AGP Executive Report

Belgium Tech & Industry: Imec says it has advanced its 300mm RF silicon interposer platform for high-frequency chiplet integration, targeting mmWave/sub-THz wireless and next-gen data centres. Semiconductors & AI Hardware: The same week also saw broader EU tech momentum, including a new Smals/Google Cloud deal for digital transformation in Belgian public administrations. Mobility & Safety: Belgium approved Tesla self-driving for public roads (supervised), while Ford announced a recall affecting 255,000+ vehicles over engine safety concerns. Cyber & Public Safety: Renton police debuted drone-tracking and AI translation gear for World Cup security, and a separate push targets unauthorized drones. Energy & Climate Tech: JinkoSolar declared a cash dividend as it leans into solar-plus-storage, and Volvo Trucks unveiled a global powertrain update aimed at faster decarbonization. Space & Markets: Investors are watching SpaceX after its landmark IPO, with the next test being execution after the hype. Digital Infrastructure (Africa): Kenya secured EU-backed funding to boost digital connectivity and expand the Blue Raman submarine cable corridor. Governance & Ethics: A Google director resigned after the company signed a US Defense AI deal, reigniting debate over tech ethics and military use.

Medical Imaging Breakthrough (Belgium): imec-backed intraoperative PET-CT work is spotlighted in a new Head & Neck case report, using a mobile scanner to map scattered residual head-and-neck tumors after chemoimmunotherapy—aimed at improving margin decisions in surgery. Cybersecurity Drill (EU): Cyber Europe 2026 brought ~5,000 experts together to test EU response to cyberattacks on rail and maritime networks, stressing cross-border crisis roles and the new cyber solidarity reserve. Belgium Mobility Tech: Belgium approved Tesla Full Self-Driving for public roads (supervised use; drivers stay responsible), speeding up via Dutch test data. Belgian Industry & Energy: ExecuJet Belgium completed a major Falcon 7X upgrade (including Starlink connectivity and avionics/engine work). Wireless Positioning (imec): imec unveiled a narrowband receiver chip for IEEE 802.15.4ab UWB, targeting longer ranging in dense environments. AI Product Shift (Global): OpenAI is pushing ChatGPT toward a personalized “super app,” with core products leadership in focus. Health Crisis (EU/DRC): EU officials discussed the latest Ebola outbreak in DRC (598 cases, 115 deaths as of 9 June) and the logistics of aid delivery. Patent Boost (Belgium-linked): HeartSciences secured an EPO patent for ECG-based diastolic function assessment, expanding its AI-ECG IP.

Belgium Tech & Policy: Tesla’s Full Self-Driving supervised has been approved for rollout in Belgium (Flanders transport minister Annick de Ridder signed off). Public Sector Cloud: Smals, the Belgian social-security IT body, selected Google Cloud to speed up digital transformation across public administrations, with data sovereignty and cloud-control requirements. AI for Health & Clinics: Belgian aesthetic platform iGlowly launched iGlowly Assistant, aiming to set more realistic expectations for cosmetic patients using a clinical library rather than scraped website text. Mobility & Environment: Exmar delivered the first dual-fuel ammonia-powered deepsea vessel, Antwerpen, a major step toward ammonia as a marine fuel. Startups & Research Links: Korea and Belgium expanded SME/startup cooperation and signed a digital trade agreement with the EU, with talks covering AI, quantum and digital policy. World Cup Tech in Belgium’s Orbit: YouTube is bringing back direct messages after six years, rolling out across European countries including Belgium. Security Tech at Events: Renton police (US) deployed a “de-drone” trailer to monitor restricted airspace during World Cup-related flight limits.

Tesla in Belgium: Flanders has approved Tesla’s Full Self-Driving supervised software for use on public roads, with the file now moving to technical homologation steps. AI reliability hit: Google Gemini suffered a widespread outage for hours, with users seeing errors like 1076/1099 across web and mobile. Medical tech funding: Nyxoah closed a $95m U.S. equity offering and expects a further $15m EIB tranche to accelerate Genio commercialization for obstructive sleep apnea. Electric aviation momentum: Vaeridion says it has topped 100 Microliner commitments and advanced its design review, with Belgium’s ASL Group as launch customer and a battery know-how deal with GA-ASI. Semiconductors policy: The European Commission published CHIPS Act 2.0 proposals, aiming to close EU gaps in leading-edge AI chip production. Shipping decarbonization: EXMAR and WinGD delivered what they call the world’s first ocean-going ammonia-fuelled vessel, a step toward zero-carbon propulsion. Public health at the border: Belgium rejected a U.S. request for an Ebola-related entry ban ahead of the World Cup, citing ECDC guidance and screening/quarantine plans.

