Creativity in the Leuven Innovation Region
More than ever, the Leuven Innovation Region is brimming with creative and artistic activity, while the city of Leuven is a cultural and creative city with international appeal. The majority of the Leuven-based creative organizations use their innovative skills to cross-pollinate with the other key sectors of Health and High Tech.
Up to three times as many people work in the creative sector in the Leuven region than the Flemish average. Driven by the local ecosystem, creative entrepreneurs and cultural players form a strong community. The epicenter of all that's creative in the region can be found in Leuven's canal zone. Now, the area has become the leading example of a network consisting of creative companies of which some have even become global actors.
The Leuven MindGate database for creatives
In this creative database, creative entrepreneurs, companies and individuals can search for the best match for their needs in Leuven. Register yourself, your organization and your activities in our database and make sure you can be found soon. The intention is that your potential customers have a good idea of what you stand for, to let the database become the reference as a search base for creative people within the Leuven ecosystem.
Next to that, we also want to give the Leuven creative and cultural sector an identity. You will regularly find interesting news about what's going on in the Leuven region.
Happy Volcano, award-winning game studio
Happy Volcano is the leading creative game studio behind the award-winning You Suck at Parking™, as well as critically acclaimed narrative exploration game The Almost Gone. They are backed by Hiro Capital and games legend Ian Livingstone.
Happy Volcano Founders Jeroen Janssen, Peter Maasen and David Prinsmel started making games together in 2015 as a hobby. In 2017, the trio took the step to a full-time studio that has since grown to 8 employees.
THEO, a gamechanger in online video playback technologies
THEO is the leading provider of universal video playback technologies for online media companies and enterprises worldwide. Their flagship product, THEOplayer, is the Universal Video Player that enables hundreds of leading payTV and OTT service providers, broadcasters, and publishers worldwide.
In 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 THEOplayer was named winner of the European Readers’ Choice awards as World's Best Video Player Solution/SDK. THEO has offices in Leuven, Barcelona (Spain), Singapore (Singapore), New York and San Francisco (USA).
M Museum dares to experiment
M is notable for its mix of classical and contemporary art in the historic centre of Leuven, which makes the museum unique in Flanders.
The collection of more than 52,500 objects is the beating heart of M. In addition to artistic production in Leuven and Brabant from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, there is also a central focus on post-1945 Belgian art.
In addition to the contemporary visual arts, such as photography, video, painting and sculpture, you can also discover performance, dance and architecture.
Alamire Foundation, where music and innovation come together
The Alamire Foundation was founded in 1991 as a co- operative association between the University of Leuven (KU Leuven, Musicology Research Unit) and the non-profit organisation Musica (Impulse Centre for Music).
Its mission is to undertake, stimulate, and co-ordinate innovative research on music and musical life in the Low Countries from the early Middle Ages until 1800. It uses state-of-the art methods, including digital preservation.
The Foundation’s research results appear as monographs, critical editions, facsimile publications, and articles in leading journals.
The Leuven Creative Ambassadors
From a range of disciplines - as diverse as they are inspiring - eight creative ambassadors take up the representation role for the Leuven ecosystem.
From artist to entrepreneur, the book 'Leuven?! Unveiling a creative city in 8 stories' puts the creative scene in the spotlight. In this book, the ambassadors attempt to reveal the essence of what makes Leuven a hub of creativity.
The Vaartkom, Leuven's creative lung
The epicenter of all that's creative in the region can be found in Leuven's canal zone. Early adopters such as De Hoorn and Boondoggle saw the immense potential the Vaartkom had and moved their businesses here while also providing space for smaller creative individuals and companies.
Now, the area has become the leading example of a network consisting of creative companies of which some have even become global actors.
Next to several art houses, De Hoorn's creative hub, Cas-Co's pop-up ateliers, houseboats, production companies and so on, the Molens van Orshoven, where maakleerplek is situated, and surroundings will offer space for manufacturing companies and creative incubators
Maakleerplek, a place where creative souls can work together
maakleerplek is a place where Leuven companies, schools, artists and residents learn, make and work together. It is a place - for and by all people living in Leuven - on the Vaartkom, the old industrial heart of the city.
Together, they seek answers to various social, economic, ecological and cultural challenges of today and tomorrow.
Numerous Leuven-based creative organizations lead the way
Have we mentioned that the Leuven Innovation Region is a unique creative hub? There are way too many organizations to sum up, but here's a try.
'De Chinezen' are an internationally renowned television production studio. Other players such as Storyrunner, Jack & Charlie are also earning their credentials in the audiovisual world. Sylvester on the other hand is a multiple award-winning jack-of-all-trades: they take care of everything from video to events. For imaginative content you need to go to pioneers such as Bonka Circus or Shaved Monkey. Interior and exterior designers such as Fugzia or Boite are also right at home in Leuven. And what to think about the internationally renowned fabric designer Lotte Martens?
Some of the most recent creative innovations of the Leuven Innovation Region
Do you want to know more about creative innovations in the Leuven Innovation Region?
How can we help?
The Leuven MindGate team is at your disposal for any questions about the Leuven Innovation Region. Do you want to invest, work or study in the region? We can help you find your way.
We also facilitate collaboration and innovation between companies, knowledge institutes and government within the Leuven Innovation Region, and we are happy to guide any of these stakeholders towards innovation.