Flanders’ DRIVE also acts as a catalyst in the ongoing transition from the archetypal automotive industry into a much more future-oriented mobility industry. Director Renilde Craps is happy to give you a tailor-made introduction to the institute she works for.

Which Flanders’ DRIVE initiatives are ‘hot’ just now for foreign investors?

Renilde Craps: “The decisive breakthrough of electric vehicles requires further developments, mainly in the field of Li-ion battery systems. As an alternative for conductive charging methods, there is growing interest in inductive charging – energy transfer via a magnetic field – leading to a greener mobility."

"An example in the field of smart mobility is the use of state-of-the-art predictive vision systems in vehicles as a way to improve traffic safety, as they can help the driver to detect other road users in time.”


What can Flanders’ DRIVE do for overseas entrepreneurs?

Craps: “Above all, we offer indirect support to all possible stakeholders – via FIT, for instance. What we have in store is up-to-date know-how, infrastructure and the latest innovations through our research center. Flanders’ DRIVE also maintains a very strong networking role together with Agoria.”


What kind of company would Flanders’ DRIVE especially like to attract to Flanders?

Craps: “Value chains are very important in the mobility industry. In Flanders, however, there still is a gap in the field of battery technology. Flanders does have Umicore, delivering – and recycling – all the necessary materials, and there is a solid local market for batteries."

"What Flanders doesn’t have, is a company producing these batteries, in order to complete the value chain. This is certainly a challenge for Flanders.”


What is the added value of Flanders’ DRIVE, in an international context?

Craps: “What makes us different is the fact that we focus on applied research for niche applications, which are subjected to new market trends. This keeps us very flexible in being a dedicated technology provider."

"As a result, Flanders’ DRIVE established a robust client relationship with a series of groundbreaking multinationals in the mobility industry. We are a privileged research partner of many global market leaders, such as Volvo Cars, Ford, etc."

"This is even more remarkable as our R&D department was established only four years ago. So frankly, I’m convinced that Flanders’ DRIVE has made the right choices these past few years.”