These are turbulent times on the international markets, but not for Belgian biotechnology companies. Despite a 2 percent drop, the companies retain a total market capitalisation of 42.1 billion euro, ranking third in Europe. This is much better than the sector’s performance in the United States and Asia, according to recent figures from KBC Securities, figures that illustrate the importance of Belgium’s role in the biotechnology sector.
Biotechnology is the technological application of biological knowledge. Examples are food preparation, changing the size or growth rate of animals, protecting crops, but also growing organs, correcting genetic defects, making proteins and polypeptides and studying the development and functioning of the body.