Brussels Airport - General

Brussels Airport Company partners with new startup consortium Hubs4Growth

Six innovation hubs provide workplaces and mentoring to startups through the "Pitch your seat" programme

Brussels Airport Company partners with consortium Hubs4Growth. Established in early August, this collaboration brings together the six leading startup and innovation hubs in Flanders. As part of this initiative, Brussels Airport will provide startups with a workspace at the airport for six months starting in November, immersing them in an entrepreneurial environment to help them grow into successful businesses.

In early August, the new startup consortium Hubs4Growth was formed, bringing together Flanders' five leading innovation hubs: Hangar K, The Beacon, Leuven MindGate, WinterCircus Ghent and Limburg Startup. Brussels Airport has now joined the consortium as its sixth partner. Brussels Airport has long been involved in Belgium's startup ecosystem, making investments in various innovative companies and fostering collaborations with organisations like Jetpack, SkeyDrone, Droneport, Flanders Technology & Innovation, as well as with its own two subsidiaries: Airport Intelligence and Aviato Academy.

The collaboration between Hubs4Growth and Brussels Airport aims to enhance the competitive edge of Flemish startups and scaleups while fostering forward-looking innovation. Along with offering a broader network and greater access to expertise, Hubs4Growth offers support at the Flemish level through a variety of projects.

Hubs4Growth launches “Pitch your seat”

In partnership with the five other Hubs4Growth members, Brussels Airport is launching “Pitch your seat” as its first concrete initiative. This six-month programme offers 30 participants four in-depth coaching sessions, focusing on achieving product-market fit. In addition to the group sessions, the startups benefit from individual follow-up support. They will also receive a dedicated space at one of the six hubs for a period of six months. Brussels Airport hosts the startups at its newly established Aviation Talent Hub, an incubator on the airport site where training, innovation, and entrepreneurship converge.

"Brussels Airport is a dynamic ecosystem of over 350 companies and an airport dedicated to innovation for years. We are excited to welcome new startups into our organisation and support them in advancing their businesses. Hubs4Growth offers us the perfect chance to stay at the forefront of innovation and discover new talent while also fulfilling our role as an incubator with a strong social impact.” Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Company.

Startups interested in participating in “Pitch your seat” have until 15 September to apply through the website www.Hubs4growth.eu. “Pitch your seat” is the first tangible collaboration being launched so far. It offers support for 30 startups, each receiving assistance from one of the six innovation hubs for a duration of six months.

“We are extremely proud to have a prominent player like Brussels Airport Company join the Hubs4Growth initiative. We see only advantages for startups in this collaboration. Much like a small town, the airport serves as an ideal proving ground for startups. The initial steps toward a successful collaboration have been made. We are excited about what the future holds.” Marc Beenders, Hubs4Growth.

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About Brussels Airport

Brussels Airport is one of the most important airports in Europe. In 2024, Brussels Airport welcomed 23.6 million passengers and transported 733,000 tonnes of cargo through the airport. Brussels Airport caters for the specific needs of business travellers and holidaymakers alike, on both intra-European and long haul flights. In 2025, the airport offers direct connections between Belgium and 210 destinations worldwide, with flights operated by 80 airlines.   

The airport also offers a leading cargo platform, specialised in the transport of pharmaceutical products, perishable goods, e-commerce and live animals. Brussels Airport is the most important pharmaceutical hub in Europe with the largest area of temperature-controlled warehouses.  

With its SHIFT 2027 strategy, launched in 2022, Brussels Airport Company intends to strengthen its position as a major European hub, accelerate its ambitious sustainability goals, e.g. through the European Green Deal project Stargate, and continue to diversify its activities by focusing on innovation and cooperation.

Brussels Airport is the second most important economic engine in Belgium, good for 64,000 direct and indirect jobs and is owned and operated by Brussels Airport Company. The shareholders are a consortium of private investors (75%) and the Belgian State (25%).

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Contact

Press Office Brussels Airport Company Luchthaven Brussel Nationaal 1M 1930 Zaventem

+32 (0)2 753 53 53 (for journalists only)

media@brusselsairport.be

www.brusselsairport.be