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Belgium

Top research institutions in Belgium

KU Leuven ranks first in Belgium on research quality in 2022–2025 (#108 worldwide), followed by Ghent University and University of Antwerp.

Ranked by research quality, 2022–2025

#InstitutionWorld rankTop-10% rateWorksAll time
1KU LeuvenUniversity · Leuven #108 22.9% 17,964 #1
2Ghent UniversityUniversity · Ghent #168 25.0% 11,389 #2
3University of AntwerpUniversity · Antwerp #450 24.4% 5,912 #5
4Vrije Universiteit BrusselUniversity · Brussels #652 23.8% 5,327 #7
5Université Libre de BruxellesUniversity · Brussels #666 20.4% 5,164 #4
6UCLouvainUniversity · Louvain-la-Neuve #790 19.3% 5,234 #3
7University of LiègeUniversity · Liège #834 16.2% 5,809 #6
8Ghent University HospitalHospital / health system · Ghent #844 19.1% 4,129 #8
9IMECNonprofit · Leuven #1,834 13.5% 1,856 #10
10Hasselt UniversityUniversity · Hasselt #1,890 23.1% 1,753 #17
11University of MonsUniversity · Mons #1,960 7.9% 3,855 #11
12VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation ResearchResearch facility · Ghent #1,993 35.8% 196 #18
13European CommissionGovernment institution · Brussels #2,324 28.4% 756 #14
14VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease ResearchResearch facility · Leuven #2,968 32.7% 337 #40
15Rega Institute for Medical ResearchResearch facility · Leuven #3,077 27.4% 367 #12
16Cliniques Universitaires Saint-LucHospital / health system · Brussels #3,088 16.5% 1,071 #22
17VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer BiologyResearch facility · Leuven #3,265 37.7% 173 #27
18Antwerp University HospitalFunder · Antwerp #3,318 17.2% 987 #24
19University of NamurUniversity · Namur #3,571 15.8% 1,130 #9
20Walloon Excellence in Lifesciences and BiotechnologyNonprofit · Wavre #3,650 41.4% 147 #42
21Gembloux Agro-Bio TechUniversity · Gembloux #3,985 33.9% 495 #33
22VIB-KU Leuven Center for MicrobiologyResearch facility · Leuven #4,099 21.3% 338 #37
23Janssen (Belgium)Company · Beerse #4,374 16.9% 483 #15
24Universitair Ziekenhuis LeuvenHospital / health system · Leuven #4,701 15.8% 635 #21
25HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and ArtsUniversity · Ghent #4,802 24.1% 577 #36
26Universitair Ziekenhuis BrusselHospital / health system · Brussels #5,153 19.2% 602 #28
27Instituut voor Tropische GeneeskundeFunder · Antwerp #5,268 26.6% 381 #29
28Sciensano (Belgium)Company · Brussels #5,378 24.1% 398 #74
29Flemish Institute for Technological ResearchResearch facility · Mol #5,743 20.8% 480 #25
30Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de LiègeHospital / health system · Liège #5,926 9.9% 750 #34
31Royal Belgian Institute for Space AeronomyResearch facility · Brussels #6,082 23.2% 98 #23
32International Solvay InstitutesInstitution · Brussels #6,136 47.5% 111 #44
33de Duve InstituteResearch facility · Brussels #6,407 29.8% 164 #31
34Cancer Research Institute GhentResearch facility · Ghent #6,417 29.5% 138 #65
35Vlaams Instituut voor BiotechnologieResearch facility · Ghent #6,536 32.3% 160 #16
36GlaxoSmithKline (Belgium)Company · Wavre #6,743 22.7% 173 #43
37European Theoretical Spectroscopy FacilityResearch facility · Liège #6,889 37.4% 98 #47
38Research Foundation - FlandersGovernment institution · Brussels #6,946 35.0% 225 #56
39Belgian Nuclear Research CentreResearch facility · Mol #7,370 14.5% 317 #19
40Material (Belgium)Company · Brussels #7,413 14.0% 177 #45
41VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems BiologyResearch facility · Ghent #7,453 43.6% 167 #30
