Agoria

For the French electronic record producer, composer, and DJ, see Agoria (musician).

Agoria

Logo of Agoria
Established	1946
Professional title	Agoria
Location	Brussels
Region	BEL
Services	Expertise, Business Development, Lobby
Membership	> 1900 technology inspired companies
Board of directors	Rene Branders, president, Marc Lambotte, CEO
Website	www.agoria.be
representing 320,000 employees

Agoria, previously known as Fabrimetal, is a Belgian employers' organization and member of the Federation of Belgian Enterprises.

Description

Agoria connects over 1900 technologically inspired companies active in Belgium (2019) that strive for progress based on the development or application of innovations. Their goal is to increase the success of their member companies and assure their environmental sustainability.

History

Fabrimetal, short for the Federation of Enterprises in the Metal Industry (Dutch: Federatie van de ondernemingen der metaalwerkende nijverheid, French: Fédération des entreprises de l'industrie des fabrications métalliques, Fabrimétal), was established in 1946 on the foundations of the Federation of Manufacturers (Dutch: Federatie van Fabrikanten, French: Fédération des constructeurs), founded in 1906. At its peak, Fabrimetal represented 1200 enterprises in the metalworking industry, electronic construction and the processing of plastics.

The name change from Fabrimetal to Agoria was announced on 9 November 2000 by then managing director Philippe de Buck and president John Cordier. The old name was thought to refer too explicitly to the metalworking industry, and it was the organisation's aim to recruit new companies from the technology sector.

Currently, Agoria counts more than 1900 member companies from the manufacturing industry, and the digital and telecom sectors. With a €125.20 billion turnover in 2018, these sectors jointly represent no less than 9% of the added value of the private sector in Belgium. Agoria's member companies represent an overall 320,000 direct jobs, about 10% of the Belgian private sector. Agoria is the largest federation within the Federation of Belgian Enterprises (Dutch: Verbond van Belgische Ondernemingen, VBO, French: Fédération des Entreprises de Belgique, FEB).

Structure

Agoria is directed by Belgian companies. Current chair of the board of directors is René Branders. Agoria is divided into one department for each of the three Belgian Regions.

Period President Fabrimetal 1946–1952 Léon-Antoine Bekaert 1953–1965 Félix Leblanc 1965–1971 Georges Moens de Fernig 1971–1977 Marc Verhaeghe de Naeyer 1977–1983 Philippe Saverys 1983–1989 Eugène Van Dyck 1989–1993 Richard Gandibleux 1993–1999 Karel Vinck 1997–1999 Julien De Wilde 1999–2000 John Cordier Agoria 2000–2002 John Cordier 2002–2007 Thomas Leysen 2007–2008 Francis Verheughe 2009–2010 Paul Depuydt 2010–2016 Christ'l Joris 2016–2019 Marc De Groote 2019 – present René Branders

Period CEO Fabrimetal 1971–1987 Jacques De Staercke 1987–2000 Philippe de Buck van Overstraeten Agoria 2000–2001 Philippe de Buck van Overstraeten 2001–2013 Paul Soete 2013 – present Marc Lambotte

Activities

Connect all who are inspired by technology

Agoria connects its members within company groups and provides the appropriate conditions for technological developments.

Agoria plays an important role in raising awareness of and the adoption of technological innovations: from the development of Artificial Intelligence and drones to cybersecurity. The organisation helps its member companies to discover and implement innovative technologies, to benchmark their own innovation capacity in comparison to similar companies, and to innovate in their product and services range.

Agoria sets up ecosystems to expedite innovation and to provide a framework of regulations. Smart cities, smart buildings, smart mobility, smart energy and smart health are just a few examples of such ecosystems.

Increasing the success of companies

• Operational consultation services based on business knowledge

Agoria experts provide consultation services to member companies on any aspect of their operations. Members are kept up-to-date on the trends within the industry and have access to an extensive library of useful documents, tools and templates.

• A broad network that opens doors

With frequent networking activities, Agoria assists member companies in continuing their growth. The company brings companies from various fields together to strengthen each other by sharing knowledge and exchanging experience. This network is active within Belgium and as well as internationally, in six technology clubs, each of which deals with a specific market. Networking activities include themed seminars that connect commercial partners based on technology requirements and investment opportunities.

• Ready for the digital future

Seven specific transformation pathways ensure that manufacturers become more economically sustainable and at the same time ensure a stable local economy and employment opportunities. Companies that successfully implement these transformations receive the Factory of the Future award from Agoria and Sirris. In 2018, these Factories of the Future invested more than half a billion euros and employed 11% more people.

• Crafting a sustainable future

Agoria represents the interests of member companies to the relevant decision makers on a local, regional, federal, European and international level. The objective is to provide a favourable climate for technological development and remove obstacles which limit the economic or social potential of its members.

Policy representation

Agoria represents the positions of its members and the interests of the technology sector at every level of policy. Through the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium, the organisation influences matters such as interprofessional agreements, Digital Service Tax and the National Social Security Office. At a regional level, Agoria encourages government investments: support for Walloon companies striving to decrease their CO₂ emissions, investment in new training centres in Brussels, promotion of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in Flanders, etc. At a European level, the organisation sits on more than 40 European committees and is a member of Business Europe.

See also

Technology clusters in Flanders

• Flanders DRIVE
• Flanders Institute for Logistics (VIL)
• Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC)
• Interdisciplinary institute for BroadBand Technology (IBBT)
• Flanders Interuniversity Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)

Industry and technology in Belgium

• Science and technology in Belgium
• Science and technology in the Brussels-Capital Region
• Science and technology in Flanders
• Science and technology in Wallonia
• Science Parks of Wallonia
• Federation of Belgian Enterprises (VBO)
• Fedustria
• Flemish Aerospace Group (FLAG)
• GIMV
• List of Belgian companies
• National Fund for Scientific Research
• SIRRIS
• VOKA
• Walloon Union of Companies

External links

Media related to Agoria at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website