Edegem (24brussels) – Edegem has granted approval for the Bioscape biotech hub on the University of Antwerp campus adjacent to UZA hospital, which is projected to create 500 jobs, despite traffic-related protests from two residents, reports 24brussels.
The municipality of Edegem, located in the province of Antwerp, Belgium, has officially approved the permit for the Bioscape project, a new hub dedicated to biotechnology start-ups, overcoming objections from two local residents.
The facility will occupy a strategic location on the University of Antwerp campus, placing it at the heart of the city’s research and medical sectors. Authorities assert that the hub will facilitate a vital link between scientific innovation and practical application.
What is Edegem’s Bioscape project near UZA and will it create 500 jobs?
Bioscape will model itself after the successful site established in Ghent, housing biotechnology start-ups alongside university researchers. Local officials anticipate that this initiative will generate skilled employment opportunities and bolster the regional economy.
“This will eventually create 500 new jobs, which is a good thing for a municipality like ours,”
stated Mayor Koen Metsu (N-VA).
Despite the anticipated increase in traffic from the Bioscape project, the two residents filed their complaint against the project’s permit primarily due to these concerns. After thorough consideration of the objections, authorities moved forward with the permit approval.
“The plans have been adapted to the traffic situation. Moreover, this project will give innovation in Flanders a boost,”
added Mayor Koen Metsu (N-VA).
“That’s why adjustments have been made in terms of mobility,”
noted Alderman for Mobility Andries Talma (CD&V).
“There will be additional turning lanes on Drie Eikenstraat and a shortcut to the parking lot for cyclists.”
The proposal for the Bioscape project was first revealed in 2023 as part of Flanders’ broader initiative to enhance its biotechnology sector. In 2024, the project underwent meticulous planning and public consultations. By 2025, Edegem officially sanctioned the project.
A similar venture occurred in Ghent, where Ghent University and the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) partnered to establish a biotech hub at Tech Lane in Zwijnaarde, beginning in 2014, aimed at hosting R&D companies and generating approximately 2,000 jobs.
This site, including the VIB Bio-Incubator, focused on transforming scientific concepts into industrial breakthroughs, paralleling the success of notable biotech startups like Biotalys and Syngenta. As this hub expanded, it prompted increased traffic congestion, leading the city to implement measures such as enhanced cycling paths, turning lanes, and “Living Streets” initiatives to effectively address community mobility concerns.
