Top research institutions in Belgium
KU Leuven ranks first in Belgium on research quality in 2022-now (#88 worldwide), followed by Ghent University and University of Antwerp.
BelgiumRanked by research quality, 2022-now
| # | Institution | World rank | Top-10% rate | Works | All time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KU LeuvenUniversity · Leuven | #88 | 13.1% | 19,968 | #1 |
| 2 | Ghent UniversityUniversity · Ghent | #107 | 13.8% | 16,108 | #2 |
| 3 | University of AntwerpUniversity · Antwerp | #277 | 13.0% | 7,129 | #4 |
| 4 | UCLouvainUniversity · Louvain-la-Neuve | #318 | 10.1% | 7,364 | #5 |
| 5 | Vrije Universiteit BrusselUniversity · Brussels | #333 | 13.0% | 5,986 | #3 |
| 6 | Université Libre de BruxellesUniversity · Brussels | #369 | 11.1% | 6,516 | #6 |
| 7 | University of LiègeUniversity · Liège | #564 | 10.2% | 7,075 | #9 |
| 8 | European CommissionGovernment institution · Brussels | #566 | 15.3% | 3,679 | #7 |
| 9 | Hasselt UniversityUniversity · Hasselt | #863 | 13.0% | 1,753 | #8 |
| 10 | University of MonsUniversity · Mons | #1,621 | 5.2% | 3,855 | #14 |
| 11 | HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and ArtsUniversity · Ghent | #1,705 | 12.0% | 577 | #10 |
| 12 | University of NamurUniversity · Namur | #2,188 | 8.2% | 1,248 | #13 |
| 13 | IMECNonprofit · Leuven | #2,360 | 9.6% | 2,147 | #11 |
| 14 | Institute of Natural SciencesResearch facility · Brussels | #2,737 | 2.4% | 1,337 | #29 |
| 15 | Flanders Make (Belgium)Company · Lommel | #3,323 | 11.3% | 801 | #26 |
| 16 | Walloon Excellence in Lifesciences and BiotechnologyNonprofit · Wavre | #3,461 | 25.3% | 147 | #12 |
| 17 | European Union of Medical SpecialistsInstitution · Brussels | #4,094 | 4.6% | 780 | #30 |
| 18 | Flemish Institute for Technological ResearchResearch facility · Mol | #4,787 | 11.7% | 480 | #18 |
| 19 | Sciensano (Belgium)Company · Brussels | #4,810 | 14.6% | 398 | #31 |
| 20 | Union des Industries Ferroviaires EuropéennesInstitution · Brussels | #4,903 | 6.9% | 366 | #40 |
| 21 | European UnionGovernment institution · Brussels | #5,033 | 10.1% | 438 | #36 |
| 22 | Instituut voor Tropische GeneeskundeFunder · Antwerp | #5,109 | 15.2% | 381 | #22 |
| 23 | Material (Belgium)Company · Brussels | #5,140 | 8.3% | 177 | #20 |
| 24 | Vlaams Instituut voor BiotechnologieResearch facility · Ghent | #5,558 | 17.7% | 160 | #16 |
| 25 | Research Foundation - FlandersGovernment institution · Brussels | #5,881 | 19.1% | 225 | #23 |
| 26 | International Solvay InstitutesInstitution · Brussels | #5,917 | 25.1% | 111 | #15 |
| 27 | Province of AntwerpGovernment institution · Antwerp | #6,213 | 12.5% | 274 | #55 |
| 28 | Fund for Scientific ResearchNonprofit · Brussels | #6,297 | 20.1% | 210 | #21 |
| 29 | Statistics BelgiumGovernment institution · Brussels | #6,427 | 10.1% | 259 | #37 |
| 30 | de Duve InstituteResearch facility · Brussels | #6,458 | 14.8% | 164 | #17 |
| 31 | Royal Military AcademyUniversity · Brussels | #6,541 | 8.2% | 221 | #25 |
| 32 | Health Information ManagementInstitution · Brussels | #7,487 | 12.6% | 263 | #45 |
| 33 | Umicore (Belgium)Company · Brussels | #7,954 | 9.5% | 277 | #28 |
| 34 | IS practiceInstitution · Brussels | #7,986 | 6.1% | 624 | #49 |
| 35 | Nutrition Sciences (Belgium)Company · Ghent | #8,528 | 8.3% | 346 | #35 |
| 36 | European Corporate Governance InstituteNonprofit · Brussels | #8,542 | 12.1% | 482 | #102 |
| 37 | AZ Sint-JanHospital / health system · Bruges | #8,648 | 13.7% | 261 | #38 |
