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STEAM Action plan for the Brussels Capital Region
Ella Desmedt
Senior Expert in Education, Evaluation & Governance
"It was interesting to apply the experience we built up in our contribution to the Flemish STEM agenda in the specific Brussels context."
The challenge
Various European countries and regions are grappling with a growing shortage of skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM). This deficit presents substantial challenges to their economic competitiveness, innovation capacity, and social well-being. Brussels is also experiencing a significant shortage of STEAM professionals, with many STEAM jobs being difficult to fill. For years, Innoviris has been a key player in promoting science and technology. Through various initiatives, including the I Love Science Festival, STEM projects, and the Brussels Network for Science Awareness Actors, Innoviris not only seeks to foster a broader interest in science and technology but also aims to enhance the critical thinking skills of citizens.
In response to these challenges, Innoviris has commissioned IDEA Consult to develop a tailored STEAM action plan for Brussels. Created in collaboration with diverse stakeholders, this plan is part of a long-term strategy designed to identify and address key opportunities and actions needed to bolster the region’s STEM capabilities.
The process & results
In this study commissioned by Innoviris, IDEA Consult works on a STEAM action plan for the Brussels Capital Region. In a first phase, we make a brief summary of the existing literature on the impact of science promotion and science outreach on the study and career choice of young people and on a better understanding of the link between science and society by the general public. Through web-scraping techniques, we are also updating the catalog of the Brussels Science Promotion Network which maps the different STEAM actors and their initiatives in the BCR. Then, through helicopter interviews and focus groups, we gather additional insights for a needs analysis that identifies the needs and gaps of the ecosystem and shows what to focus on over the next 5 years. This forms the basis for the development of the STEAM Action Plan, with strategic and operational objectives for the period 2024-2028 and associated indicators that can monitor the implementation of the STEAM Action Plan. The formulation of the STEAM Action Plan also includes indications for new partnerships with public and private actors and for streamlining the current awareness programs of Innoviris with a view to achieving the objectives and opening of the Science Center in 2029.