AGP Executive Report

Belgium in the spotlight: A Belgian distributor deal brings Dutch food 3D-printing firm Gastronology’s dysphagia meals into Belgian care homes and hospitals, aiming to scale IDDSI level 4 pureed nutrition with support from dietitians and speech therapists. Cyber & security (Belgium-linked): Deutsche Telekom showcased a drone-detection “protection shield” using radio-frequency sensing, with Belgian partners Vorpal and Senhive involved—an example of telecom sensing moving toward real-world security use. Health & biotech: The Choroideremia Research Foundation announced new multi-omics research grants led by Ghent University Hospital scientists to better explain CHM variability and find therapeutic targets. Energy & semiconductors: SolarEdge and Infineon extended collaboration on solid-state protection for 800 VDC AI data centers, pushing safer high-voltage DC power distribution. AI in operations: A survey finds AI can speed up decisions, but 38% of decision-makers report unintended customer experience problems—highlighting the need for better context and controls. Space science: China’s Tianyu Telescope is set to begin scientific observations, adding to the country’s growing astronomy push.

Belgium Tech Security: Belgian prosecutors say a senior researcher at GaN chipmaker BelGaN has been held since May over suspected semiconductor espionage and alleged unlawful transfer of trade secrets to China, with devices seized and a second suspect still sought. EU Mobility Tech: Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) got approval in Slovenia, making it the sixth EU country to clear it, but the EU-wide vote in October could hinge on a single Dutch safety assessment that’s reportedly treated as confidential. Belgian Education: New PISA results show Belgian students still lag in basic reading, maths and science, with a widening gap between language communities and socioeconomic groups. Belgian Semiconductors: A separate Reuters report also frames Belgium’s detention of a dual Chinese-Belgian national as part of broader European fears about Beijing targeting strategic tech. Belgian Industry/Research: imec unveiled scalable superconducting tech at ASC, including 3-metal NbTiN Josephson junction circuits with 30nm routing—aimed at next-gen HPC/AI and beyond. Space Science: China’s Tianyu Telescope is moving into scientific observations, capturing deep-sky targets in single exposures and preparing formal surveys from October 2026.

Semiconductor Espionage in Belgium: Belgian prosecutors detained a Belgian-Chinese researcher linked to bankrupt BelGaN, alleging transfer of gallium nitride chip trade secrets to China—another sign of how chip IP is becoming a security battleground. AI Compute & Energy: Google’s European energy lead Marc Oman is joining Mistral Compute in France, and the move highlights the push for European AI infrastructure plus large-scale solar and wind power deals. Cyber Resilience for Finance: CPMI-IOSCO published a cyber resilience toolkit for financial market infrastructures and a paper on risks from third-party providers, aiming to strengthen operational resilience. Solar Growth in the EU: SolarPower Europe reports at least 33.8 GW of new solar capacity installed in H1 2026, with Belgium among markets that fell short versus 2025. Belgian Logistics Update: Statbel says Belgian inland waterways carried 40.5 million tonnes in Q1 2026, up 5.1% quarter-on-quarter, with containerised barge freight also rising. Packaging Sustainability: Mondelēz is replacing rigid PET cookie trays with FSC-certified paper trays across 115+ products in Europe, cutting about 2,200 tons of virgin plastic annually. Biotech/Healthcare: Bausch Health and Belgian skincare innovator YUN expand their probiotic-based dermatology collaboration into Mexico and more EMEA markets. Education Signals: OECD PISA results show Spain’s attainment falling to record lows, while Lithuania’s 15-year-olds remain above the OECD average in key science and tech-related skills. EU Court on Trademarks: The EU’s top court lets Inter IKEA pursue action against a Belgian anti-immigration party over political trademark use. Inland Research & Science Logistics: Belgium-linked research efforts include reactivating the Marion Island base to restart long-running scientific work.

Belgian Tech & Security: Belgium’s federal prosecutors kept a 52-year-old dual Belgian-Chinese chip researcher in pre-trial detention since May over alleged gallium nitride semiconductor espionage, including suspected trade-secret transfers to a Chinese firm. Energy Infrastructure: Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth offshore “energy island” nears completion, with an EU-backed €1bn push to aggregate offshore wind power and cut cable costs—while highlighting how pricey the path to cheaper electricity can be. AI in Healthcare: Nyxoah says the first U.S. patient has been implanted in its BREATHE post-approval study of the Genio neuromodulation system for obstructive sleep apnoea. LegalTech: Belgian start-up LegalFly launched an AI-powered Contract Intelligence tool to track obligations and risks across a contract’s lifecycle. Climate & Biology: Belgian researchers quantified how climate change is already reshaping European bumblebee habitat, reducing suitability by 5% on average and up to 19% locally. Global Health: WHO narrowed the dengue drug pipeline to six candidates, but only one has reached late-stage trials. Defense & Chips Watch: Malaysia is reportedly considering Huawei AI chips despite U.S. export warnings, while Congo plans tighter state control over geological data to steer future mining exploration.

