FIT directs full focus on an ecosystem of defense and aerospace and unfolds its very first US Roadshow
With a several day program in the US, Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) goes full force to expand one of its newest branches within FIT. Defense and security still has so much unexploited potential, and that while this topic is of growing importance in today’s news climate. FIT wants to ensure that Flemish companies are fully equipped with solid knowledge to enter this market.
By unfolding this roadshow in the US, FIT makes an enormous leap forward in our new ambition to focus on ‘Defense & Security’. This initiative, the first one of its kind, demonstrates Flanders’ ambition to become a world leader in technological innovation within this crucial industry.
FIT grants Flemish companies the opportunity to explore this sector internationally on a commercial level and exchange knowledge within the sector. This multi day program commences on the 11th of March and continues until the 15th of March. It will start in Dallas, continue in Seattle and end its tour in San Diego. There Flemish companies will get the chance to visit several innovative players on the American market within the defense and aerospace sector. Except for the visit to a high level conference of BOEING and the Aerospace & Defense Supplier Summit (ADSS) in Seattle, there are also several other company visits scheduled. There will be visits to Lockheed Martin (DFW), General Atomics and Northrop Grumman (both in San Diego). These are not the least within the aerospace and security sector. This tailored fit program inspires Flemish entrepreneurs and expands their professional network greatly.
The goal of this roadshow is to help Flemish innovative players in developing new technologies and advertising them on the market. Furthermore, FIT seeks to answer how the Flemish industry can tackle new innovation needs on the market. This may be the very first initiative of its kind, but it goes hand in hand with a long term vision of FIT to support the sector of defense, aerospace and security in a thought out way.
By focusing specifically on defense, FIT offers Flemish companies the opportunity to build an international success. This by directing all its energy on sectors such as aerospace, where innovative power and technological expertise flows together with defense needs. Our approach connects them with strategic profiles within these world leader circles, such as for example Lockheed Martin and BOEING. We facilitate partnerships that construct defense solutions of the future and reinforce Flanders’ pole position of defense in the future.
Who is the Flemish delegation joining on this roadshow? The sector federation Agoria and FIT will join, but they will also be accompanied by ten Flemish companies who are active in this sector. This group will consist of a mix between major companies, such as Asco and Sabca, and smaller but high technological players, like Cercuits and Intersoft Electronics.
Several of them are already active in the US, e.g.: BOEING and GENERAL ATOMICS, but also Lockheed Martin. The latter has signed a collaboration agreement recently for the Belgian F35-contract. This reinforced collaboration should ensure that the Belgian profit in this industry will scale up to no less than 3 billion euros. The goal is to expand this specific ecosystem as broad and wide as possible. This will then spiral and make sure that other, less direct involved players, can also benefit from this futuristic industry.
The US roadshow will furthermore, continue with a sequel during the Farnborough International Airshow this summer in the UK, with B2B activities between both American and Flemish companies.
Are you a journalist and do you have any press enquiries on this news topic? Please contact our spokesperson Desna Lespinoy.
