Walloon government adopts Marshall Plan 4.0

On Friday May 29, 2015, the Walloon Government adopted Marshall Plan 4.0, the 3rd iteration of Wallonia's economic redeployment program launched 10 years ago. It defines 5 priority areas for the future.

The Marshall Plan 4.0 is a focused plan that concentrates on priority measures for economic redeployment, which could structure a true industrial policy. It is based on innovation and training, incorporating principles of good governance.

Over the course of the legislature, approximately €2.9 billion will be dedicated to this Marshall Plan 4.0 (including €468 million in alternative funding to support investment projects). Moreover, projects from the Marshall Plan 2.0 in alternative financing will be implemented within this legislature, amounting to €841 million.

The complete text of the Marshall Plan 4.0. The summary of the Marshall Plan 4.0. Concrete examples of measures from the Marshall Plan 4.0.

Pillar 1: Making Human Capital an Asset
This pillar focuses on training and education measures conducted in close collaboration with the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Priority will be given to:

• Apprenticeships as an excellent pathway (internships, learner status, and skill recognition).
• Orientation of learners (including developing local communities, career hubs, and "career discovery" programs).
• Upgrading equipment in training centers.
• Facilitating access to higher education and lifelong learning.
• Fostering an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Promoting foreign language knowledge.

Pillar 2: Supporting the Development of Industry Through Innovation and Business Growth Policies
This pillar gathers measures to support economic and industrial policies focused on innovation and business growth. The measures aim to support:

• Development of market-oriented innovation projects through competitiveness clusters, with strategies refined based on recent evaluations.
• Industrial valorization of innovative projects.

Regarding business growth support, measures will focus on:

• Creation and development of innovative companies (support for technological and non-technological development, spin-offs, capital diversification, etc.).
• Diversification of business financing.
• Managerial support for innovative businesses.
• Business succession and transmission.

Pillar 3: Mobilizing the Territory for Economic Development
This pillar aims to enhance the economic attractiveness of the Walloon region. Key projects include infrastructure development: Economic activity zones (ZAE), ports, sites under reconversion, "employment roads," shared workspaces, and agricultural relay halls.

Pillar 4: Supporting Energy Efficiency, the Energy Transition, and the Circular Economy
This pillar encompasses structural measures to support energy transition, benefiting both businesses and consumers:

• Energy efficiency in buildings (employment-environment alliance refocusing, third-party investors, Ecopack, specific research programs, etc.).
• Development of renewable energies (research programs, support for the circular economy).
• Supporting businesses in managing energy costs (support for self-produced energy, sectoral agreements, "carbon leakage," etc.).

Pillar 5: Supporting Digital Innovation
This pillar focuses on measures for the development and integration of digital technologies as a driver of economic development. It aims for:

• An integrated digital transition plan.
• Administration 4.0.
• Digital territorial intelligence and technological support for Smart City technologies.
• Innovative mobility projects, including the development of an Express Carpooling Network (RECO) and High-Service Level Lines (LHNS).

Focus on Pillar 5: Supporting Digital Innovation
A fourth industrial revolution is emerging with the extreme digitalization of economic and productive exchanges in a globally connected system. Cloud computing, big data, and the industrial internet of things are reshaping production, with interactions between products, machines, and machines themselves.

In response to these challenges, Wallonia aims to position its businesses to fully capitalize on technological changes. To achieve this, an integrated digital transition plan will be implemented. This plan will "boost" Wallonia's digital economy, by developing a digital industry producing goods and services, and promoting the integration of digital technologies to drive growth and competitiveness among businesses. It will also work to foster a "digital culture" among citizens, particularly young people in training.

Supporting Change
Specific initiatives will support companies in navigating the opportunities and risks related to digital development, such as:

• Raising awareness and supporting the development of strategic intelligence.
• Implementing management strategies to protect strategic information.
• Helping businesses embrace e-commerce by creating favorable conditions for development.
• Supporting new working models like NWOW (New World of Work).
• Simplifying and specializing digital support for businesses (clusters, specialized incubators by domain, etc.).

Supporting Industry 4.0 Development
Support for the modernization of the industrial production sector will be a priority, including actions like:

• Supporting investment recovery through incentives and suitable financial products.
• Assisting SMEs with "flash" diagnostics and advisory services to facilitate the adoption of modern production approaches.
• Setting up future factory demonstrators to spread new practices.
• Raising awareness, training, and supporting economic actors in their transformation processes.
• Including digital innovation programs in the competitiveness clusters' roadmaps.

Supporting the Development of the Digital Sector
Active support for the digital sector, including possible investments in specialized funds, will focus on:

• Financing collective and business projects under the Digital Wallonia plan, such as the Big Data project.
• Supporting the creation of start-ups.
• Strengthening research support in the digital sector.

Efforts will also be made to make digital technologies a simplifying factor for public administration, moving towards an "Administration 4.0" by transforming work processes and providing public services differently. This will involve:

• Developing digital channels for interaction with administrations.
• Creating a cross-government data exchange platform.
• Digital strategies for better services to job market actors and the workforce.

Reimagining Territorial Relations Through Digital Technology
The revitalization and renovation of urban neighborhoods, as well as the creation of new cities and neighborhoods, can only be achieved through the integrated deployment of information and communication technologies. Therefore, actions will include:

• Supporting the technological and digital development of tomorrow’s cities (renovating urban areas, creating new urban and rural neighborhoods).
• Enhancing the territory's connectivity.

The development of a regional fiber-optic network will improve connectivity between various stakeholders in the region, such as:

• Schools within the digital education policy.
• Economic activity parks to enable businesses to leverage digital economy opportunities.
• Citizens within smart-city initiatives and accessibility to new technologies.
• Public authorities for administrative modernization and simplification, as well as for developing intelligent territory strategies.

Supporting Smart Mobility Initiatives
Digital technologies will significantly streamline and optimize mobility, benefiting economic development. Actions include:

• Establishing a sustainable, innovative, and smart mobility network, including the creation of an Express Carpooling Network (RECO).
• Developing High-Service Level Lines (LHNS), such as connections between Charleroi-Sud station and Charleroi airport.
• Encouraging innovative transportation solutions in newly developed and renovated urban neighborhoods, including electric car-sharing, intelligent carpooling, and connected public transport.

For more information
Digital Wallonia serves as a platform for Wallonia’s digital excellence, including a space for collaboration and support for digital actors. Contributions are encouraged through participatory platforms like Printemps du Numérique and updates to the digital strategy.