From sky to space: Wallonia, a hub for aerospace innovation

Wallonia, the southern region of Belgium, is home to a thriving aerospace industry, boasting the highest number of active companies in the sector in the country. With several global leaders and research centers dedicated to tackling the challenge of decarbonizing aviation, Wallonia is at the forefront of aerospace innovation.

Ready for takeoff? Buckle up and get ready for an exhilarating journey into one of Wallonia's cutting-edge sectors!

Metallurgy and mechanical engineering

The aerospace and space sector plays a significant role in the Walloon economy and is one of our great assets for the future. The sector's development is built on the existence of a strong metallurgical industry and, in particular, a network of highly specialized subcontractors in precision mechanics.

Aerospace: 5% of every Airbus is made in Wallonia

With an annual turnover of 1.5 billion euros, 90% of which comes from exports, the aerospace industry in Wallonia represents 70% of Belgium's aerospace activity. Leading companies such as Safran Aero Boosters, SABCA Technologies, Sonaca, and Thales, along with around 120 SMEs, form a robust industrial network. This ecosystem is supported by numerous research centers, driving technological advancements for aviation decarbonization.

Did you know? The first space probe was designed at the Liège Space Center in 1960.

Today, in Liège, you'll find Be Cover, a unique aerodynamic testing center in Europe and the world's first of its kind, capable of testing all types of compressors for new generations of civil and military aircraft engines. Another recent development from Safran, Safran Blades, will produce over 2,000 compressor blades per day for aircraft engines starting in 2025.

Space: Belgium is the 6th largest contributor to the ESA and 2nd per capita

With an annual turnover of 500 million euros, 90% of which comes from exports, here are some figures to illustrate the Walloon space sector. Walloon excellence is particularly evident in the field of earth observation, both in orbit platforms and instruments (Aerospacelab, Amos, Thales Alenia Space) and in services and applications (Spacebel and Telespazio). These applications are essential in climate change management, including soil management and agriculture.

Among them is the hyperspectral imaging initiative by SPACEBEL, which merged with Constellr (Germany). By combining their complementary remote sensing technologies, these two players aim to contribute even more to global solutions in sustainable agriculture, forestry, and environmental monitoring.

Wallonia also showcases significant innovations in reusable launchers and cybersecurity.

Drone technology and innovation

Wallonia is home to ID2Move and incubator center led by CAP Innove is recognized as the best test center in Europe. It is unique in Europe to be able to test underwater drones.

SKYWIN: driving aerospace excellence

The Walloon competitiveness cluster, SKYWIN,, brings together companies, research centers, universities, and training centers in the field. Its partnership approach aims to generate synergies around innovative projects with the goal of creating new products and jobs.

Interested in investing or partnering in Wallonia's aerospace sector?

Reach out to our expert, Jean-Pierre Chisogne, Senior Industry Specialist Aerospace, at j.chisogne@awex.be, to explore investment and partnership opportunities in this strategic sector in Wallonia!