Semiconductor Security: Belgian prosecutors detained a 52-year-old dual Belgian-Chinese former senior researcher at bankrupt gallium nitride chipmaker Belgan, alleging he secretly directed a Chinese firm and unlawfully transferred chip trade secrets used in electric vehicles, aerospace and military. AI & Data Governance: ETSI published a framework with 18 data-quality metrics to help telecoms and other digital players judge whether datasets are reliable, complete and trustworthy for AI use. Superconducting Chips: Imec scaled NbTiN superconducting circuits to 30nm superconducting interconnects and demonstrated three-metal superconducting circuitry aimed at more energy-efficient AI/HPC hardware. Cyber Readiness: A new report warns Europe is still struggling against rising cyberattacks, with AI making phishing and intrusions faster and more convincing. Belgium–China Tech Espionage: A separate Belgian case also reports a detained Belgian-Chinese semiconductor factory employee accused of disclosing trade secrets and links to a Chinese-backed technology transfer. Transport Emissions: Research highlights why choosing an e-bike over a car for short trips can cut transport emissions, with manufacturing impacts far lower for e-bikes. EU Road Safety Online: MEPs urged the European Commission to investigate whether social media recommender systems amplify and reward dangerous driving content, including in Belgium. Heat Impact: Belgium reported major excess deaths tied to 2026 heatwaves, underscoring climate pressure on public health.

AI Mobility & Consumer Tech: Airwheel launched “smart” electric, rideable AI suitcases with cabin-ready design, aiming to turn luggage into active transport for airports and hotels. Climate & Health Research: A new push reframes sarcopenia as a life-long muscle health trajectory, arguing for age-referenced data instead of late-life cutoffs. Aviation Sustainability in Brussels: IATA’s 4th World Sustainability Symposium returns to Brussels on 13–14 October, focusing on how to scale net-zero aviation solutions. Belgium–India Defence & Tech: Thales Belgium and KSSL plan local manufacturing of Belgium-developed 70mm rocket systems in India, with the first fully assembled rocket targeted for early 2027. EU Tech Sovereignty Debate: European defence officials warn that limiting reliance on US tech giants could widen capability gaps and raise cyber and interoperability risks. Cyber & Privacy: New reporting flags risks around always-on Bluetooth and nearby attacks that can expose personal data. Public Health Policy: A study says sugar-tax designs struggle to deliver clear health gains and reliable revenue, with enforcement and cross-border shopping concerns. Belgium in the News: Belgium blocked 13 Gaza students despite visas and scholarships, citing fears of asylum and family reunification “domino effects.” Sports Science & Society: Extreme heat across Europe is driving demand for cooling tech, while researchers warn such extremes are becoming more likely.

Belgium–India Defence Tech: Thales Belgium and Kalyani Strategic Systems (KSSL) will set up assembly and partial local production of Thales’ 70 mm rockets in India under “Make in India”, with the first fully assembled rocket due in early 2027 and Belgian know-how plus a certified supply chain feeding the effort. Local Tech & Security: European defence officials warn that cutting reliance on US tech giants could widen capability gaps and raise cyber risk, complicating NATO-style operations. Public Health: LBC reports free nicotine pouches being handed out to children despite addiction concerns, with teachers increasingly aware of use. Climate & Heat: New reporting says Europe’s extreme summer is not just bad luck, with Belgium among countries hit by record heat and soaring cooling demand. Smart Home Safety: A new look at Bluetooth risks urges users to keep Bluetooth off when not needed and avoid always-on exposure. Belgium in the Spotlight: Roborock says it’s No.1 in robotic vacuums in multiple markets including Belgium, citing strong H1 2026 growth. Sports Tech Crossover: Belgian-powered Zorawar tank coverage highlights a Belgian turret link as India ramps up Himalayan battlefield trials.

Belgium–EU trade & tech diplomacy: Belgian PM Bart De Wever used his India trip to warn that Europe has been building risky economic dependence, calling it a “rude awakening,” and he also took a veiled swipe at “arbitrary” tariff swings. Port & logistics push: De Wever’s visit also spotlighted the Port of Antwerp-Bruges as a gateway for India–EU trade, with multiple deals framed around supply chains and technology cooperation. Research funding in Belgium: UHasselt researcher Wouter Van Gompel won a €1.7M ERC grant to develop materials that can sense left- vs right-circularly polarized light and turn that into electricity. Smart home security/tech market: A guide on Aqara’s ownership and device ecosystem points to the brand’s large global footprint and platform compatibility. Digital compliance fintech: Portugal’s certified invoicing “layer” is profiled via FIZ co-founder Petr Kutis—useful context for where European compliance automation is heading. Industry & policy debate: Belgium’s UNESCO beer anniversary runs alongside renewed controversy over alcohol advertising rules and the “Alcohol damages health” slogan.

