IBN Space 4.0 (Flemish Space Industry)

About us

VRI (Flemish Space Industry) is a non profit organization of Flemish companies, research centres and educational institutions with activities in space. The association was founded in 1995 to set up cooperation between member and non-member companies, research centres and educational institutions. VRI tries to extend its services to European cooperation by promoting contacts between members and the European institutes and companies.

The space sector is changing rapidly. Enhanced technological breakthroughs and new private players with disruptive business models, enforce the ‘traditional’ space players to adapt. To remain successful, strategic collaboration within the space community and with other sectors will be key.

By bringing together the Flemish companies and research institutes around the development of new products and services based on space technology, the cluster organization wants to tap into the opportunities offered by the NewSpace movement. In 2018, the VRI officially received the accreditation of "Innovative Business Network (IBN)", entitled "Space 4.0" from the Flemish government. The IBN Space 4.0 aims at creating a sustainable network leading to an ecosystem in Flanders in which space (technology) plays a crucial role for the realization of today’s challenges. Cross-fertilization with other economic sectors is crucial to ensure the competitiveness of the cluster members.

The added value of the use of space technology for the economy is demonstrated by defining collaborative projects. Services, technology and space related data help to tackle today's societal challenges. Actors ready to use space as an asset can benefit from the cluster support. Besides drafting technological roadmaps, the cluster organizes workshops, networking events and activities with other clusters and sector federations. As a forum for collaboration, exchange and technology transfer, Space 4.0 aims at increasing the technological innovation by its members.