Ghent, 5 May 2025 – Today, construction began on the AI Tech Hub at Campus Ardoyen, UGent’s science park located in Ghent-Zwijnaarde. Its new name was also revealed during the official kickoff event: The Brain – AI Tech Hub Ghent.
Through this name, initiators Alides and PMV aim to reinforce the project’s ambition level: a leading meeting place for deep tech, AI, and photonics in the heart of Flanders. The first spade in the ground signifies the start of construction work on a 20,000 m² landmark tower, where over 600 specialists will collaborate on tomorrow’s digital technologies.
The Brain will provide space for innovative companies, research institutes, startups, and scale-ups engaged in AI and semiconductor photonics. In addition to the workspace, the project will include areas for co-creation, events, and collaboration with the nearby world-renowned photonics cleanroom.
“With The Brain, we are literally and figuratively building the future of Flanders as a leading region for AI and deep tech. It is an investment in knowledge, cooperation and economic growth,” Flemish minister-president Matthias Diependaele stated.
A symbolic name for a tech campus
The new name, The Brain, signifies the role the campus is intended to play as a driver and thus the ‘brain’ of technological innovation in Flanders. “This is precisely why this hub is not a classic office building, but an ecosystem where research and entrepreneurship reinforce each other. The Brain reflects that dynamic perfectly,” says Rikkert Leeman, CEO of Alides.
“The Brain will be a sustainable meeting place where AI developers, researchers, students, and companies find, inspire, and strengthen each other. A coworking space like Settlers, strategic R&D collaborations, and proximity to top talent are central to this.”
The Brain is a collaborative project involving real estate developer Alides, the Flemish investment company PMV, Ghent University and Tech Lane Ghent Science Park. “With The Brain, we are building further on our ambition to take the UGent science parks to the absolute European top,” Rector Rik Van de Walle underlines UGent’s ambitions. “With The Brain, we want to become the European reference in artificial intelligence and deep tech, in close interaction with industry and with maximum societal impact.”
Epicentre of R&D
This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Fund for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FIO), with additional support from the City of Ghent and the Province of East Flanders. The completion of the campus is scheduled for 2027. “As financier of the new building, we want to ensure the further anchoring of the cluster in artificial intelligence and photonics,” explains Michel Casselman, general manager of PMV.
“PMV is one of the most active investors in Belgium, with a portfolio that includes many companies originating from Ghent that can successfully develop in this biotope, partly thanks to PMV financing. Sentea, Indigo, Morrow Optics… We are proud that, with this initiative, we are co-founding an epicentre unseen in Europe with R&D experts from both research and industry.”
For commercial rental inquiries, please contact:
- Nicolas Vuylsteke: n.vuylsteke@alides.be, +32 497 192 504
About Alides
Alides (www.alides.be) is a renowned international investor and developer specialising in office property and residential real estate, boasting a strong presence in prime urban locations in Belgium and Poland. With Settlers (www.settlers.be), the company further broadens its range of innovative workplace solutions while remaining committed to creating future-oriented spaces where professionals and businesses can thrive.
About PMV
The Flemish investment company PMV (ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen) is a do-and-dare company that shapes the future of the Flemish economy. PMV provides capital to promising start-ups, scale-ups, and SMEs to support their growth and internationalisation. PMV offers customised financial solutions to entrepreneurs who can present a solid business plan and have a strong management team. These solutions may consist of capital, loans, or guarantees. In collaboration with, and on behalf of the government and other partners, PMV also carries out projects essential for prosperity and well-being in Flanders. PMV manages a € 1.7 billion portfolio.
About UGent
Ghent University (UGent), founded in 1817, is a leading university in Belgium. With its 86 departments across 11 faculties, the institution offers high-quality, research-supported education in nearly every scientific discipline. Ghent University is pluralistic and open to all, regardless of ideological, political, cultural, or social background. UGent actively participates in national and international cooperation in education, science, and industry.
Media contacts:
- Dennis Defrancq: d.defrancq@alides.be, +32 477 45 71 38
- Filip Clarisse: filip.clarisse@pmv.eu, +32 498 63 05 91
- Wim De Wispelaere: Wim.DeWispelaere@UGent.be, +32 497 55 60 78
