# Who coordinates aerospace clusters in Belgium?

> Belgium has no single aerospace coordinator. A map of the Flemish and Walloon clusters, the federal players for space and defence, and who to call first.

- URL: https://fadec.aero/blogs/consortia-partnerships/who-coordinates-aerospace-clusters-in-belgium
- Author: Eric Dauchy, Co-Founder and CEO, EuroGrowth
- Published: 2026-10-03
- Publisher: FADEC — Flanders Aerospace & Defence Cluster (https://fadec.aero/)

**TL;DR:** No single body coordinates aerospace clusters in Belgium. Flanders has FLAG for aeronautics, Flanders Space for space and FADEC as an operating platform for aerospace and defence; Wallonia has Skywin, with MecaTech for mechanical engineering. BELSPO manages Belgium's contributions to ESA, and EU defence programmes are reached through regional and national contact points.

Belgian aerospace is organised the way Belgium is: by region, with federal players for space and defence and several clusters that each serve a different part of the industry.

No single organisation coordinates aerospace clusters in Belgium. The sector is organised by region: Flanders has the Flemish Aerospace Group (FLAG) for aeronautics, Flanders Space for the space industry and FADEC as an operating platform for aerospace, space and defence, while Wallonia has Skywin, supported by other Walloon competitiveness clusters such as MecaTech. At federal level, BELSPO manages Belgium's contributions to the European Space Agency, and European defence programmes are reached through regional and national contact points. Which one to call depends on your region and on whether your goal is aeronautics, space or defence work.

## Why is there no national aerospace cluster?

Economic and innovation policy in Belgium sits largely with the regions, so clusters are created and supported regionally. Space has a strong federal dimension because Belgium's membership of the European Space Agency is managed by the federal science policy office, and defence procurement is a federal matter. The result is a layered landscape: regional clusters for companies, federal bodies for agencies and programmes, and European networks on top.

## Which clusters operate in Flanders?

**FLAG, the Flemish Aerospace Group**, is the long-standing aeronautics cluster in Flanders. Its profile with the [European Aerospace Cluster Partnership](https://www.eacp-aero.eu/members/flag-flemish-aerospace-group/) gives 1981 as its year of creation and sets the goal of doubling turnover and increasing employment by 50% by 2030 against a 2014 base. The European Commission's [list of defence-related regions](https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/european-network-defence-related-regions/endr-members_en) describes FLAG with 70 members, with about 10% of its members' activities arising from defence or dual use. Flanders Investment & Trade cites figures from [Agoria-FLAG](https://invest.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com/en/sectors/aerospace) for the region's aerospace industry.

**[Flanders Space](https://www.flandersspace.be/)** is the cluster for the Flemish space industry. It aims to strengthen the space economy in Flanders and raise its international profile, works on talent, competitiveness, R&D funding and science communication, and is supported by VLAIO, the Flemish agency for innovation and entrepreneurship. Its members include space companies and research institutions such as imec, KU Leuven, SCK CEN, VITO and the von Karman Institute.

**FADEC, the Flanders Aerospace & Defence Cluster**, launched its founding phase in 2026 as an operating platform rather than a networking association. It works across eight [focus domains](/focus-domains), from aerospace manufacturing and space technologies to drones and defence-adjacent aerospace, and delivers through named bodies: an Industrial Partnership Office for introductions to primes, an Investment Council, an Export Accelerator and consortium building for EDF, EDIP, SAFE, Horizon Europe and ESA calls. See [what FADEC does](/blogs/consortia-partnerships/wat-doet-fadec) (in Dutch) and the [about page](/about).

## Which clusters operate in Wallonia?

**[Skywin](https://www.skywin.be/en)** is the Walloon cluster for aeronautics, space, drones and defence. Its website reports 145 members, among them 101 SMEs, 14 large companies, 9 universities and 17 research or competence centres, and 105 labelled projects with a total budget of €295 million. It is supported by Wallonia and AWEX, the Walloon export and investment agency.

Other Walloon organisations work alongside it. The Commission's list of defence-related regions names the **MecaTech** cluster for mechanical engineering, with 291 members, and **NCP Wallonie**, which helps SMEs, research organisations and other regional entities take part in European research projects with a focus on the European Defence Fund.

