Sirris

What Sirris does

Sirris is Belgium's collective center of the technology industry, operating as a not-for-profit organization founded and governed by industry to help Belgian manufacturing companies develop, test, and implement technological innovations. Its core service portfolio spans three lines: Innovation (custom projects, industrial research), Optimisation (technological advice, quality tests, training, standards guidance), and Innovation Management (tailored roadmaps, IP advice). Underlying these services are eight industrial labs across Belgium covering advanced manufacturing, additive manufacturing, the OWI-Lab climatic testing facility, the Thor Laser Innovation Lab, and corrosion management, plus Europe's largest mobile climate chamber (deployed 2026) for on-site harsh environment testing.

The business model is a hybrid of professional services, recurring membership contributions from Belgian technology-industry members, and government co-funding through VLAIO, FPS Economy, Horizon 2020, and Belgium Builds Back Circular programs. Sirris executes approximately 1,300 innovation projects per year with a multidisciplinary team of 150 experts, supported by a network of 200+ partners spanning Belgian universities (KU Leuven, UGent, VUB), research centers (imec, VITO, Flanders Make, Buildwise), industry federation Agoria, and international partners (Fraunhofer, VTT, Tecnalia). Customer segments range from SMEs to large multinationals across wind energy, aerospace, automotive, medtech, packaging, defense, and industrial equipment.

Geographically, Sirris operates from seven Belgian sites (Brussels HQ, Diepenbeek, Antwerp, Kortrijk, Charleroi, Liège, Genk) and serves primarily the Belgian domestic market, with cross-border reach via the mobile climate chamber and EU research consortia. Recent product and capability expansion includes femtosecond laser texturing (anti-ice, anti-bacterial, friction-reduction applications), GenAI and cybersecurity consulting tied to NIS2 compliance, and the annual Smart Manufacturing Barometer publication that benchmarks technology adoption across 90+ Flemish manufacturers.

Name

Sirris

Legal name

Sirris

Website

https://sirris.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sirris is Belgium's not-for-profit collective center for the technology industry, helping manufacturing companies develop, test, and implement innovations through 150 experts, eight industrial labs, and a 200+ partner network across approximately 1,300 projects per year.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Innovation Consulting

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Additive Manufacturing Research & Innovation Labs (IMAAAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI), Software Engineering & Application Development Training (Languages, Frameworks, Testing) (BPAEANAI)

Keywords

• Manufacturing innovation services
• Industrial research consulting
• Advanced manufacturing technology
• Technology testing labs
• Digital transformation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Innovation consulting and project services: Sirris provides custom innovation projects, industrial research projects, technological advice, technical quality tests, training courses, masterclasses, workshops, and tailored roadmaps to Belgian manufacturing companies. Revenue is generated through service fees for these professional innovation support services.
2. Membership contributions: As a not-for-profit organization founded and governed by industry, Sirris receives membership contributions from companies in the Belgian technology sector.
3. Government funding and consortium projects: Sirris participates in government-funded projects such as the mobile climate chamber consortium (€1.5 million investment with ZF Wind Power and Belgian government FPS Economy), COOCK Fighting Icing (funded by VLAIO), and NewSkin project (Horizon 2020).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sirris delivers custom innovation projects, industrial research, technological advice, quality tests, standards & regulations guidance, training, masterclasses, and tailored innovation roadmaps for Belgian manufacturing companies. The organisation runs eight industrial labs (including Europe's largest mobile climatic test chamber) and supports approximately 1,300 innovation projects per year through a multidisciplinary team of 150 experts and a network of more than 200 partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 4.0 Made Real: A program and demonstrator network helping manufacturing companies with Industry 4.0 transition and digital process optimization.
• Make the Future
• OWI-Lab
• Factory of the Future Awards

Products and services

• Innovation Services
• Optimisation Services
• Innovation Management Services
• Industrial Labs
• Large Climatic Test Chamber (OWI-Lab)
• Femtosecond Laser Texturing
• Laser Innovation Lab
• Make the Future Programme
• Smart Manufacturing Barometer

