Brussels, Belgium and the knowledge economy

This particular book deals with Brussels and its place in the emerging knowledge economy from exactly that perspective. The authors have analyzed how people feel and think about this city, and from such a subjective material have constructed a more or less objective picture. Their work is the outcome of two studies commissioned by the government of Brussels Capital-Region. The first one was carried out by Irina Zinovieva and dealt with the working life of the city’s highly qualified professionals. The latter combined the efforts of both Irina Zinovieva and Roland Pepermans. The Capital-Region government has established a tradition to offer grants for research on socially important topics not only to Belgians but also to foreigners. In this way it encourages independent points of view on the capital’s problems that are free of political correctness, self-censorship and, at least the usual biases an insider would have. The benefits of such an approach were instantly understood and highly appreciated by both authors’ many interviewees, especially those living in Belgium. Remarkably, in the questions of an interviewing foreigner they saw their own regional government’s genuine interest in their own opinion, and felt flattered and delighted. The interviews for this study have been taken in the English language, which helped put aside the complexities of all local political, social, and linguistic identifications. Senior business managers, distinguished academics, and high-ranking government officials gave their frank opinions in good faith, understanding how helpful an open discussion would be for their society. The authors’ exposition is intended to be something like a series of mirrors, in which Brussels can be seen, and see itself, from a variety of perspectives. At the same time the authors wanted to remain well grounded, and to this end they give the floor to a large number of different people, and cite them extensively.