42European UnionGovernment institution · Brussels #7,466 13.2% 438 #26
43Erasmus HospitalHospital / health system · Brussels #7,699 16.1% 461 #20
44Institute of Natural SciencesResearch facility · Brussels #7,749 4.8% 1,337 #58
45Province of AntwerpGovernment institution · Antwerp #7,786 19.8% 274 #62
46Flanders Make (Belgium)Company · Lommel #7,787 17.1% 801 #84
47AZ Sint-JanHospital / health system · Bruges #7,966 15.2% 261 #63
48VIB-UGent Center for Medical BiotechnologyResearch facility · Ghent #8,197 33.6% 100 #51
49BruegelNonprofit · Brussels #8,567 19.6% 174 #104
50Institut Jules BordetHospital / health system · Brussels #8,767 15.9% 316 #39
51Joint Research CenterGovernment institution · Geel #8,901 25.8% 144 #32
52Ablynx (Belgium)Company · Ghent #9,247 27.0% 107 #68
53Royal Meteorological Institute of BelgiumResearch facility · Brussels #9,535 22.0% 82 #53
54Fund for Scientific ResearchNonprofit · Brussels #9,537 33.3% 210 #35
55Health Information ManagementInstitution · Brussels #9,698 18.5% 263 #66
56UCLouvain Saint-Louis BrusselsUniversity · Brussels #9,757 9.9% 830 #46
57Solvay (Belgium)Company · Brussels #10,573 21.5% 178 #60
58Royal Observatory of BelgiumResearch facility · Brussels #10,865 22.5% 112 #55
59UCB Pharma (Belgium)Company · Brussels #10,995 17.2% 170 #49
60Research Institute for Nature and ForestResearch facility · Brussels #11,142 24.0% 162 #77
61Advanced Coatings (Belgium)Company · Liège #11,254 13.6% 126 #88
62IS practiceInstitution · Brussels #11,256 7.4% 624 #57
63Statistics BelgiumGovernment institution · Brussels #11,362 16.9% 259 #72
64Total (Belgium)Company · Brussels #11,709 4.0% 316 #87
65Onze Lieve Vrouwziekenhuis HospitalHospital / health system · Aalst #12,029 15.8% 279 #70
66European Corporate Governance InstituteNonprofit · Brussels #12,782 12.3% 482 #92
67Jessa HospitalHospital / health system · Hasselt #13,218 19.2% 184 #105
68Nutrition Sciences (Belgium)Company · Ghent #13,235 10.9% 346 #71
69College of EuropeUniversity · Bruges #13,592 34.6% 96 #100
70Directorate-General for InterpretationGovernment institution · Brussels #13,697 9.1% 488 #111
71Royal Museum for Central AfricaArchive · Tervuren #14,073 15.1% 182 #54
72Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint-PierreHospital / health system · Brussels #14,206 12.7% 196 #59
73Queen Fabiola Children's University HospitalHospital / health system · Brussels #14,412 11.7% 122 #112
74Antwerp Management SchoolUniversity · Antwerp #14,544 25.1% 188 #95
75Ziekenhuis Oost-LimburgFunder · Genk #14,692 17.7% 208 #96
76Pain in MotionResearch facility · Brussels #14,859 29.8% 88 #130
77Union des Industries Ferroviaires EuropéennesInstitution · Brussels #14,927 5.1% 366 #121
78Fuel Cells and HydrogenResearch facility · Brussels #14,949 20.2% 70 #149
79CHU Dinant Godinne UCL NamurHospital / health system · Namur #15,282 8.5% 229 #83
80Flanders Marine InstituteFunder · Ostend #15,349 9.4% 228 #142
81Royal Military AcademyUniversity · Brussels #15,368 15.8% 221 #50
82GZA Ziekenhuizen Campus Sint-AugustinusHospital / health system · Antwerp #15,631 19.1% 88 #102
83Directorate-General Joint Research CentreGovernment institution · Brussels #15,665 10.3% 183 #69
84Grand Charleroi HospitalHospital / health system · Charleroi #15,885 10.5% 134 #133
85Centre for European Policy StudiesNonprofit · Brussels #16,162 26.6% 103 #89
86AZ DeltaHospital / health system · Roeselare #16,237 11.4% 148 #161
87Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource RecoveryResearch facility · Ghent #16,358 21.3% 91 #192