| 38 | Belgian Nuclear Research CentreResearch facility · Mol | #9,354 | 7.9% | 317 | #42 |
| 39 | Solvay (Belgium)Company · Brussels | #9,464 | 13.1% | 178 | #39 |
| 40 | European Theoretical Spectroscopy FacilityResearch facility · Liège | #9,713 | 9.8% | 98 | #44 |
| 41 | BruegelNonprofit · Brussels | #9,968 | 15.4% | 174 | #82 |
| 42 | Ablynx (Belgium)Company · Ghent | #10,033 | 16.1% | 107 | #27 |
| 43 | Onze Lieve Vrouwziekenhuis HospitalHospital / health system · Aalst | #10,327 | 12.7% | 279 | #33 |
| 44 | Flanders Marine InstituteFunder · Ostend | #10,725 | 6.2% | 228 | #79 |
| 45 | Cancer Research Institute GhentResearch facility · Ghent | #10,730 | 18.4% | 138 | #43 |
| 46 | Von Karman Institute for Fluid DynamicsNonprofit · Sint-Genesius-Rode | #10,910 | 7.5% | 238 | #41 |
| 47 | Royal Museum for Central AfricaArchive · Tervuren | #10,948 | 7.7% | 182 | #34 |
| 48 | Ziekenhuis Oost-LimburgFunder · Genk | #11,521 | 13.3% | 208 | #53 |
| 49 | Total (Belgium)Company · Brussels | #11,695 | 2.1% | 316 | #67 |
| 50 | North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationFunder · Brussels | #12,121 | 7.5% | 114 | #50 |
| 51 | Advanced Coatings (Belgium)Company · Liège | #12,126 | 9.3% | 126 | #51 |
| 52 | École Pratique des Hautes Études CommercialesUniversity · Brussels | #12,334 | 3.7% | 256 | #154 |
| 53 | Instituut voor Landbouw en VisserijonderzoekResearch facility · Merelbeke | #12,574 | 8.7% | 142 | #47 |
| 54 | iMindsNonprofit · Ghent | #12,578 | 7.9% | 116 | #19 |
| 55 | Jessa HospitalHospital / health system · Hasselt | #12,724 | 12.8% | 184 | #62 |
| 56 | European CouncilGovernment institution · Brussels | #12,775 | 10.4% | 135 | #87 |
| 57 | Vlerick Business SchoolUniversity · Ghent | #12,842 | 19.4% | 121 | #46 |
| 58 | UCB Pharma (Belgium)Company · Brussels | #12,888 | 11.9% | 170 | #24 |
| 59 | Research Institute for Nature and ForestResearch facility · Brussels | #13,098 | 12.9% | 162 | #59 |
| 60 | Domus MedicaNonprofit · Antwerp | #13,301 | 8.5% | 103 | #68 |
| 61 | Meise Botanic GardenArchive · Meise | #14,205 | 7.9% | 169 | #78 |
| 62 | Leefmilieu BrusselInstitution · Brussels | #14,892 | 5.6% | 103 | #32 |
| 63 | European ParliamentGovernment institution · Brussels | #15,334 | 6.3% | 118 | #74 |
| 64 | University College West FlandersUniversity · Kortrijk | #15,643 | 7.8% | 65 | #66 |
| 65 | Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen StuivenbergHospital / health system · Antwerp | #15,831 | 11.7% | 102 | #60 |
| 66 | AZ DeltaHospital / health system · Roeselare | #15,990 | 11.3% | 148 | #118 |
| 67 | Galapagos (Belgium)Company · Mechelen | #16,058 | 9.4% | 95 | #93 |
| 68 | Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource RecoveryResearch facility · Ghent | #16,087 | 12.1% | 91 | #140 |
| 69 | AZ Sint-LucasHospital / health system · Ghent | #16,222 | 7.9% | 113 | #64 |
| 70 | Royal Observatory of BelgiumResearch facility · Brussels | #16,405 | 13.9% | 112 | #52 |
| 71 | European Automobile Manufacturers AssociationInstitution · Brussels | #16,482 | 8.5% | 77 | #86 |
| 72 | AZ Maria MiddelaresHospital / health system · Ghent | #16,584 | 14.7% | 119 | #123 |
| 73 | Institut National de Criminalistique et de CriminologieGovernment institution · Brussels | #16,697 | 10.9% | 98 | #56 |
| 74 | University FoundationNonprofit · Brussels | #16,924 | 7.7% | 85 | #106 |
| 75 | Katholieke Hogeschool VivesUniversity · Kortrijk | #16,952 | 5.6% | 83 | #101 |
| 76 | Rode Kruis-VlaanderenHospital / health system · Mechelen | #17,057 | 11.5% | 76 | #75 |
