BVI.EU launches Quantum Biospace®, a real estate hub in Wavre, to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence in drug research

63,000 m² of customised real estate solutions for the biotech and deep tech sector

3 April 2023

Wavre, 21 March 2023 - BVI.EU announces the construction of Quantum Biospace, a 63,000 m² real estate solutions project in Wavre North. Driven by the dynamics of big data, machine learning and high-performance computing in the biopharmaceutical industry, Quantum Biospace is set to become the ideal meeting point for biotech and deep tech. The goal is to accelerate the development of new methods for drug discovery, development and manufacturing. With this first project dedicated exclusively to this type of industry, BVI.EU wants to contribute to positioning Belgium as a European biotech centre. The 18-hectare park will be built in the third quarter of 2025. This ambitious and 100% private real estate project will include research and development facilities, production and marketing areas, data and computing centres, as well as common areas such as a restaurant, a conference building and even a hotel. The application for approval was submitted on 10 March 2023.

A master plan developed in close cooperation with the city of Wavre

Quantum Biospace is located on a large green area that is part of the Wavre Nord industrial estate, a unique environment in the heart of Walloon Brabant. More than 50% of the site is designated as green and recreational space. The project offers optimal conditions for quality of life in the workplace and guarantees maximum attractiveness for businesses. Less than 30 km from Brussels, Quantum Biospace benefits from a prime location in terms of access to the talent pool and academic and industrial collaboration opportunities.

"We are particularly proud of the development of Quantum Biospace, a project that is driving innovation and sustainability in the Belgian biopharmaceutical industry," said Geoffroy Dumonceau, Chief Development Officer at BVI.EU. "Quantum Biospace is an example of Belgium's commitment to promoting innovation in biotechnology and artificial intelligence. This real estate solution offers new perspectives for researchers, entrepreneurs and industrial players and will have a positive impact on public health."

Synergie in de waardeketen maximaliseren

The project is designed as a village where innovative companies in the biotech sector meet. It's divided into three different zones to provide the entire value chain of the sector with the necessary infrastructure for their activities:

A research and development (R&D) zone: 25,500 m² of R&D facilities for biotech and deep tech activities with areas ranging from 25 to 5,000 m². This area consists of six buildings, each containing offices, unclassified laboratories, closed laboratories and clean rooms.
A production and marketing zone: 32,500 m² of industrial facilities with easy access for logistics processes, including a 5,000 m² office building that serves as an eye-catcher.
Facilities to support the entire community: a 5,500 m² building with a restaurant, a conference centre and a boutique hotel.

Sustainability and energy efficiency

The buildings have been designed with maximum sustainability in mind. They're powered by solar panels and green energy from geothermal sources to reduce the end user's carbon footprint. By installing various systems, rainwater can be completely collected on the site. The office and research spaces will also receive BREEAM-EXCELLENT certification.

Soft mobility within the park is strongly encouraged through the construction of more than 2.3 km of bicycle and pedestrian paths, as well as the availability of shared bicycles and e-bikes.

A new asset for Belgium

Belgium is a world leader in the biopharmaceutical sector. With annual investments of more than 5 billion euros, it's the fourth largest country in Europe in terms of research and development. The sector employs 42,000 people, including 6,000 researchers, and generates 20 billion euros in production and 55 billion euros in exports.

"Quantum Biospace is a 100% private initiative of BVI.EU. It will strengthen Belgium's offer as a hub for biotech companies," says Florence Bosco, Biotech Business Developer and Project Manager at BVI.EU. "The drug development process follows Eroom's Law, meaning its cost and duration have only increased over the last 30 years. Today, there is concrete evidence that the use of artificial intelligence has the potential to significantly improve the performance of biopharmaceutical R&D. With this project, the BVI.EU aims to help accelerate this important change."

Strategic location in the heart of Europe

Quantum Biospace is located at the crossroads of the country's three regions: Wallonia, Flanders and Brussels, on a backbone that connects major Belgian industrial companies such as UCB and GSK, numerous biotechs active in drug research such as iTeos Therapeutics and Galapagos Therapeutics, ArgenX and Ablynx, the two national biotechnology research institutes VIB and WelBio, and renowned academic centres such as UCLouvain, KULeuven, ULB and VUB. And finally, the Federal Medicines Agency, the European Commission and EuroNext, the Brussels Stock Exchange.

"When the city of Wavre acquired this land almost two decades ago, it was obviously not for a classic industrial development," said Anne Masson, Mayor of Wavre. "The particular characteristics of this site and its ideal location led us to prepare a very rigorous and ambitious dossier. We had to choose a buyer who had all the guarantees to realise an innovative project while respecting the environment. Quantum Biospace has all these qualities and even goes beyond our requirements and expectations. We welcome this partnership, which takes our city and its business park to a new level."