Global Partners

Gide is a premier international law firm. Founded in Paris in 1920, the firm now operates from 17 offices worldwide. With 600 lawyers, drawn from 35 different nationalities, Gide offers some of the most respected specialists in all sectors of national and international finance and business law.

In each of its offices in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa, Gide
provides its clients with comprehensive knowledge of local markets,
regional expertise, and the resources of an international law firm.

Founded in 1805 in Geneva, the Pictet group is today one of Europe’s largest privately held banks and the leading independent asset management specialist in Europe, with EUR 362 bn in assets under management and custody at the end of December 2014. Entrepreneurship lies at the heart of Pictet’s values. With this entrepreneurial spirit forming the basis for its growth, Pictet has 3,500 employees with a global presence of 26 offices. 

iMinds is Flanders’ digital research center. 
Building on the expertise of our 850+ researchers at 5 Flemish universities, we conduct strategic and applied research in areas such as ICT, Media and Health. We translate digital know-how into real-life products and services together with our research partners. And support young entrepreneurs and start-ups in the successful market introduction of their ideas.

Startup.be brings together the key players in the Belgian Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. We help tech entrepreneurs to be successful by providing quality access to service providers, business partners, customers and investors.

BDO is a leading accountancy and advisory firm, having 1,328 offices in 152 countries and revenue which crossed the $7 billion mark in 2014. BDO’s international technology team can work with you on your expansion into new markets by advising you on funding options, whether for organic growth or for mergers and acquisitions, while managing shareholder expectations and planning exits. We will help you overcome the many challenges of compliance, tax efficiency,  supply chain management and IP protection, as well as minimising the inherent risks of international growth.

Antwerp is Flanders' largest city and economic driving force. The Port of Antwerp with its strong chemical cluster and the renowned diamond industry are well-known and considered best-in-class throughout the world. As a result, the economic region of Antwerp accommodates several international players.In this era of frequent economic shifts, the city has a sound focus on innovation. It takes the lead in an open partnership between universities, privately owned incubators and international growth programmes. Meanwhile the city provides housing and state-of-the-art virtual incubators where startups can freely experiment with contextual data and Internet of Things sensor technology. The city caters to every startup need and matches them with investors and corporates. The dense city structure, the industrial complex and our thriving 10.000 strong creative cluster make for a perfect breeding ground. An ever growing number of startups is creating new ideas and new technologies, securing our future economic position.
Antwerp is open for business.

The Network helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make the most of business opportunities in the EU and beyond.
Have a look at the many services offered free of charge by around 600 member organisations, including chambers of commerce and industry, technology centres, universities and development agencies.

Newion runs several Venture and Growth Funds focusing primarily on the Benelux market. The funds provide growth capital for ambitious entrepreneurs with a strong will to execute. Since 2000 Newion has built a strong track record of investing in, growing and exiting many outstanding companies.

Cresco is a premier Belgian business law firm focused on providing business law advice and counsel to entrepreneurs, emerging, growth and established companies and various types of investors, including private equity investors, venture capitalists and strategic corporate investors.

Cresco combines years of international legal know-how with business expertise acquired through extensive in-house experience at leading companies active in a broad range of sectors and industries. 

Cresco has market-leading capabilities and thorough experience in private equity and venture capital, emerging and growth companies, general corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, technology and innovation counseling, entrepreneur and executive guidance, complex commercial agreements, real estate and dispute resolution, as well as in a large variety of operational legal, contractual and strategic matters.
 

Flanders Investment & Trade is the government agency promoting sustainable international business, in the interest of both Flanders-based companies and overseas enterprises. Whatever sector you are involved in, we will help you establish contact with the Flemish companies you are looking for. This includes not only products or services you may be sourcing, but also various types of business relationships, from joint ventures to technology transfers. At another level Flanders Investment & Trade enhances Flanders’ position as the gateway to Europe for inward investors. The agency identifies, informs, advises and supports overseas enterprises who want to set up or expand business activities in Flanders, the northern region of Belgium. Flanders Investment & Trade has a worldwide network of economic and trade representatives to help you source the quality products and services you require. With over 90 offices we are bound to be conveniently located near you, wherever you are.

With over 476 lawyers, tax advisers, civil-law notaries and business support staff in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, AKD is a leading Benelux law firm. For our clients, we are the gateway from, to and in the Benelux. For over a century now, we have combined a full-service approach and a broad sector focus to consider any question from a range of angles and provide quality solutions - anywhere in the world. Literally. From our own offices, of course, and also through our various country teams and our extensive, worldwide Friends Network.

For over 30 years, Ebbinge has been a leading HR consultancy working to fill key positions and solve management development issues in the top segment of the labour market. We are driven by quality, growth and the ambitions of people and organizations. ‘From campus to CEO.' Allow us to give you an impression of our approach, culture and history.

Since 2010, EIT ICT Labs is consistently mobilising talents, ideas, technologies, investments as well as businesses across Europe and beyond. The mission of EIT ICT Labs is to drive European leadership in ICT innovation for economic growth and quality of life. Focus is to empower ICT top talents for the future and to bring ICT innovations to life by providing resources, mentoring and a unique network to help startups succeed. The European ecosystem of EIT ICT labs is a strong network characterised by an open and collaborative way of working with partners representing global companies, leading research centres, and top ranked universities in ICT.  It is EIT ICT Labs' ambition to drive the ICT innovations  of startups to succeed in world markets and become European success stories. Therefore bringing ICT innovation into market is in the centre of all EIT ICT Labs’s activities.EIT ICT Labs connects seven main locations in London, Berlin, Paris, Eindhoven, Trento, Stockholm and Helsinki. Next to this, hubs were established in Rennes, München, Milano and last but not least a hub in Silicon Valley (US). These locations play a vital role as meeting places for project members, students, entrepreneurs, SMEs and start-ups as well as major industrial partners searching for new talents and new innovative opportunities.

KIC InnoEnergy is a European company that fosters the integration of education, business and entrepreneurship as a means of strengthening the culture of innovation in the sustainable energy field. Within these three key areas, we work to create new and successful start-ups in the sustainable energy field. Through our extensive network of European partners that includes over 150 key players in the energy field, the KIC InnoEnergy Highway® offers a tailored service to entrepreneurs to help them transform their business ideas into successful ventures. We support entrepreneurs in strengthening their technology skills, developing business models, building expert teams and providing access to finance. We are a one-stop shop, a single accelerator with various entry points across Europe that is unique in its specialisation in sustainable energy.

Microsoft BizSpark will helps start-ups by providing them with free software, support and visibility. Jumpstart your start-up’s infrastructure, get your website running, build your success with professional collaboration and development tools, as well as 575€ per month to host and scale your technological projects on Azure, the Microsoft Cloud, totalling over 60.500€ in benefits. Only available to tech start-ups less than 5 years old, privately held, and earning less than €700,000 annually.