| 77 | Centre for European Policy StudiesNonprofit · Brussels | #17,164 | 17.2% | 103 | #65 |
| 78 | SirrisNonprofit · Brussels | #17,556 | 4.4% | 88 | #92 |
| 79 | Clinique Saint-JosephHospital / health system · Liège | #17,836 | 6.6% | 127 | #109 |
| 80 | Service Public de WallonieGovernment institution · Namur | #17,870 | 6.3% | 74 | #91 |
| 81 | Médecins du MondeHospital / health system · Brussels | #17,942 | 6.0% | 82 | #85 |
| 82 | Clinique Saint JeanHospital / health system · Brussels | #17,999 | 8.8% | 77 | #81 |
| 83 | Pour la SolidaritéInstitution · Brussels | #18,012 | 9.7% | 68 | #61 |
| 84 | Grand Charleroi HospitalHospital / health system · Charleroi | #18,224 | 8.0% | 134 | #97 |
| 85 | College of EuropeUniversity · Bruges | #18,496 | 19.4% | 96 | #73 |
| 86 | European Organisation for Research and Treatment of CancerNonprofit · Brussels | #18,549 | 19.3% | 76 | #48 |
| 87 | Pain in MotionResearch facility · Brussels | #18,582 | 20.7% | 88 | #144 |
| 88 | Centre Hospitalier ChrétienHospital / health system · Liège | #18,627 | 6.3% | 105 | #131 |
| 89 | Evangelical Theological FacultyUniversity · Leuven | #18,801 | 5.8% | 116 | #120 |
| 90 | GZA Ziekenhuizen Campus Sint-AugustinusHospital / health system · Antwerp | #18,830 | 13.8% | 88 | #69 |
| 91 | Imelda HospitalHospital / health system · Bonheiden | #18,945 | 13.0% | 100 | #76 |
| 92 | Royal Belgian Institute for Space AeronomyResearch facility · Brussels | #18,974 | 11.1% | 98 | #63 |
| 93 | Centre hospitalier régional de la CitadelleHospital / health system · Liège | #18,994 | 10.2% | 119 | #95 |
| 94 | International Zinc AssociationNonprofit · Brussels | #19,056 | 7.0% | 97 | #148 |
| 95 | Cosmetics EuropeInstitution · Brussels | #19,070 | 6.2% | 108 | #115 |
| 96 | Walloon Agricultural Research CentreResearch facility · Gembloux | #19,251 | 11.4% | 107 | #89 |
| 97 | International Crisis GroupNonprofit · Brussels | #19,407 | 10.6% | 65 | #112 |
| 98 | ZNA Middelheim HospitalHospital / health system · Antwerp | #19,639 | 8.0% | 85 | #58 |
| 99 | Materia NovaNonprofit · Mons | #20,387 | 9.9% | 69 | #96 |
| 100 | Royal Meteorological Institute of BelgiumResearch facility · Brussels | #21,008 | 13.7% | 82 | #94 |
| 101 | European Trade Union InstituteNonprofit · Brussels | #21,009 | 17.0% | 91 | #130 |
| 102 | Centre Hospitalier Interrégional Edith CavellHospital / health system · Brussels | #21,732 | 8.3% | 72 | #153 |
| 103 | National Bank of BelgiumGovernment institution · Brussels | #21,843 | 11.3% | 61 | #105 |
| 104 | Fuel Cells and HydrogenResearch facility · Brussels | #22,005 | 10.9% | 70 | #198 |
| 105 | Hôpital de JolimontHospital / health system · La Louvière | #22,066 | 3.9% | 60 | #129 |
Institutions above the volume floor, ranked within Belgium on the quality score for 2022-now; research measures only, not teaching. The tick on each rate track is the average of all institutions, 10.0% (how it is set): teal above it, red below; bars are scaled to the largest institution on this page.
Size against quality inside Belgium
The upper left is the interesting corner: institutions that publish less than the national giants and land more of it in the world top 10%.
above the meannear itbelow it
One dot per institution in the table above.
Questions people ask
What are the top universities in Belgium for research?
KU Leuven ranks first in Belgium on research quality in 2022-now (#88 worldwide), followed by Ghent University and University of Antwerp.