88Walloon Agricultural Research CentreResearch facility · Gembloux #16,556 22.9% 107 #117
89Von Karman Institute for Fluid DynamicsNonprofit · Sint-Genesius-Rode #16,590 28.4% 238 #38
90European CouncilGovernment institution · Brussels #17,159 17.0% 135 #120
91Materia NovaNonprofit · Mons #17,547 11.4% 69 #86
92Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen StuivenbergHospital / health system · Antwerp #17,691 14.5% 102 #94
93Directorate-General for Research and InnovationGovernment institution · Brussels #17,767 26.4% 69 #116
94Instituut voor Landbouw en VisserijonderzoekResearch facility · Merelbeke #17,849 12.4% 142 #108
95Evangelical Theological FacultyUniversity · Leuven #18,023 13.8% 116 #165
96Umicore (Belgium)Company · Brussels #18,319 5.5% 246 #106
97European Union of Medical SpecialistsInstitution · Brussels #18,342 2.3% 780 #126
98AZ Maria MiddelaresHospital / health system · Ghent #18,727 15.4% 119 #173
99Meise Botanic GardenArchive · Meise #18,782 14.8% 169 #134
100Centre Hospitalier Universitaire BrugmannHospital / health system · Brussels #19,203 7.9% 234 #79
101Vlerick Business SchoolUniversity · Ghent #19,218 28.3% 121 #98
102Galapagos (Belgium)Company · Mechelen #19,590 15.3% 95 #138
103European Organisation for Research and Treatment of CancerNonprofit · Brussels #19,653 27.2% 76 #76
104Cosmetics EuropeInstitution · Brussels #19,739 12.2% 108 #131
105AZ Sint-LucasHospital / health system · Ghent #19,815 11.1% 113 #80
106Imelda HospitalHospital / health system · Bonheiden #19,886 19.1% 100 #152
107Pour la SolidaritéInstitution · Brussels #20,376 12.9% 68 #203
108Centre hospitalier régional de la CitadelleHospital / health system · Liège #20,534 9.6% 119 #91
109AZ GroeningeHospital / health system · Kortrijk #20,744 17.2% 108 #158
110Clinique Saint-JosephHospital / health system · Liège #21,042 6.0% 127 #119
111Rode Kruis-VlaanderenHospital / health system · Mechelen #21,434 13.1% 76 #103
112ZNA Middelheim HospitalHospital / health system · Antwerp #21,445 11.2% 85 #67
113Katholieke Hogeschool VivesUniversity · Kortrijk #21,914 12.3% 83 #185
114Institut National de Criminalistique et de CriminologieGovernment institution · Brussels #22,038 14.6% 98 #128
115Clinique Saint JeanHospital / health system · Brussels #22,795 8.8% 77 #210
116North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationFunder · Brussels #22,866 14.8% 114 #110
117Leefmilieu BrusselInstitution · Brussels #22,909 10.3% 103 #139
118United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration StudiesResearch facility · Bruges #23,386 33.5% 68 #207
119European Automobile Manufacturers AssociationInstitution · Brussels #23,406 6.8% 77 #97
120University College West FlandersUniversity · Kortrijk #23,455 9.3% 65 #113
121Service Public de WallonieGovernment institution · Namur #23,526 8.5% 74 #177
122iMindsNonprofit · Ghent #23,549 11.4% 116 #52
123Centre Hospitalier ChrétienHospital / health system · Liège #23,608 5.8% 105 #223
124Centre Hospitalier Interrégional Edith CavellHospital / health system · Brussels #24,050 11.9% 72 #221
125University FoundationNonprofit · Brussels #24,371 9.0% 85 #115
126European ParliamentGovernment institution · Brussels #24,582 17.5% 118 #167
127Directorate-General for EnergyGovernment institution · Brussels #24,896 9.9% 85 #125
128Siemens (Belgium)Company · Beersel #25,026 14.4% 69 #179
129European Trade Union InstituteNonprofit · Brussels #25,080 18.6% 91 #188