Belgium–South Korea Ties: Belgian PM Bart De Wever and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed to deepen cooperation in strategic industries, with a spotlight on battery materials, energy, and SME/startup links. Biotech Deal: Orionis Biosciences (Boston & Ghent) expanded its collaboration with Novartis to discover and design “molecular glue” medicines, with an upfront of $40m and up to $1.4bn in milestones. Cardiology Tech: At EuroVASC 2026, 72% of attendees backed routine checks of radial artery patency before discharge after wrist-access heart procedures—fueling demand for better monitoring of “patent hemostasis.” Cyber Growth: Ghent-based Aikido Security topped Sifted’s France and Benelux leaderboard for fastest-growing cybersecurity firms. Aviation Security Upgrade: Brussels Airport is set to adopt new 3D CT scanners, aiming to replace older screening and eventually allow more liquids in carry-ons. Energy & Industry: Cold Jet and Nippon Sanso launched a fully automated dry-ice production and recovery facility in Köping, supporting Nordic airline, food, pharma and cleaning demand. EU Pay Rules: Only three EU countries met the June 7 deadline for new pay transparency laws, with unions warning many are still lagging.

Robotaxis in Europe: Transport ministers from 17 EU countries (including Belgium) backed cross-border large-scale testing to speed up trials and cut through the patchwork of national rules. Cybersecurity leadership: GitLab appointed Chaim Mazal as Chief Information Security Officer, aiming to strengthen security for AI-driven threats and agent-style workflows. Energy transition wins: The EU’s 2026 European Sustainable Energy Awards went to Vienna’s “100 Projects Phasing Out Gas”, Belgium’s RE-LEAF for SME energy efficiency, and Codema’s CEO for Women in Energy. Belgium recycling momentum: Fost Plus data shows Belgium recycled nearly six times more plastic packaging domestically in 2025 than in 2021, with new recycling capacity helping drive the jump. Biotech finance: Lakefront Biotherapeutics launched a €50m share repurchase programme, with treasury-share purchases possible until end-2026. Marine tech for sustainability: CatchCam is helping small-scale fishermen use underwater monitoring to improve decisions and sustainability. EU border friction: The EU’s Entry/Exit System is already blamed for major Schengen travel slowdowns, with WTTC warning of large visitor and spending losses.

Belgium & AI Uptake: Belgium is among Europe’s top 5 for business AI use, with 34.54% of companies using at least one AI tech in 2025 (up from 24.71% in 2024), and 33.53% of Belgians using generative AI privately. EU Innovation Awards: The European Prize for Women Innovators (EIC/EIT) names winners tackling AI in healthcare, digital mental health, and eco-focused cancer prevention, highlighting women-led innovation across Europe. Energy & Solar: Plug-in solar is gaining traction across Europe as households seek relief from volatile energy prices; the report points to incentives and falling costs driving rapid adoption. North Sea Wind Pressure: New research warns offshore wind could cover 11% of the North Sea by 2050, with up to ~19,400 turbines—raising “spatial squeeze” concerns for fishermen. Cybersecurity & AI Security: Anthropic expands its restricted “Project Glasswing” with Claude Mythos Preview access for Indian organisations to help spot and fix critical software vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. Belgium in Defence Innovation: Belgium is set to invest €3.7bn in defence innovation over the next decade, as Europe pushes faster capability development. World Cup Public Health Tech: US organisers plan to monitor wastewater and online chatter during the 2026 World Cup to detect disease outbreaks early. Kenya Digital Push (EU-backed): President Ruto announces €102m EU funding for Kenya’s digital transformation plus €37m for the Blue Raman submarine cable extension, positioning Kenya as a regional digital hub.

Public Health & Sports: A Georgetown University-led team will monitor US wastewater and social media during the 2026 World Cup to spot outbreaks early, as millions of fans travel across North America. Cybersecurity: Microsoft’s “Miasma” worm hit 73 GitHub repositories, prompting access to be disabled, while Google shipped June Android patches for flaws under active exploitation. AI & Security: Anthropic expanded its restricted “Project Glasswing” to about 150 organisations, giving select groups access to the Claude Mythos Preview model for proactive vulnerability hunting. Belgium Energy: Centrica Energy will optimise a 170 MW/340 MWh battery storage project in Belgium, aiming to stabilise the grid through multi-market trading. Belgium Biotech: Lakefront Biotherapeutics appointed Eric Hedrick as Chief Medical Officer to guide clinical development after acquiring Ouro Medicines assets. Mobility Testing: EU transport ministers backed a cross-border framework to scale autonomous vehicle trials, including Belgium, to reduce fragmented national rules. Environment: A study warns “green growth” claims can be overstated, arguing resource use often isn’t falling fast enough.