Smart Home Security & Ownership: Aqara’s smart sensors are backed by Lumi United (founded in Shenzhen in 2009), with 56 million activated devices worldwide—so the brand’s safety and ownership question is answered in one go. Belgian Research Breakthrough: UHasselt scientist Wouter Van Gompel wins a €1.7M ERC grant to build “chiral” materials that can sense left- vs right-circularly polarized light and turn that into electricity. Defense Tech (Belgium-linked policy): Belgium PM Bart De Wever, in India, criticized “arbitrary” tariff swings and market distortion—while pushing deeper India-EU trade and port cooperation via Antwerp-Bruges. Military Aviation Update: Ukraine confirms combat flights of its Swedish-supplied ASC 890 radar plane (Saab 340/Erieye). Health & Safety: A Belgian-linked theme in the news cycle: salmonella outbreaks keep expanding globally, with France reporting cases tied to recalled pumpkin seeds. Fintech/Compliance: Portugal’s certified invoicing model is spotlighted through FIZ, a platform built to automate filings and handle compliance like a payment system.

Belgium–India Trade & Ports: Belgian PM Bart De Wever used his Mumbai stop to take a veiled swipe at “arbitrary” tariff moves, arguing some countries decide trade rules one week and reverse them the next. He also pushed the Port of Antwerp-Bruges as the logistics bridge for India–EU trade, including diamonds, pharma, food processing, green hydrogen and maritime services. Belgium–India Defence Industry: Belgium and India signed new defence cooperation steps, including industry partnerships aimed at local ammunition and rocket production in India, plus plans for counter-drone and robotics collaboration. Local Security: A Canadian intern accused of spying at NATO’s SHAPE in Belgium was reportedly found near the supreme commander’s office after a fire alarm incident, with Belgian authorities moving toward espionage charges. Food & Health Tech: Belgium’s Medicines Agency warns about “stem cell tourism,” while broader EU policy continues to tighten the digital and biotech landscape. AI Business: LegalFly launched an AI contract intelligence tool, and GreenCore Solutions reported a surge in AI agent transactions with strong European participation.

Belgium–India trade & tech push: Belgian PM Bart De Wever told partners in Mumbai that Europe is only now “listening” after India’s earlier warnings about trade dependence risks, while he pitched the Port of Antwerp-Bruges as a gateway for Indian exports under the India–EU FTA. EU–India agri-food outlook: India’s food processing industry expects growth toward 25–30% processing by 2030, with the EU–India deal seen as a driver to double agri-food trade to €10B by 2032. Digital pathology in Belgium’s orbit: Agilent launched its FDA-cleared S540MD slide scanner system in the U.S., expanding digital and AI-enabled workflows that are already available across Europe including Belgium. Legal tech: Belgian startup LegalFly rolled out an AI “Contract Intelligence” system for contract lifecycle management. Research funding: The EU announced €105.5M for 29 doctoral and postdoctoral research programmes under Horizon Europe, with Belgium coordinating two projects. Energy management: Enphase expanded metering compatibility for dynamic load balancing in EV charging across Belgium and nearby markets. Quirky science: Ig Nobel prizes went to studies including cockroach milk and nose-blowing, with the ceremony held in Zurich and Antwerp set for 2027.

Belgium–India diplomacy: Belgian PM Bart De Wever met Narendra Modi in New Delhi, pushing a bigger partnership across defence, trade, semiconductors, clean energy and talent mobility, with plans to double bilateral trade in five years and set up an investment fast-track. Defence industry tie-ups: Belgium also assured India it will not share defence tech with Pakistan, while both sides signed deals aimed at co-production and intelligence-sharing, plus steps like defence attachés. Belgian tech & broadcast: EVS and Matrox Video teamed up with the EBU’s Dynamic Media Facility to move live production toward more flexible, software-defined workflows. AI outage: Major AI services (ChatGPT, Claude, Grok) suffered near-simultaneous disruptions, hitting users including in Belgium. Climate impact in Belgium: Sciensano reported nearly 3,000 excess deaths during Belgium’s 2026 summer heatwaves. Space & research: India’s ISRO successfully launched EOS-05, and a study highlighted the high hidden cost of free-to-play game monetisation.

