On 25 June 2025, the Belgian Pavilion hosted a high-level symposium as part of Health and Well-Being Week, highlighting one of Belgium’s most vital contributions to global health: vaccines. Entitled “The Belgian Vaccine Ecosystem: An Academic Lens,” the event brought together leading experts from academia, industry, and public health to explore how collaboration drives innovation in global immunization.
Chaired by Prof. Dr. Nico Vandaele (KU Leuven), the symposium featured key presentations by:
-
Prof. Dr. Ir. Damya Laoui (VIB–VUB): Targeting Tumours with Immunity: Innovations in Cancer Vaccines
-
Prof. Dr. Em. Pierre Van Damme (University of Antwerp): The Belgian Vaccine Trial Subsystem and Vaccinopolis
-
Dr. Laurence Vigneron (FAMHP): The Vaccine Centre of Excellence – A Public Policy Subsystem
In addition to the symposium, Health & Well-Being Week featured complementary Belgian events exploring mental health and industry innovation:
-
AWEX events addressing mental health initiatives
-
Solvay events on scientific research and sustainability
-
UCB events highlighting cutting-edge pharmaceutical developments
Participants discussed how research, manufacturing, and policy intertwine within Belgium’s vaccine ecosystem: a model of cross-sector collaboration that continues to save lives worldwide. The week concluded with networking receptions, fostering meaningful connections between Belgian and Japanese experts and stakeholders.
Impact & Significance
Health and Well-Being Week reaffirmed Belgium’s central role in global health innovation and equity, showcasing the Pavilion’s core theme of Saving Lives through collaboration, scientific excellence, and the translation of research into tangible societal benefit.
Prof. Dr. Pierre Van Damme – Visionary Exchange: Global Health Equity and Access for All
On 27 June 2025, Prof. Dr. Pierre Van Damme, Director of the Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination (CEV) at the University of Antwerp, participated in the Visionary Exchange session, part of the Agenda2025 business exchange programme. This invitation-only event aimed to foster collaboration among global leaders in health and well-being.
Session Highlights:
-
Main Topic: Health and Well-being: How do we realize a society where the well-being of each person resonates?
-
Lead Navigator: Seiji Inada (Agenda2025 Advisor)
-
Session 1: Global Health Equity and Access for All
-
Speakers:
-
Paulo Gadelha (Brazil)
-
Ionescu Octavian (Romania)
-
Prof. Dr. Pierre Van Damme (Belgium)
-
-
Discussion Focus: Explored global efforts to ensure access to essential healthcare for all, addressing challenges such as population ageing, pandemics, and climate change. Topics included universal healthcare system design, expanding access through advanced technologies, and strengthening international cooperation from the perspectives of human resource development and preventive care.
-
Prof. Dr. Van Damme shared insights from Belgium's experience in vaccine development and distribution, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in achieving equitable healthcare outcomes.
Prof. Dr. Ir. Damya Laoui – Advancements in Science & Technology: Meeting Unmet Medical Needs
On 28 June 2025, Prof. Dr. Ir. Damya Laoui, Professor at VIB–VUB, participated in the session titled "Advancements in Science & Technology", which was part of Health and Well-being Week. This session focused on how advances in life sciences and biotechnology can help address unmet medical needs.
Session Overview:
-
Date and Time: 28 June 2025, 10:00–12:00
-
Venue: Theme Weeks Studio
-
Discussion Topics: The session addressed the impact that rapidly evolving science and technology can have on people’s health and well-being. The discussion explored iPS cells, AI, digital transformation in medicine, accessibility, science journalism, the implementation of science in society, and the challenges of public trust and ethics.
Prof. Dr. Laoui's participation highlighted Belgium's leadership in innovative medical research and its commitment to addressing global health challenges through scientific advancement.
