Brouns embraces VARIO recommendations for Flemish EU policy

Minister Brouns can broadly endorse the eight recommendations of the recently published VARIO-advisory report ‘Optimal weighing on and responding to EU research, innovation and industry policy’. According to Brouns, these recommendations are already being embraced in current policy. While answering questions in the Flemish Parliament, Brouns elaborated on various recommendations. The minister emphasizes that Flanders is already building a strong position within Europe. Brouns does still see opportunities for Flemish companies, which do not have the same strong presence at the European level as Flemish knowledge institutions. "In terms of submitted projects, we are around the European average for companies, while we score above average for knowledge institutions.”