The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were established by the United Nations in 2015 as the global sustainable development agenda for 2030. These sustainable development goals are a call to action for all countries—rich and poor—to promote prosperity while protecting the planet from climate change. They lay the foundation for ending poverty, with strategies that both develop economic growth and address a range of social needs, such as education, health, social protection, and employment.

Discover the sustainable development goals that VLAIO focuses on

VLAIO wants to contribute intensively to solutions for major social challenges. In 2021, we started a process in which we defined the goals where VLAIO can make the most difference. Through an internal materiality exercise, we identified two main goals and four core goals. In addition to these, we are also focusing on three additional goals so that full action is taken on all dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals (Planet, Prosperity, People, Peace, and Partnerships).

Main goals:

8: Decent work and economic growth
9: Industry, innovation, and infrastructure

Core objectives:

7: Affordable and sustainable energy
12: Responsible consumption and production
13: Climate action
17: Partnerships for the goals

Additional objectives:

3: Good health and well-being
4: Quality education
16: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Actions 2023

Objectives 8 and 9: VLAIO makes an important contribution to sustainability and to the successful transformation of the Flemish economy and society.

These central objectives within ‘prosperity’ encompass VLAIO's raison d'être. This is also reflected in VLAIO's strategy, which was made explicit at the end of 2021. Strategic objective 2 refers to this in particular. Most of the projects in the 2023 business plan contribute to achieving this objective, through adjustments to our way of working and by implementing policy priorities. In the context of this process, we focus on four specific areas:

We develop tools and make them available to companies to help and support them in taking steps towards greater sustainability.
We develop internal tools for VLAIO advisors to use in evaluating a specific application to screen/evaluate it against sustainability criteria.
We are strengthening our understanding of the levers for productivity growth that VLAIO can influence.

In 2023, we will strengthen our external communication on sustainability.

7: VLAIO has opted for sustainable accommodation and, in collaboration with other partners, we are committed to greening energy.

In 2023, we are preparing to move to one of the most sustainable office buildings in Europe.
In 2023-2024, VLAIO will focus extra attention on greening energy carriers in industry through a program approach.
Together with VEKA, VLAIO is coordinating the Energy Study 2050+, which aims to lay the foundations for the long-term availability of energy in Flanders.

12: VLAIO is strengthening its role as co-leader in the cross-cutting program Flanders Circular.

In 2023, we will expand the learning network around circular economy living labs, thereby strengthening the symbiosis between the projects and developing this new instrument for social transformation.
VLAIO is allocating an additional €3.5 million specifically to support additional circular economy living labs.
We are further fulfilling our role within the working agendas for circular manufacturing, circular construction, and circular chemistry.

13: To give concrete shape to the climate ambitions of the Flemish government and Flemish companies, we are focusing on sharing good practices, deploying our instruments, and developing a policy framework.

In 2023 and 2024, VLAIO will co-chair the new Taftie Task Force on Net Zero Ambitions, which will identify best practices among innovation agencies in order to achieve the Net Zero target.
VLAIO plays a central role in the implementation of the Flemish Energy and Climate Plan and translates this into actions for companies.
VLAIO is the driving force behind the Klimaatsprong program (policy framework for making ETS companies more sustainable) in accordance with the provisions of the decree and the policy agenda.
In 2023, we will develop a policy on how we can travel more sustainably.

17: We are developing collaborations within the VLAIO network specifically around sustainability, putting the theme of sustainability firmly on the agenda in the VLAIO ecosystem.

The VLAIO Network reception in 2023 will be entirely devoted to sustainability; under the heading ‘Doe Maar Duurzaam’ (Just Be Sustainable), partners and concrete sustainable cases will be highlighted.
In 2023, we will start a co-creation process with our stakeholders from the VLAIO Network to flesh out the new Entrepreneurship Contract with, among other things, a strengthened offering focused on sustainability.
VLAIO will strengthen the functioning of the spearhead clusters and provide resources for cluster projects focused on sustainability.

Within our strategic framework, in addition to strengthening our relationship with companies (Strategic Objective 1) and with the VLAIO Network (Strategic Objective 3), we are also working to strengthen the foundations of our own organization. We do this by developing an effective and innovative organization that acts on the basis of values and offers job satisfaction to all employees (Strategic Objective 4) and by using data and digitization (Strategic Objective 5). In the context of this process, the following is central:

3 and 4: We are continuing to develop VLAIO into a caring and sustainable organization.

Through the projects ‘HR – VTO education, training and development’, ‘Resilient Organization’ and ‘Well-being policy stimulates job satisfaction’, VLAIO is focusing extra attention on increasing the competencies of VLAIO employees and on supporting and guiding our employees to contribute to the roll-out of our mission with greater resilience and job satisfaction.
We raise awareness of sustainability among our employees through internal communication and targeted actions.

16: We are making VLAIO a strong public service.

In 2023, we will achieve level 3 Audit Vlaanderen, thereby securing our position as a high-performing organization.
We actively gain insights into sustainability through our membership of The Shift (SPEC).
In partnership with CIFAL Flanders, we will achieve the SDG Pioneer Label.

VLAIO collaborates with CIFAL Flanders

To implement the action plan for the SDGs at VLAIO, we are collaborating with UNITAR | CIFAL Flanders. This Antwerp-based center of expertise aims to encourage sustainability thinking among governments, academic institutions, companies, and non-profit organizations. CIFAL has a specific UN mandate to inform, raise awareness, and inspire people about the sustainable development goals. CIFAL's main activities focus on training, projects, and coaching programs related to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its associated goals.

More: website CIFAL Flanders or CIFAL Flanders newsletter.