FROM CONVERGENCE TO IMPACT

WALLOON STRATEGY INDUSTRY & INNOVATION FOR DEFENCE

Wallonia is adopting a clear framework to strengthen its industrial and technological defense base, support innovation, and facilitate access for Walloon stakeholders to Belgian, European, and international value chains.

strong ambition

A strong ambition for Wallonia

Wallonia has major industrial, technological and scientific strenghts in the fields of defence and dual-use technologies.

To fully leverage them, companies, research centres, universities and project leaders need clear pathways: from the initial identification of needs through to integration into regional, federal, European and international value chains.

This is precisely the aim of the Walloon Defence Task Force: to structure a shared action framework bringing together key operators in order to better guide stakeholders, strengthen Walloon capabilities and support their development against a backdrop of rapid change in the challenges of sovereignty, resilience and competitiveness.

The strategy addresses a need: to better connect Walloon stakeholders with the opportunities and requirements of the sector, by creating a clearer entry point and a strong collective dynamic.

Vision & Mission

Structuring an industrial, technological and capability-driven dynamic

Vision

By 2030, Wallonia aims to consolidate internationally recognised leadership in its areas of excellence in security and defence by strengthening its ability to:

Mission

The core mission is to strengthen Wallonia’s economic value creation, strategic autonomy and resilience through the structured development of its Defence Industrial and Technological Base and dual-use technologies.

This mission brings together three key policy objectives:

domains

Focusing the effort

The priority domains correspond to the existing or emerging strengths of the Walloon ecosystem, identified capability needs, prospects for integration into value chains, and opportunities for industrial valorization.

Application Domains

Land

Air

Space

Protection

Integration Domains

(C-)UxV & Embedding

Effectors

Ammunition

C4ISR

Technological Domains

Materials & Processes

Cyber & Quantum

Biotech

AI & Edge computing

Land

The land domain refers to systems, equipment, vehicles, effectors, protection solutions, ammunition, embedded systems, maintenance, simulation and support capabilities related to ground operations. This is a domain in which Wallonia has structuring industrial players and significant development prospects.

Air

The air domain builds on Wallonia’s strengths in aeronautics, propulsion, structures, actuators, embedded systems, maintenance, test benches and subsystem integration. Developments in air combat systems, drones, collaborative platforms and embedded technologies reinforce the relevance of this domain.

Space

The space domain is a major lever for security, surveillance, communication, navigation, intelligence, resilience and strategic autonomy. Wallonia has active players in the space sector and connections with European value chains. Space is also inherently a dual-use domain, where civilian, security and military uses mutually reinforce one another.

Protection

The protection domain covers the protection of people, infrastructure, platforms, data, communications, sensitive sites and critical capabilities. In addition to CBRN applications, it includes, in particular, armour, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, protective clothing and equipment, detection technologies, sensors and resilience solutions.

(C-)UxV and Embedded Systems

C-UxV systems, drones, counter-drone systems and embedded systems constitute a major growth domain. They cover autonomous or remotely operated platforms, embedded systems, sensors, embedded intelligence, secure communications, navigation, payload integration, detection and threat neutralisation.

Effectors

Effectors are the devices that carry out the neutralisation action (the cannon, the laser, the turret). They represent a domain in which Wallonia has strong and distinctive industrial competences. They relate more directly to defence, with fewer civilian applications, but they are central to operational capabilities, precision, security, performance and system integration.

Ammunition

Ammunition constitute a distinct strategic issue, linked to stock replenishment, security, performance, process control and integration into value chains. They mobilise specific industrial skills and respond to capability needs directly related to defence.

C4ISR

C4ISR is a cross-cutting domain. It covers the ability to collect, process, secure, transmit and exploit information. It is central to collaborative operations, command systems, information superiority, cybersecurity, sensors and decision support.

Innovative Materials and Processes

Innovative materials and processes form a cross-cutting foundation. They concern structures, protection, additive manufacturing, advanced processes, lightweighting, resistance to harsh environments, maintenance, repair, composites, energetic materials and high-performance materials.

Cybersecurity and Quantum Cryptography

Cybersecurity and quantum cryptography are essential to the robustness of systems, communications, infrastructure, value chains and development environments. In modern defence, digital security is not an add-on: it is a condition for trust, sovereignty and market access.