Belgium’s Defence Innovation: The government will pour €3.7 billion (2026-2035) into defence R&D via the ODIN programme, aiming to speed up practical tech for the armed forces and boost local industry. AI for SMBs: Cegid has completed its acquisition of Shine, creating a cloud-native, AI-driven financial platform for more than 1 million SMBs and 15,000 accountants across Europe, including Belgium. Public Health Tech: US and Canadian World Cup hosts will monitor wastewater and social media to spot infectious disease outbreaks early during the tournament. Consumer Tech Safety: An EU-funded check of 88 remote-controlled toys found 60% fail interference rules, triggering sales bans and warnings across 13 countries—including Belgium. AI Governance in Belgium: SDAIA and the World Bank will run 25 sessions in Belgium and Germany on AI governance and data management. Space Manufacturing: Fraunhofer IGCV and partners are developing multi-material 3D printing for rocket components under an EU-funded project. Energy Tech: Germany’s Sunmaxx is scaling photovoltaic-thermal modules with a mass-production factory targeting 120,000 modules/year. Belgium & Data/AI Diplomacy: President Ruto is visiting Belgium to discuss trade and investment, including implementation of the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement.

Belgium & EU Tech/Business: Liplyn Group is rebranding its local news sites and job boards into an AI-driven network called Drimble, linking 70+ websites across the Netherlands, Belgium, the US and the UAE and reaching about 4 million readers a month. Digital Assets: Belgium-based SettleMint and real-estate AI/blockchain firm Integra are partnering to build compliant systems for property tokenisation in the UAE and US, covering issuance, lifecycle management and jurisdiction-specific compliance. Health Policy: The WHO is pushing countries to restrict flavoured nicotine products, with New Zealand heart and respiratory groups backing the call—arguing flavours make vaping more appealing to young people. World Cup Tech & Policy: Iran’s World Cup plans are in turmoil after visa denials for parts of its delegation, even as players secure entry for matches in the US. Aviation & Defence: Germany’s first F-35 moves closer to delivery after a key engine installation milestone, while Europe’s summer travel faces pressure from operational disruptions and biometric border systems. Belgian Science/Environment: A study links climate change to major shifts in algae communities in Canada’s Great Bear Lake, with knock-on effects for the food chain.

Military Aviation Watch: China’s newly surfaced Z-21 attack helicopter footage points to a heavier, more survivable rotary strike platform that could challenge the U.S. AH-64E Apache. AI in Everyday Life: Golf is booming to 160M players worldwide, with AI caddies and swing-analysis tools spreading fast—though competition rules and costs may slow adoption. EU Trade & Energy: EU LNG imports fell 1.2% (Mar–May 2026), while reliance on U.S. gas keeps rising; Belgium and Italy also increased LNG volumes. Cyber & Identity Policy: Biometrics rules for EUDI Wallets are under pressure after regulators dispute whether biometric verification can be the sole option, raising uncertainty for rollout timelines. Belgium-Relevant Workplace Law: Belgium is among EU states delayed on the pay transparency directive, with many countries missing deadlines. Tech Governance: The ICJ genocide case filed by South Africa against Israel has moved to a second round of written submissions, extending the legal timeline. Belgium in the World Cup Tech Orbit: Iran’s World Cup travel plan includes matches against Belgium, with visa issues for staff still in the spotlight. Sustainability & Industry: Textiles Recycling Expo 2026 returns to Brussels with lab shredding tech aimed at textile-to-textile recycling R&D.

EU Digital Identity & Biometrics: Spain’s regulator AEPD says biometric data can’t be the only verification option for EUDI Wallets under GDPR, while AVPA warns this could destabilize the whole wallet rollout unless the EDPB clarifies what’s allowed. Belgium & EU Governance: Cyprus is among the EU states missing the pay transparency directive deadline, and Belgium is flagged as delayed/partial—raising pressure on national implementation. Belgium Tech & Business: UK trade secretary Peter Kyle floats a “tech pact” with the EU to boost AI and innovation, pitching London as Europe’s “spin-out” capital. Semiconductors & AI Infrastructure: A positive chip outlook is tied to AI-driven data center investment, with Marvell’s S&P 500 move cited as a sign of investor confidence. Defense Tech: Denmark gets US approval for $842m in JASSM-ER cruise missiles to extend F-35 strike reach; meanwhile Ukraine plans FP-9 ballistic missile flight trials toward Moscow by 2026. Belgium in the World: Belgium Airlines launches its first Tanzania route, a milestone framed as a tourism boost for Kilimanjaro.

