Belgium has an internationally recognised life sciences industry that has long played a prominent role in the national economy. With its highly skilled and multilingual population, the sector has seen an astonishing growth over the past two decades. This growth was further stimulated on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a significant rise in awareness and attention to the industry – both from a financial point of view through funding and investments, but also from an educational perspective.
Since the last 12 to 18 months, numerous investors are looking for alternative asset classes, so-called niche segments, with an attractive risk-return ratio. The key drivers of the life sciences segment are, amongst others, less volatility and limited correlation with economic cycles compared to most sectors. This ultimately delivers greater stability in portfolio performances.