The Belgian delegation led by HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium has successfully concluded its extensive one-week visit to Australia. The trip was marked by a series of purposeful engagements, all geared towards strengthening the bonds between the two nations and exploring avenues for enhanced economic collaboration. HRH was accompanied by a high-level Ministerial delegation, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Hadja Lahbib, and business leaders.
Key highlights of agreements and partnerships include, among others:
Transforming Energy Efficiency for Homes and Businesses Synergy, Western Australia’s primary electricity generator and retailer, has partnered with Gorillini, an energy data applications company from Belgium. The collaboration will enhance Synergy’s pricing solutions through advanced algorithms, ensuring reliable and sustainable electricity pricing.
Enhancing Efficiency and Quality in Professional Sports The partnership between Belgium’s RefAssist and the Australian Football League (AFL) was successfully extended, underscoring the critical role of software solutions in modern sports. By providing an intelligent software solution for umpire appointments, financial needs, and registrations, this collaboration has contributed to over 100,000 high-quality sports games viewed by more than 125 million spectators in the 2022-2023 season.
Revolutionising Education: Agreement to Propel AI Integration in Australian Schools to New Heights D-teach, Belgium’s first online school, is set to launch the International Community of Online Schools (ICONS) in collaboration with Aurora College in New South Wales. ICONS, comprising members from ten countries, will drive innovation, quality control, and the use of artificial intelligence in online education.
Transforming medical waste management in Australia Ecosteryl, a leading environmental solutions company specialising in medical waste treatment, has joined forces with Greenfields Resource Recovery Facility in Australia. Greenfields has invested $15 million in a waste treatment plant, with a focus on decontaminating medical waste. Ecosteryl’s advanced equipment will play a crucial role in the process, contributing to sustainable waste management.
Enhancing Access to Life-Saving Cancer Therapies The Oncidium Foundation and Telix Pharmaceuticals have formalised their commitment to improving global access to innovative cancer therapies through the creation of the RLT-Connect Platform. This platform will connect healthcare providers with Medical Radioisotope Companies, ensuring that advanced cancer treatments are accessible to patients worldwide.
His Excellency Michel Goffin, Ambassador of Belgium to the Commonwealth of Australia said: “These agreements signify the strength of Belgium’s and Australia’s commitment to fostering global partnerships that yield impactful and innovative solutions. We are not only building economic bridges; we are constructing pathways towards a brighter, more sustainable, and technologically advanced future. These partnerships transcend borders, exemplifying the power of collective efforts in addressing global challenges and enhancing the quality of life for all.”
In addition to the signed agreements, the week-long programme of events saw the hosting of several workshops, seminars and events. These included ‘Together for Severe Childhood Epilepsy’, an event hosted by UCB Australia in partnership with Epilepsy Action Australia, which saw the former announcing a $198,000 UCB grant on behalf of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. The grant will be used to conduct research rapid genome sequencing in childhood epilepsy to support early diagnosis and improved outcomes for infants with severe genetic epilepsy.
Other events included a visit by HRH of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital to witness the signing of an official collaboration agreement between the Giga Institute of Belgium and the University of Melbourne’s Otolaryngology Department. A previous research project between the two organisations had included a collaboration that resulted in creating a new hearing monitoring system which combines technology and surgical methods to allow surgeons to identify the moment during implant surgery that natural hearing was lost and modify their surgery to save it.
Key Facts:
• HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium led her country’s first mission to Australia in a decade
• The visit culminated in signing 25 key agreements across healthcare, green energy, sports tech and medical research
• The agreements will see leading Australian businesses and institutions join forces with Belgian counterparts to revolutionise their sectors