130National Bank of BelgiumGovernment institution · Brussels #25,467 20.0% 61 #162
131International Zinc AssociationNonprofit · Brussels #26,059 6.9% 97 #171
132Hôpital de JolimontHospital / health system · La Louvière #26,308 7.5% 60 #174
133SirrisNonprofit · Brussels #26,464 8.5% 88 #197
134École Pratique des Hautes Études CommercialesUniversity · Brussels #26,643 1.4% 256 #262
135Domus MedicaNonprofit · Antwerp #26,656 7.2% 103 #178
136Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs UnionGovernment institution · Brussels #26,992 1.8% 184 #265
137International Crisis GroupNonprofit · Brussels #27,808 5.3% 65 #234
138Médecins du MondeHospital / health system · Brussels #27,883 2.7% 82 #172

Institutions above the volume floor, ranked within Belgium on the quality composite for 2022–2025; research measures only, not teaching. The tick on each rate track is the world’s rate in this record, 16.5% — 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%.

0%20%40%mean 17.7993%fractional works (log) →share in the world top 10% →KU Leuven: 18k, 22.9%Ghent University: 11k, 25.0%University of Antwerp: 5,912, 24.4%Vrije Universiteit Brussel: 5,327, 23.8%Université Libre de Bruxelles: 5,164, 20.4%UCLouvain: 5,234, 19.3%University of Liège: 5,809, 16.2%Ghent University Hospital: 4,129, 19.1%IMEC: 1,856, 13.5%Hasselt University: 1,753, 23.1%University of Mons: 3,855, 7.9%VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research: 196, 35.8%European Commission: 756, 28.4%VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research: 337, 32.7%Rega Institute for Medical Research: 367, 27.4%Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc: 1,071, 16.5%VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology: 173, 37.7%Antwerp University Hospital: 987, 17.2%University of Namur: 1,130, 15.8%Walloon Excellence in Lifesciences and Biotechnology: 147, 41.4%Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech: 495, 33.9%VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology: 338, 21.3%Janssen (Belgium): 483, 16.9%Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven: 635, 15.8%HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts: 577, 24.1%Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel: 602, 19.2%Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde: 381, 26.6%Sciensano (Belgium): 398, 24.1%Flemish Institute for Technological Research: 480, 20.8%Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège: 750, 9.9%Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy: 98, 23.2%International Solvay Institutes: 111, 47.5%de Duve Institute: 164, 29.8%Cancer Research Institute Ghent: 138, 29.5%Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie: 160, 32.3%GlaxoSmithKline (Belgium): 173, 22.7%European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility: 98, 37.4%Research Foundation - Flanders: 225, 35.0%Belgian Nuclear Research Centre: 317, 14.5%Material (Belgium): 177, 14.0%VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology: 167, 43.6%European Union: 438, 13.2%Erasmus Hospital: 461, 16.1%Institute of Natural Sciences: 1,337, 4.8%Province of Antwerp: 274, 19.8%Flanders Make (Belgium): 801, 17.1%AZ Sint-Jan: 261, 15.2%VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology: 100, 33.6%Bruegel: 174, 19.6%Institut Jules Bordet: 316, 15.9%Joint Research Center: 144, 25.8%Ablynx (Belgium): 107, 27.0%Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium: 82, 22.0%Fund for Scientific Research: 210, 33.3%Health Information Management: 263, 18.5%UCLouvain Saint-Louis