own technologies, processes and products.

The ATMP PIT is intended to provide a major stimulus to Wallonia’s advanced therapy medicines sector, by establishing new partnerships between academia (including teaching hospitals), a research center and businesses of every size. These various work packages cover all the links in the ATMP value chain and address particular areas of scientific research with high development potential, various aspects of preclinical and clinical research, and innovative approaches to production process design and control. The project will bring with it a substantial increase in the number of researchers and technicians working in this sector. Estimates predict that more than 470 direct jobs and 1,200 indirect jobs will be created over the next five years.

“An ambitious project like this will help to embed talent and knowledge in our region,” said Willy Borsus, Minister of the Economy and Vice-President of the Walloon Government. “It will be a huge boost to the region’s attractiveness. The ATMP PIT provides a unique opportunity to grow and develop an important sector for the future of Wallonia.” 

“This partnership will help us to ensure Wallonia will retain its position as a leader in the sector, by strengthening the ecosystem and giving it the tools and resources to stay at the forefront of innovation,” said Sylvie Ponchaut, Managing Director of BioWin. 

Although Belgium makes up just 2.6% of the EU’s population, it accounts for 7.8% of jobs, 18.7% of exports and 19.3% of investment in research and development in the EU’s biopharmaceuticals industry, ranking it third, second and first in Europe in these respective areas. (Source: pharma.be) 

The ATMP market expects to see a compound annual growth rate of more than 36% between 2019 and 2025. The market value is projected to reach €10 billion ($11bn) by 2025 and €80 billion ($88bn) by 2032. 

Key figures for ATMPs in Wallonia

15+ companies developing ATMPs

8 companies engaged in contract manufacturing 

15+ service companies operating in this area

More than 2,100 direct jobs 

6,000 jobs in total (direct and indirect)

Portfolio with information on the project’s partners

White paper describing the ATMP landscape in Wallonia

Infographic: visual explanation of the ATMP collaborative project in Wallonia

About BioWin 

BioWin is the health cluster in Wallonia, Belgium, the regional reference for all stakeholders in health, biotech and medtech research, and innovation projects. It includes 250 members from the private, public and academic sectors. 

Biowin’s mission is to accelerate innovation to meet tomorrow’s public health challenges and develop the knowledge, employment and competitiveness of all players in the health sector ecosystem. By bringing together all the innovation players in Wallonia’s life sciences field, BioWin aims to stimulate regional economic redeployment. The cluster is also involved in implementing the sector’s industrial policy (industrial innovation and research, training, support for business growth), to develop and anchor skills, knowledge and jobs. 

www.biowin.org