## How big is the sector each cluster serves?

The published figures come from different sources and years, so they show orders of magnitude rather than one consistent census.

| Region and segment | Figure | Source and year |
|---|---|---|
| Flanders, space industry | €320 million turnover, about one third related to ESA activities; some 1,400 people employed | Flanders Space, 2022, cited by Flanders Investment & Trade |
| Flanders, aeronautics and space combined | €1.2 billion turnover, more than 3,900 people employed | Agoria-FLAG figures for 2016, cited by Flanders Investment & Trade |
| Flanders, FLAG cluster profile | 62 companies, 9 research institutes, 3,200 employees among aerospace actors | FLAG profile, European Aerospace Cluster Partnership |
| Wallonia, Skywin | 145 members, 105 labelled projects worth €295 million | Skywin website |
| Wallonia, defence sector | Some 4,000 direct jobs | European Network of Defence-related Regions |

Two things stand out. Flanders has a strong space and aerostructures base, with a large share of space turnover tied to ESA work. And defence has so far been a small part of Flemish aeronautics activity, with the European Commission's profile of FLAG putting it at about 10% of members' activities. With defence budgets rising, that share is the figure to watch.

## How large is the defence part of the sector?

Defence is the fastest-changing part of the picture. The European Commission's network of defence-related regions publishes a profile for each member, and the Belgian profiles give the clearest public view:

- **Wallonia.** Skywin's profile lists 148 members across five sectors, including defence, and states that the Walloon defence sector represents some 4,000 direct jobs and more than €1 billion in annual turnover.
- **Flanders.** FLAG's profile puts the defence or dual-use share of its 70 members' activities at about 10%, and notes that the Flemish government officially recognised FLAG as a cluster in April 2017.
- **Mechanical engineering.** MecaTech, with 291 members, reports more than 113 collaborative projects generating €316 million in investments, and works with Skywin and NCP Wallonie on defence opportunities.

The contrast matters for a Flemish supplier. Much of Flanders' aerospace capability, such as aerostructures, composites, precision machining and electronics, is already qualified for civil programmes. Moving part of it into defence work means new customers, new security and export-control rules and new funding instruments, which is the transition the regional clusters and FADEC are each organising in their own way.

## Why does the choice of cluster matter for a company?

Clusters differ in what they do for members. Some focus on representation, networking and visibility for their region; others on R&D projects and public funding; FADEC on brokered introductions, consortium places and export entry with service standards. For a company with limited time, the useful question is not which cluster is biggest but which one will produce the next concrete step: a prime meeting, a consortium place, an ESA contact or an export lead.

## Who plays a role at federal level?

| Organisation | Level | Role for aerospace companies |
|---|---|---|
| BELSPO, Space Research and Applications | Federal | Manages Belgian contributions to ESA and other space organisations, follows EU space programmes |
| Ministry of Defence | Federal | Buys defence equipment and runs defence research and industrial programmes |
| Industry federations | National | Represent companies towards government and in European industry bodies |
| EDF National Focal Point | National | Informs applicants about European Defence Fund opportunities |

[BELSPO's Space Research and Applications department](https://www.belspo.be/belspo/space/index_en.stm) manages Belgium's contributions to the international space programmes of the European Space Agency and other intergovernmental organisations, follows the space activities of the European Union and runs national R&D programmes, mainly in Earth observation. For a company that wants ESA contracts, it is the federal counterpart to the regional space clusters.

## What is the federal defence-industry strategy?

Alongside the clusters, the federal government has its own framework for the defence industry: the Defence, Industry and Research Strategy (DIRS). The [Royal Higher Institute for Defence](https://www.defence-institute.be/en/defence-industry-and-research-strategy/) describes its aim as developing and consolidating a Belgian Defence Technological and Industrial Base that:

- supports national security and defence policy and strengthens the EU's open strategic autonomy;
- positions Belgium as a reliable technological partner in European and transatlantic capability development;
- keeps national autonomy in critical fields such as research, technological expertise and industrial capacity;
- generates economic and social returns in knowledge, technology and employment.

The same institute runs calls that companies and research groups can answer. Its science and technology pages list DEFRA, the Defence-related Research Action, with a 2026 thematic call on pulsed directed energy effectors, a call for demonstrator projects in maritime security and SCRiMM 2026 for structural collaborative research in military medicine. For a Belgian company, these national calls are often the step before a European Defence Fund project: they build a defence reference, a relationship with Belgian Defence and a team that already knows how defence research is reported.

## Which cluster should you contact first?

| Your situation | First contact | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Flemish aeronautics supplier | FLAG or FADEC | Regional aeronautics network; FADEC for prime introductions and EU consortia |
| Flemish space company | Flanders Space, then BELSPO for ESA | Regional space network, federal ESA delegation |
| Flemish company targeting defence or dual-use programmes | FADEC | Consortium building for EDF, EDIP and SAFE, prime introductions, export control baseline |
| Walloon aerospace or defence company | Skywin | Walloon cluster for aero, space, drones and defence |
| Walloon company preparing an EDF proposal | NCP Wallonie, Skywin | European project support with a defence focus |
| Investor looking for Belgian deal flow | The regional clusters, FADEC Investment Council | Access to member companies and readiness reviews |

Many companies belong to more than one organisation, because each one opens different doors. Membership of a regional network does not exclude an operating platform focused on contracts and consortia, and European projects regularly bring Flemish and Walloon partners together in one consortium.