Biotech

Biotechnologies are often less spontaneously associated with defence. Yet they are relevant to a modern vision of security and resilience, particularly for health, nuclear medicine, diagnostics, protection against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risks, operational medicine, detection, medical logistics, critical production, biopharma and medical technologies. In this respect, Wallonia has skills and value chains that can be mobilised in dual-use pathways.

AI and Autonomous Systems

Artificial intelligence and autonomous systems cut across all domains. They contribute to decision support, data processing, sensor fusion, predictive maintenance, navigation, collaborative systems, simulation, drones, embedded systems and protection capabilities.

Strategic Objectives

Our 5 strategic objectives

The following objectives were collectively defined by the members of the Task Force, based on feedback from companies active in the sector and on the strategic priorities of Belgium, Europe and NATO. They structure the shared action framework and guide the operational priorities of the strategy.

Strategically position Walloon ecosystems

To secure the long-term positioning of Walloon defence ecosystems and dual-use sectors by linking Walloon industrial priorities to defence requirements and relevant programmes.

Enhancing the availability of skills

Enhancing the availability and suitability of the human resources and skills required by the defence sector, based on the actual needs of businesses.

Supporting investment and production capacity

Accelerating the industrial capacity build-up of Walloon companies to meet defence needs, adapt their products and processes, and integrate into value chains.

Strengthen entrepreneurship, research and innovation

Stimulate the emergence, development and valorisation of innovation and entrepreneurship projects linked to Defence needs and dual-use markets.

Increase internationalisation capacity

Strengthen Walloon companies’ access to international markets, defence value chains and structuring partnerships for the industrial ecosystem.

Detailed Presentation

Discover the full presentation of the Walloon strategy

Evolving Content

What you will be able to find on this website

As it develops, this site will host:

01

Entry points and services

To find out where to start, who to contact and which support schemes to turn to.

02

Mapping

For an overview of the key players, skills and infrastructure available in Wallonia.

03

Resources

To structure a project, an proposal or a positioning strategy in the defence and dual-use sectors.

04

Opportunities

To find relevant calls for projects, events, international programmes and missions.

05

News

To stay informed about developments in the context and regulations that may influence your actions.

Ecosystem

Task Force Members

AGORIA

AGORIA Wallonia represents technology and industrial companies, advocates for their needs, facilitates networking, and contributes to dialogue with the authorities and contracting authorities.

Contact : Valérie DEBOIS

AWEX

AWEX supports companies in their international development, economic missions, trade fairs, listing, and connecting with foreign partners and buyers.

Contact : Rafaël JAIMES CONTRERAS

GIWAS

GIWAS brings together and represents Wallonia’s aeronautics and space sector, connects businesses, research and institutions, and strengthens the sector’s attractiveness for projects, talent and investment.

Contact : Agnès FLEMAL

IGNITY

IGNITY supports start-ups, spin-offs, and tech entrepreneurs, from project inception to growth, particularly in critical and dual-use technologies.

Contact : David DALLA VECCHIA

NCP Wallonie

NCP Wallonie assists public and private stakeholders in accessing European research and innovation programs, forming consortia, and enhancing their funding opportunities.

Contact : Francisco SANTANA FERRA

MecaTech

The MECATECH Hub stimulates collaborative industrial innovation projects, mobilizes and brings together ecosystems in engineering sciences, mechatronic systems and production technologies.

Contact : Matthieu JANSSENS

Skywin

The SKYWIN Cluster brings together the aeronautics, space and drone ecosystem around innovative projects, technological innovations and partnerships between businesses, research and training.

Contact : Agnès GRANDJEAN

SPW Economy, Employment, Research

The SPW EER implements Walloon policies in the areas of economy, employment, research, and innovation. It ensures the connection with public mechanisms and regional priorities.

Contact : Catherine DATH

Wallonia Entreprendre

WALLONIA ENTREPRENDRE provides the support and financial tools needed for the creation, growth, investment, industrialisation and transfer of Walloon businesses.

Contact : Sarah KRINS

Would you like more information?

You can write to contact@defence-wallonie.be.