Brussels: 830, 9.9%Solvay (Belgium): 178, 21.5%Royal Observatory of Belgium: 112, 22.5%UCB Pharma (Belgium): 170, 17.2%Research Institute for Nature and Forest: 162, 24.0%Advanced Coatings (Belgium): 126, 13.6%IS practice: 624, 7.4%Statistics Belgium: 259, 16.9%Total (Belgium): 316, 4.0%Onze Lieve Vrouwziekenhuis Hospital: 279, 15.8%European Corporate Governance Institute: 482, 12.3%Jessa Hospital: 184, 19.2%Nutrition Sciences (Belgium): 346, 10.9%College of Europe: 96, 34.6%Directorate-General for Interpretation: 488, 9.1%Royal Museum for Central Africa: 182, 15.1%Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint-Pierre: 196, 12.7%Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital: 122, 11.7%Antwerp Management School: 188, 25.1%Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg: 208, 17.7%Pain in Motion: 88, 29.8%Union des Industries Ferroviaires Européennes: 366, 5.1%Fuel Cells and Hydrogen: 70, 20.2%CHU Dinant Godinne UCL Namur: 229, 8.5%Flanders Marine Institute: 228, 9.4%Royal Military Academy: 221, 15.8%GZA Ziekenhuizen Campus Sint-Augustinus: 88, 19.1%Directorate-General Joint Research Centre: 183, 10.3%Grand Charleroi Hospital: 134, 10.5%Centre for European Policy Studies: 103, 26.6%AZ Delta: 148, 11.4%Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource Recovery: 91, 21.3%Walloon Agricultural Research Centre: 107, 22.9%Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics: 238, 28.4%European Council: 135, 17.0%Materia Nova: 69, 11.4%Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen Stuivenberg: 102, 14.5%Directorate-General for Research and Innovation: 69, 26.4%Instituut voor Landbouw en Visserijonderzoek: 142, 12.4%Evangelical Theological Faculty: 116, 13.8%Umicore (Belgium): 246, 5.5%European Union of Medical Specialists: 780, 2.3%AZ Maria Middelares: 119, 15.4%Meise Botanic Garden: 169, 14.8%Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Brugmann: 234, 7.9%Vlerick Business School: 121, 28.3%Galapagos (Belgium): 95, 15.3%European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer: 76, 27.2%Cosmetics Europe: 108, 12.2%AZ Sint-Lucas: 113, 11.1%Imelda Hospital: 100, 19.1%Pour la Solidarité: 68, 12.9%Centre hospitalier régional de la Citadelle: 119, 9.6%AZ Groeninge: 108, 17.2%Clinique Saint-Joseph: 127, 6.0%Rode Kruis-Vlaanderen: 76, 13.1%ZNA Middelheim Hospital: 85, 11.2%Katholieke Hogeschool Vives: 83, 12.3%Institut National de Criminalistique et de Criminologie: 98, 14.6%Clinique Saint Jean: 77, 8.8%North Atlantic Treaty Organization: 114, 14.8%Leefmilieu Brussel: 103, 10.3%United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies: 68, 33.5%European Automobile Manufacturers Association: 77, 6.8%University College West Flanders: 65, 9.3%Service Public de Wallonie: 74, 8.5%iMinds: 116, 11.4%Centre Hospitalier Chrétien: 105, 5.8%Centre Hospitalier Interrégional Edith Cavell: 72, 11.9%University Foundation: 85, 9.0%European Parliament: 118, 17.5%Directorate-General for Energy: 85, 9.9%Siemens (Belgium): 69, 14.4%European Trade Union Institute: 91, 18.6%National Bank of Belgium: 61, 20.0%International Zinc Association: 97, 6.9%Hôpital de Jolimont: 60, 7.5%Sirris: 88, 8.5%École Pratique des Hautes Études Commerciales: 256, 1.4%Domus Medica: 103, 7.2%Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union: 184, 1.8%International Crisis Group: 65, 5.3%Médecins du Monde: 82, 2.7%Ghent UniversityUniversity of AntwerpVrije Universiteit B…KU Leuven
above the meannear itbelow it

One dot per institution in the table above.