The third innovation centre that software giant Microsoft has chosen to open in our country will be situated in Genk. Furthermore, a sister division will be opened in Kortrijk. Kris Peeters, Flemish Prime Minister, and Philippe Rogge, General Manager of Microsoft Benelux, signed a Letter of Intent to that effect. The centre will initially be housed in the Allanta building, and later in C-Mine in Winterslag. Eventually it will create 400 jobs.

The new innovation centre will operate mainly in the area of e-health development, or the digital technology for the healthcare sector if you like. "This is best done at a place where companies work together on the latest technological applications" stated Wim Dries, Mayor of Genk, who has no intention of hiding his delight about the decision. "They will be working hard at C-Mine on the development of gaming technology, among other things. It may sound strange, but this kind of technology can be used in the development of new technologies for the healthcare sector. This is actually one of the reasons that Microsoft has opted for Genk. In addition, we are located centrally in a province with strong healthcare. For example, look at the Oost Limburg hospital or the Virga Jesse hospital."

According to Wim Dries, the innovation centre can commence its activities immediately. "Pending the completion of the renovation of the main building on C-Mine, we have provided space in the Allanta building at the Jaarbeurslaan, which we have recently purchased. For now, it will not be possible to house the innovation centre at the science park in Waterschei, but I will not rule out the possibility of this happening at some point in the future."
"Microsoft had previously opened an innovation centre in Bergen, and one in Brussels. The Flemish government supports the initiative because it fits in with the Flanders Care platform, which stimulates innovation in the healthcare sector. "We have the ambition to belong to the top of the world in the field of healthcare" explained Prime Minister Peeters in relation to the decision.

Microsoft also highly values the Letter of Intent. The software company had already stated its commitment to the development of technology for the healthcare sector in the past. To date, Microsoft has founded over ninety innovation centres worldwide and the usefulness of such knowledge centres has been demonstrated in Bergen. In just two years, fifty projects have been supported, which have in turn created a total of 150 jobs. Microsoft expects the new innovation centre to create, in Kortrijk as well as Genk, a total of 400 jobs.