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,300 innovation projects realized annually with Belgian companies
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• ZF Wind PowermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2026ZF Wind Power partnered with Sirris and Belgian government (FPS Economy) to launch the first mobile climate chamber capable of testing large machinery at extreme temperatures (-40°C to +60°C). The €1.5 million consortium invested in the 20m x 9m x 7m chamber that can be shipped and assembled on-site within a week. ZF Wind Power is the first company to use the chamber at its Lommel facility.
• AgoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgoria is a federation and key strategic partner of Sirris. Together they run the Factory of the Future Awards program and the Make the Future initiative to help Belgian companies accelerate innovation and prepare for the factories of the future.
• Flanders MakecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlanders Make is a strategic research center for manufacturing companies, working with Sirris as part of the Belgian innovation ecosystem for advanced manufacturing research.
• imeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgium's research and innovation center for nanoelectronics and digital technologies, partnering with Sirris on digital transformation and smart manufacturing initiatives.
• VITOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlemish Institute for Technological Research, partnering with Sirris on green transition, renewable energy, and environmental technology projects.
• KU LeuvencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Belgian university with extensive research capabilities, collaborating with Sirris on various innovation and research projects.
• BuildwisemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian building research institute, working with Sirris on industrializing renovation and construction innovation projects.
• UGentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGhent University, collaborating with Sirris on research and innovation projects in manufacturing and technology.
• VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree University of Brussels, partnering with Sirris on research projects including ice detection technology development.
• Thor Park / Thor Laser Innovation LabmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for the Thor Laser Innovation Lab in Genk, focused on innovative surface technology development and industrial scaling.
• FraunhofermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman research organization, part of Sirris' international research center partnerships for technology exchange and collaboration.
• VTT (VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish research center, partnering with Sirris as part of international research collaborations in manufacturing technology.
• TecnaliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish research and technology organization, collaborating with Sirris on European research projects and technology innovation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CSEM: Switzerland's RTO for microtechnology, surface engineering and systems innovation; closely comparable to Sirris' femtosecond laser texturing and advanced manufacturing lab capabilities and a similar mid-size RTO model.
• VITO: Flemish Institute for Technological Research, partnering with Sirris on green transition and renewable energy while also independently serving Belgian manufacturers on sustainability, cleantech and energy topics that overlap Sirris' Green Transition expertise area.
• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: Sweden's collective research and innovation partner for industry, offering industrial testing, applied research and innovation programs to manufacturers under a comparable not-for-profit RTO model.
• imec: Belgium's leading RTO for nanoelectronics and digital technologies, partnering with Sirris on smart manufacturing while also competing for digital transformation and Industry 4.0 budgets from the same Belgian manufacturers.
• Flanders Make: Belgium's strategic research center for manufacturing industry, jointly operating the Belgian innovation ecosystem with Sirris on advanced manufacturing, mechatronics and motion products — overlapping directly in Sirris' core manufacturing mandate.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's national applied research center, an international Sirris partner with a near-identical RTO business model: multidisciplinary experts, industrial labs, public-private innovation programs and testing services for manufacturers.

Broad incumbents

• TNO: Netherlands' applied research organization, structurally similar to Sirris as a not-for-profit collective RTO serving domestic manufacturers with applied research, testing infrastructure and innovation programs at national scale.
• Carnot Institutes Network: French network of 38+ public research laboratories conducting contract research for industry; provides a multi-institute collective RTO model analogous to Sirris' member-driven, multi-lab approach.
• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's largest applied research organization and a Sirris international partner; comparable collective RTO model serving industrial clients with testing, piloting and applied research across a far broader portfolio of institutes.
• CEA: France's major public research organization, comparable in mission (applied research, advanced manufacturing, energy) and revenue model (government plus industrial contracts) to Sirris' innovation-center model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/45548
• Xx.com/Sirris_be

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sirris