Belgium–India Strategic Push: Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s first official visit in two decades with Narendra Modi puts defence, semiconductors, critical minerals, clean energy and technology at the centre, with a target to double bilateral trade in five years and new pacts on defence industrial co-production and intelligence/cyber cooperation. Rocket & Defence Manufacturing: Belgian firms back the industrial leap: Thales Belgium and Kalyani Strategic Systems plan 70-mm rocket systems assembly in India (first fully India-made expected early 2027), while other deals cover mine countermeasures, armoured vehicle tech and counter-drone work. Heat Impacts in Belgium: Sciensano reports nearly 3,000 excess deaths during Belgium’s summer heatwaves, with the biggest spike during the first heatwave (June 18–July 3). AI & Biosecurity Angle: Research highlights how AI is moving from analysing biology to designing it, including AI-designed phages—with clear health potential and biosecurity concerns. Ghent University Case: Ghent University lets Nathan Cofnas continue research but keeps a three-month teaching ban, while Oxford academics back him in an open letter. Digital Border Friction: Brussels Airport warns of up to 3-hour queues for non-EU travellers as the EU Entry/Exit System rolls out.

Belgium-India Tech Push: Prime Minister Bart De Wever landed in New Delhi for a three-day visit aimed at boosting trade, defence, renewable energy and technology ties with Narendra Modi. Enterprise AI on-prem: At VMware Explore, enterprise teams shared how governance and access to open models are pushing more private AI deployments on-premises. AI Security in Belgium-linked infrastructure: VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1’s AI security features and private AI factory updates drew attention as support timelines near. Medical Tech (Belgium): Nyxoah reported positive 12-month results in its U.S. ACCCESS pivotal study for obstructive sleep apnoea in complete concentric collapse patients, meeting key safety and efficacy endpoints. Food Safety: Belgium’s salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated eggs rose to 312 cases, with authorities saying new infections are declining. Packaging Recycling Tech: PepsiCo, Mondelēz and pladis joined a Belgium-based digital watermark trial to improve sorting of flexible food packaging. Private Legal Action (AI): Uber drivers filed a collective lawsuit in Amsterdam over AI upfront pricing, alleging privacy and earnings suppression.

Food Safety: Belgium’s salmonella outbreak tied to contaminated eggs has risen to 312 cases after six new infections, with Sciensano reporting the pace is slowing; the source is a laying-hen farm in Geel (Antwerp), after multiple recalls by FASFC. Public Health Tech: Beringen is expanding its AED network with three new public defibrillators and replacing nine expired units, bringing all 20 devices back to full working order. AV & Semiconductors: intoPIX (Louvain-la-Neuve) says its Titanium FPGA SoC EDK has passed IPMX certification, aiming to help OEMs ship broadcast-grade AV-over-IP camera and display products faster. Mobility & Transport: Frecciarossa test runs begin for new Rome–Munich and Milan–Munich high-speed services, with certification underway and a planned summer 2027 launch. Legal/Privacy: Uber drivers in Belgium and other countries are backing a collective action in the Netherlands over algorithmic pay and work allocation under GDPR rules. Energy & Industry: Aukera has closed a €460m structured credit facility to scale battery storage and renewable energy infrastructure across Belgium and other European markets. Cybersecurity: GISEC Global 2026 opens in Dubai (Sept 16–18) with a “Cyber First” theme and a focus on AI-driven threats and resilience.

Climate & Health: Belgium and the UK logged their hottest summers on record, with Belgium’s Uccle reference station averaging 20.3°C and a major wildfire in August—another reminder that heat extremes are intensifying. Public Health (Belgium): A Belgian study links overusing asthma “rescue” inhalers to higher heart disease risk and death, adding weight to guidance that patients should not rely on short-acting bronchodilators alone. Infectious Disease (Belgium): Norovirus is suspected after about 175 students and supervisors fell ill at a Breda University camp in Poppel, with some hospitalised for dehydration. Mobility & Digital ID: Australia’s Northern Territory plans an optional mobile driver’s licence before year-end, with offline use and a legal framework bill to enable secure smartphone credentials. Belgium–India Tech & Trade: Prime Minister Bart De Wever heads to India (Sept 2–4) for talks with Narendra Modi, with defence, renewable energy and technology on the agenda. Food Tech (Belgium): Paleo, a Belgian precision fermentation startup, raised €2M to push regulatory filings for yeast-derived myoglobin to improve the taste of animal-free meat alternatives. Security Tech: ROC (biometrics/computer vision) completed its acquisition of Zuccaro Technical Consulting to expand its digital forensics and investigative intelligence platform.