AI Policy & Cybersecurity: OpenAI is extending its cybersecurity-focused GPT-5.5-Cyber to Europe via an EU Cyber Action Plan, while Anthropic’s Claude Mythos preview access expands through ENISA-linked “Glasswing,” signaling a faster, more regulated race in defensive AI. EU Tech Sovereignty: A US envoy warns Brussels against “decoupling” in an “AI war” with China, arguing Europe should stay aligned with Washington on sensitive tech. Sports Tech & Safety: The UCI tightens rules on onboard bike computers, limiting screen size from 2028 to reduce riders’ cognitive load. Belgian Science & Public Access: The Royal Observatory of Belgium marks its 200th anniversary with public astronomy events across Brussels and beyond. Health & Pharma: CinnaGen becomes the first Iranian pharma firm to win EU approval for its osteoporosis drug teriparatide (Zandoriah). Energy & Industry: An analysis says EU LNG imports are down slightly since March, but some countries—like Germany—have increased exposure, keeping energy security pressure on. Belgium in the News: Belgian academics urge universities to cut ties with Israeli institutions, as debate over research partnerships intensifies.

AI & Tech Sovereignty: The US ambassador to the EU warns Europe against “decoupling” on AI, calling it an “AI war” where Washington should prevail over China, as Brussels pushes tech-sovereignty plans for sensitive cloud and AI procurement. Belgian Research Boycott Pressure: More than 4,500 Belgian academics and professors urge universities to cut formal ties with Israeli institutions, including ending collaborations and blocking new partnerships. Security & Identity Tech: SK Telecom joins Anthropic’s Project Glasswing, gaining access to Claude Mythos Preview to test and harden systems against software vulnerabilities. Medical Tech Funding: Belgium-based Nyxoah priced a ~$95M US underwritten public offering for its Genio implantable sleep apnea neuromodulation system. Belgium Industry Investment: Cargill invests €56M in Belgium to expand edible oils bottling and gourmet chocolate production, adding automation and a new pilot plant. Energy & Supply Risk: A report claims Europe faces imminent jet-fuel supply failure risk, with inventories at a 63-year low.

AI & Web Governance: Tim Berners-Lee says AI should preserve the “original values” of the web and keep people in control of their own data, calling for regulation and better standards. Belgian Industry Upgrade: Unilin will invest over €100m to modernise its particleboard plant in Oostrozebeke, aiming for more efficient, lower-carbon, circular production using recycled wood. Medical Tech & Sleep Apnea: Nyxoah (Mont-Saint-Guibert) starts a search for a new U.S.-based CEO to accelerate Genio’s commercial push, while also outlining a proposed U.S. share offering. Biotech Deal: Gilead and Lakefront complete the acquisition of Ouro Medicines, adding gamgertamig (OM336) to expand T-cell engager work for autoimmune diseases. Cybersecurity: New reports highlight active exploitation of Windows Netlogon flaws (CVE-2026-41089), with urgent patching urged. EU Funding for Moldova: The EU announced up to €641m for Moldova investments across energy, digital infrastructure, education and sustainable agriculture. Tech in Belgium’s Ecosystem: TOMI Environmental Solutions gains EU regulatory approvals for its Binary Ionization Technology, now authorised in Belgium and more countries. Science Communication: A new piece argues scientists remain far less visible than celebrities, and that public-facing science communication needs a reset.

Web Governance: Tim Berners-Lee urged AI to preserve the web’s “original values,” arguing people must keep control of their own data as models learn from the internet. Belgian Health Tech & Finance: Nyxoah (Mont-Saint-Guibert) kicked off a search for a new U.S.-based CEO to accelerate its Genio sleep apnea launch, alongside a proposed U.S. share offering. Biotech Deal: Gilead and Lakefront completed the acquisition of Ouro Medicines, adding gamgertamig (OM336) to expand inflammation-focused T cell engager work. EU Regulation & Safety Tech: TOMI secured further EU approvals for its Binary Ionization Technology, now authorized in more member states including Belgium. Retail Meets Tech: bol is bringing physical festival stores to Rock Werchter, letting shoppers pre-order online and collect on-site. Healthcare Distribution: Cosmos Health expanded Sky Premium Life availability across all 27 EU countries via Skroutz. Aviation Electrification: Ostend-Bruges Airport hosted a demonstration flight of an electric cargo aircraft to test low-emissions operations in Benelux. Cybersecurity Access: Anthropic expanded Claude Mythos Preview cybersecurity model access to India through Project Glasswing, which already includes Belgium among other countries.