Edegem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Edegem approved the Bioscape biotech hub on the University of Antwerp campus next to UZA hospital, creating 500 jobs, despite traffic protests by 2 residents, says Mayor Koen Metsu.
As VRT News reported, the municipality of Edegem, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium, has approved the permit for the Bioscape project, a new hub for biotechnology start-ups, despite protests from 2 residents.
The project will be built on the University of Antwerp campus in Edegem, next to the UZA hospital. The location places the facility at the centre of the city’s research and medical activities. Officials say the site will link scientific research with practical innovation.
What is Edegem’s Bioscape project near UZA and will it create 500 Jobs?
Bioscape will follow the model of the Ghent site by hosting biotechnology start-ups alongside university researchers. Municipal leaders say the project can generate skilled jobs and strengthen the local economy.
“This will eventually create 500 new jobs, which is a good thing for a municipality like ours,”
says Mayor Koen Metsu (N-VA).
The Bioscape project in Edegem is expected to increase traffic in the area. 2 residents filed a complaint against the project’s permit because of these concerns. Authorities reviewed the objections and approved the permit.
“The plans have been adapted to the traffic situation. Moreover, this project will give innovation in Flanders a boost,”
says Mayor Koen Metsu (N-VA).
“That’s why adjustments have been made in terms of mobility,”
says 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 Bioscape project was first announced in 2023 as part of Flanders’ plan to strengthen the biotechnology sector. Throughout 2024, the project went through detailed planning and public consultation. In 2025, the municipality of Edegem officially approved the permit.
A project took place in Ghent, where Ghent University and the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) developed a biotech hub at Tech Lane in Zwijnaarde, starting around 2014, to host R&D companies and create about 2,000 jobs.
The site, including the VIB Bio-Incubator, aimed to turn scientific research into industrial innovation, following the model of successful biotech startups like Biotalys and Syngenta. As the hub grew, it caused increased traffic and congestion, prompting the city to implement measures such as additional cycling paths, turning lanes, and “Living Streets” initiatives to balance mobility needs and community concerns.