## What does each type of organisation do for you?

The organisations above fall into four types. Knowing the type tells you what to ask for.

| Type | Examples | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Regional cluster | FLAG, Flanders Space, Skywin, MecaTech | Networking, representation, regional R&D project labelling, joint stands |
| Federal body | BELSPO, Royal Higher Institute for Defence | ESA programme participation, national defence research calls |
| European contact point | NCP Wallonie, EDF National Focal Point | Guidance on EU calls and proposal rules |
| Operating platform | FADEC | Brokered prime introductions, consortium places, export entry, investor access |

Two examples show the difference in practice. Skywin labels collaborative projects through numbered calls for projects, and its website reports 105 labelled projects with a total budget of €295 million; a Walloon company with a research idea goes there for partners and a regional funding route. NCP Wallonie, according to its network profile, offers free guidance on EDF and EDIDP proposals and helps Walloon partners join European projects; a company that already has a topic in mind goes there to get the proposal right.

## How should a new company approach the landscape?

A company new to Belgian aerospace or defence can map its options in an afternoon. A practical order:

1. **Start with your region and your market.** A Flemish space start-up and a Walloon drone maker have different natural first contacts, as the table above shows.
2. **Decide what you need in the next twelve months.** A prime introduction, a consortium place, an ESA contact, an export lead or capital each point to a different organisation.
3. **Check the federal routes.** If your goal is ESA work, talk to BELSPO early. If it is defence research, follow the DIRS calls and the EDF National Focal Point.
4. **Join where the next concrete step is.** Many companies combine a regional cluster for representation with an operating platform for contracts and consortia.
5. **Keep your capability profile current.** Whatever organisation you join, the first thing it will ask for is a clear description of what you make, at which readiness level and for which platforms.

FADEC organises this route for its members through a capability dossier, two agreed target lists of primes or Tier 1 companies and a written twelve-month plan in the first 90 days. Its events calendar also brings the Belgian actors together: the [news page](/news) lists a BEDEX networking afternoon at Melsbroek Air Base on 11 April 2027, supported by the Ministry of Defence, to build consortia and connect Belgian suppliers to capital.

## How do the clusters work together in Europe?

Belgian clusters connect to European networks such as the European Aerospace Cluster Partnership, of which FLAG and Skywin are both part, and the Commission's European Network of Defence-related Regions, which counted 132 entities from 23 Member States, Norway and Ukraine on 21 September 2026. Those networks matter for partner searches: a European Defence Fund consortium needs entities from at least three countries, and clusters across Europe know the capabilities of their members. For a practical method, read [how to find partners for an EDF consortium](/blogs/consortia-partnerships/how-to-find-partners-for-an-edf-consortium).

## Quick answers

**Is there one national aerospace cluster in Belgium?** No. Clusters are organised by region. Flanders and Wallonia each have their own aerospace and space clusters, and federal bodies such as BELSPO handle Belgium's role in the European Space Agency.

**What is the aerospace cluster of Wallonia?** Skywin is the Walloon cluster for aeronautics, space, drones and defence. Its website lists 145 members, including SMEs, large companies, universities and research centres.

**Which cluster covers the Flemish space industry?** Flanders Space is the cluster for the Flemish space industry. It is supported by VLAIO and brings together companies and research institutions such as imec, KU Leuven, SCK CEN, VITO and the von Karman Institute.

**Who handles Belgium's participation in ESA?** BELSPO, the federal science policy office, manages Belgian contributions to the international space programmes of the European Space Agency through its Space Research and Applications department.

## Sources

1. [ENDR members: European Network of Defence-related Regions (European Commission)](https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/european-network-defence-related-regions/endr-members_en)
2. [FLAG, Flemish Aerospace Group (European Aerospace Cluster Partnership)](https://www.eacp-aero.eu/members/flag-flemish-aerospace-group/)
3. [Flanders Space](https://www.flandersspace.be/)
4. [Skywin, aerospace cluster of Wallonia](https://www.skywin.be/en)
5. [Space Research and Applications (BELSPO)](https://www.belspo.be/belspo/space/index_en.stm)
6. [Aerospace in Flanders (Flanders Investment & Trade)](https://invest.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com/en/sectors/aerospace)
7. [Defence, Industry and Research Strategy (Royal Higher Institute for Defence)](https://www.defence-institute.be/en/defence-industry-and-research-strategy/)