A record number of ICT companies are leaving the Brussels-Capital Region, according to the technology federation Agoria on Wednesday.
In 2013, only 45 tech companies left Brussels; ten years later, this number has soared to 166, according to data from the Belgian statistics office, Statbel.
Agoria's Brussels manager, Brieuc Janssens, describes this as a "worrying trend that needs to be urgently halted". He stresses the importance of having a strong and diverse ICT ecosystem in Brussels with small, medium, and large companies.
Janssens notes that while many digital companies are being founded and the Brussels ICT sector remains a promising growth engine, too many firms leave once they begin to grow.
"It’s disappointing to see so many promising companies turn their backs on Brussels, especially those that are growing rapidly and creating jobs and added value," Janssens explains.
According to Jassens, the trend can be explained by recurring issues such as taxation, mobility, recruitment challenges, and security concerns.
Janssens calls on the next government to address these challenges, attract existing companies, help start-ups and scale-ups grow, and improve the business climate. "I want to work with the Brussels Government to ensure that digital talent not only starts here but also wants to stay," he adds.
