Brussels government sets course for a carbon-free economy with ‘Shifting Economy’ | Brussels
Brussels RegionOn Thursday afternoon, Brussels State Secretary for Economic Transition Barbara Trachte (Ecolo) presented ‘Shifting Economy’, the strategy with which the Brussels government wants to realize the economic turnaround in order to achieve carbon neutrality of economic activities in the Region by 2050.
Shifting Economy consists of 224 measures to guide companies in their development to be an example in the environmental and social field. The aim is a gradual transformation in broad of the Brussels activities in order to contribute to the exercise of social and sustainable, to create revenues and sustainable jobs for the inhabitants of Brussels. The strategy has been annexed by the Brussels government to the European Commission as part of the Brussels contribution to the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience.
The measures will be deployed through seven levers and economic instruments: business financing, guidance and housing, public procurement, support for RDI (research, development and innovation), social and democratic entrepreneurship and a favorable ecosystem for businesses.
To possibly finance the transformation, guidance, housing, public procurement, etc. are reoriented so that economic activity is territorially anchored and has a social purpose.
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Eco-construction and passive buildings
Shifting Economy is managed by four administrations – Brussels Environment, Brussels Economy and Employment, Hub.brussels, Innoviris -, in collaboration with other public actors such as Finance&Invest.brussels, Citydev, the Port of Brussels, Brussels Mobility, Perspective.brussels, Net Brussel , Actiris, view.brussels and the municipalities.
The transition is also going on. with the professionalization of the economic instruments of the region. Trying to finance the coming ees&invest.brussels (200 million euros, of which 130 million from Brussels), the creation of the Proxi loan and the choice of priority sectors such as construction, food , mobility, cultural and creative industry and health.
State Secretary for Foreign Trade Pascal Smet pointed out in a video message on Thursday that Brussels has profiled itself internationally as a role model in eco-construction and passive buildings. “We will do the same with the economic transition. By upgrading our innovative companies abroad during our economic missions. By exploiting the international character of our region to detect new trends and by supporting our neo-exports,” he said.
Of the 22,000 Brussels companies, more than 6,100 of 28 percent are already engaged in an economic transition. In order to convince the rest, it is necessary to strengthen the first-line support, as well as the 1819 website, the ‘unique and complete’ gateway for companies to find their way in the guidance offer.
innovation
In addition, Brussels Economy and Employment, finance and investment. In addition, a Transition Fund will be created, fed by the climate fund and Brucircle, the (regional fund for companies in the circular economy) is being reformed.
Also essential in this economic transition is innovation, with the focus on digitization, circular economy and social innovation. The Brussels government also refers to the valorisation of local communities. Just like the wood from the Sun, other treaty forms can be processed sustainably in raw materials. The economic actors are to innovate in the inner city, in particular through the call for waste streams.
In addition, public procurement, which accounts for 13.2 percent of Brussels GDP, can also play a very important role in the economic transition. The Brussels government wants to focus on “sustainable, innovative and pro-SME public contracts”.
Finally, attention is also paid to the accommodation of companies. CityDev and the Port of Brussels will work to develop establishment and reception solutions, adapted to the life cycle of the company in transition. Five new ZKO/SME parks must be realized by 2025 and attention is also being paid to the creation of fablabs.
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