Whether you want to invest in an innovative company or move your business to a location strategically placed at the heart of Western Europe, Charleroi Métropole has what it takes to seduce investors.

Perfectly located amongst the big European economic powers and next to significant international transport links, it offers strong ecosystems, skilled labour and a range of benefits and interesting financial incentives.

In addition, a number of development and incubation sites and spaces are immediately available enabling you to set up your business at an attractive price and in record time.

Located at the heart of Europe, in direct proximity to Brussels, Charleroi Métropoleis crossed by the most significant European transport routes.

The motorway network enables you to reach the Netherlands, France, England, Germany, Luxembourg and Eastern Europe very quickly.

What’s more, the high-quality public transport infrastructures best serve Charleroi Métropole. For example, the railway network enables you to access the centre of Brussels in 40 minutes.

The multimodal platform of Charleroi-Châtelet also provides undeniable benefits. Its location at the heart of a road network which provides multiple connections to a number of cities, its railway and waterway connections, without forgetting its proximity to Brussels South Charleroi Airport, makes this 40-hectare platform an effective tool in terms of combined water-rail-road transport.

The multimodal platform of Charleroi-Châtelet also provides undeniable benefits. Its location at the heart of a road network which provides multiple connections to a number of cities, its railway and waterway connections, without forgetting its proximity to Brussels South Charleroi Airport, makes this 40-hectare platform an effective tool in terms of combined water-rail-road transport. Brussels South Charleroi Airport, Belgium’s second-largest airport (with more than 8 million passengers per year and flying to more than 140 destinations).

In many ways, Charleroi Métropole is a hot-bed of innovation. In addition to the pioneering mechanical, electrical, chemical and visual arts industries which have developed, there are also craft, tourism and leisure businesses: Charleroi Métropole recognised how to diversify and today provides strong ecosystems to industries, businesses and investors interested in the region.

Four ecosystems in particular have developed over the last 10 years: health and biotech with the Biopark Brussels Charleroi and the neighbouring health hub which includes a number of biotech start-ups which have raised tens of millions of euros internationally, the airport and logistics with BSCA which has doubled in size in recent years to become Belgium’s second-largest airport, primarily attracting logistics businesses to its site (Johnson & Johnson, Bpost, etc.), advanced manufacturing, such as Sonaca, Alstom, Thales Alenia Space Belgium or AGC Glass Europe who are developing products of the future, and finally the creative and digital sector with actors, such as Dreamwall, Keywall or Dirty Monitor who have gained international renown.

Charleroi Métropole also stands out due to the skills and the expertise developed in services, arts and crafts, tourism and leisure. Strong local features are developing in rural centres and are raising the profile of the entire region.

Charleroi Métropole also has financial incentives as a free zone. What’s more, it is possible to benefit from European funds by moving to the region.

The Guide des Aides Publiques [Belgian Guide to Public Aid] will provide you with all the information on the subject. You will also find more information on the page Launching and growing your company.

Charleroi Métropole has a number of industrial sites and buildings ready to welcome your business. Hundreds of hectares and a range of high-quality property are specifically set aside for establishing companies.

The region has no fewer than 26 business parks covering an area of 2,200 hectares, managed by the cross-borough organisations Igretec, IDEA and BEP. Thousands of specialist companies have been established there.

These cross-borough organisations are also developing multiple property options (offices, workshops, laboratories) both in the business parks and in the urban centres. For example, l’Espace Trésignies located in the heart of Charleroi. Having been completely renovated, the building today hosts a number of SMEs as a business centre and has direct access to the ring road and to public transport.

For start-ups and companies wanting to innovate in the digital world, Co.Station, on the quays of the Sambre, offers a work, coaching and meeting space which promotes and stimulates innovation for digital start-ups and companies.

Finally, there is the i-Tech Incubator of the Brussels Charleroi Biopark which, in the centre of Aéropole de Charleroi, enables start-ups to benefit from all of the support required to establish companies in biotechnology, engineering and environmental technology sectors in one place.