hub
- Company typePublic
- Founded1834
- HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
hub firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- hub
- Legal name
- Université Libre de Bruxelles
- Website
- https://ulb.ac.be
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1834
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
hub industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)
Keywords
Where hub is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brussels
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
hub business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition Fees (Minerval): Student tuition fees charged according to the minerval scale adopted by the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles. A new minerval grid was adopted for academic year 2026-2027.
- Research Funding and Grants: Funding from government bodies including FNRS (Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique), European Commission (Horizon Europe, Erasmus Mundus), Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale, and Innoviris
- Continuing Education: Revenue from professional development courses, continuing education programs, and specialized training offerings through the Formation continue department
- Mécénat and Donations: Support through charitable donations, sponsorship programs, and foundation partnerships such as the Fondation Helios
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Registration fees for full-time students |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
hub product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ULB is a public research university in Brussels, Belgium, delivering higher education through 41 bachelor's, 180 master's, doctoral, and Erasmus Mundus programs across more than 10 faculties, including Philosophy and Letters, Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Law, Economics, Psychology, and Political Science. It also conducts scientific research across approximately 300 research units, offers continuing education through the Formation Continue and Université Inter-Âges (CEPULB), and hosts research platforms such as the Brussels Research Open Lab and the Policy Lab.
Product overview
ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles) operates as a comprehensive university system offering educational programs (41 bachelor's and 180 master's), research across nearly 300 research units, and various digital services. Its digital product portfolio includes podcast series, the E.COL.E collaborative education platform, SmartCampus IoT management system, FabLabs for digital fabrication, and the EDDuco sustainability education platform. The university also maintains research infrastructure like the Brussels Research Open Lab and Policy Lab for public governance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management: The economics and management school of ULB
- E.COL.E (Pôle Éducation)
- ULB E.COL.E
- ULB Engagée ASBL
- ULB Santé
- ULB Culture
Products and services
- Bachelor's Degree Programs Three-year undergraduate academic programs leading to a bachelor's degree, offered across ULB's 10+ faculties, open to prospective students holding a secondary school diploma or equivalent.
- Master's Degree Programs Two-year (120-credit) graduate programs, including specialized professional master's, research-focused master's, and Erasmus Mundus joint international degrees, available to graduates holding a bachelor's degree.
- Doctoral Research Programs Multi-year original research training leading to a doctoral degree, conducted under academic supervision within ULB's approximately 300 research units.
- Continuing Education (Formation Continue) Short non-degree university courses and certification programs aimed at professionals and adult learners seeking university-quality training without committing to a full degree.
- Université Inter-Âges (CEPULB) University-level intellectual programming and short courses tailored to retired and older adult learners, delivered on a continuing education model.
- E.COL.E Educator Platform A free collaborative platform offering pedagogical kits, training, and educational resources co-developed with secondary school teachers and pedagogical teams to support science and sustainability teaching.
- EDDuco Sustainability Education Platform Digital educational platform and resource library providing awareness and pedagogical tools covering the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at learners and educators.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1 in 3 students supported through financial aid programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use hub
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
hub technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
hub partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Fondation HeliosminorFoundation co-founded by Bernard De Cannière and Luc Lallemand, focused on climate and environmental transition and mental well-being in the workplace. Supports ULB research projects and initiatives.
- SmartCampus ConsortiumminorProject using connected objects on ULB campuses to improve resource management and exploitation, providing standardized access to solar panel monitoring data. Partners include ULB, VUB, and Sibelga.
- CIVIS - European University AlliancecoreCIVIS is a European University alliance bringing together 10+ universities from 8 European countries. ULB participates in this alliance which includes joint programs, student mobility (BIPs - Blended Intensive Programs), and collaborative research initiatives. The alliance focuses on sustainability, digital transformation, and civic engagement themes.
- VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)coreCollaboration on the bi-university Usquare campus project, Brussels Research Open Lab (BROL), and joint initiatives including the CIVIS Sustainability Challenge. VUB is ULB's sister university in Brussels.
- Approximately 450 International PartnerscoreInternational network of universities and institutions worldwide enabling student exchanges, research collaborations, and joint programs. Includes Erasmus Mundus joint masters and bilateral agreements.
- InnoviriscoreBrussels Institute for Research and Innovation funding collaborative research projects including Co-Create (participatory research and societal innovation for urban resilience) and SmartCampus (IoT campus management).
- G3-UCADminorInternational university network partnership connecting ULB with institutions in Africa for academic exchange and research collaboration.
- NAVIGATOR (Horizon Europe Project)minorHorizon Europe project co-funded by the European Union examining EU strategies to promote rule-based international order across six priority areas: climate change, digitalization, finance and taxation, health, migration, and security. Involves interdisciplinary international research team.
- Hospital PartnerscorePartnership with hospitals for medical education, clinical research, and healthcare professional training. Includes ULB's medical faculty and healthcare-related programs.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights6 records
hub competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB): ULB's sister university in Brussels, also a comprehensive research-intensive Dutch-speaking university. Both jointly operate the CIVIS alliance and BROL/Usquare bi-university campus, making them the closest direct comparable in size, mission, and geography.
- UCLouvain: Major French-speaking Belgian research university with similar comprehensive program offerings and Brussels-area presence (campus in Louvain-la-Neuve and Woluwe). Direct competitor for FW-B-funded students and research grants.
- Université de Mons (UMONS): Smaller French-speaking Belgian university with similar polytechnic and science offerings. Directly comparable in governance model under FW-B and competes for similar regional student populations.
- KU Leuven: Belgium's largest and most research-intensive university, Flemish-speaking, with comparable breadth across sciences, medicine, law, and engineering. Direct competitor for research funding, faculty talent, and student recruitment in Belgium.
- Ghent University: Flemish research university with comparable scale and comprehensive program portfolio. Ranks alongside ULB as a top Belgian research institution and competes in EU-funded research programs and international student markets.
- Université de Liège (ULiège): Another major French-speaking Belgian research university with comprehensive offerings across sciences, medicine, and humanities. Shares the FW-B funding model and competes for similar student and research markets.
- Sorbonne Université: Major French public research university with similar comprehensive program breadth (sciences, humanities, medicine) and significant research output. Comparable in scale, governance as a public institution, and competitive position for EU research funding.
- Sciences Po: French grande école with comparable profile in social sciences, European studies, and policy research. Direct competitor for European studies and political science students, and shares the NAVIGATOR/Institute d'Études européennes thematic overlap.
- Université Paris-Saclay: Top-tier French research-intensive university comparable in research scope and intensity. Competes with ULB for Horizon Europe grants, top faculty, and international master's students in STEM fields.
Broad incumbents
- ETH Zurich: Elite European research university with much larger scale and global brand. Comparable in research intensity and STEM program offerings but operates at substantially higher budget tier and broader international reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
hub social profiles
Digital presencehub financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
hub leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
hub subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries16 records
hub funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
hub M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about hub
What does hub do?
ULB is a public research university in Brussels, Belgium, delivering higher education through 41 bachelor's, 180 master's, doctoral, and Erasmus Mundus programs across more than 10 faculties, including Philosophy and Letters, Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Law, Economics, Psychology, and Political Science. It also conducts scientific research across approximately 300 research units, offers continuing education through the Formation Continue and Université Inter-Âges (CEPULB), and hosts research platforms such as the Brussels Research Open Lab and the Policy Lab.
Is hub a public or private company?
hub is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was hub founded?
hub was founded in 1834. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is hub based?
hub is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does hub make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition Fees (Minerval) is the primary driver. The others are research Funding and Grants, continuing Education and Mécénat and Donations.
Who are hub's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), UCLouvain, Université de Mons (UMONS), KU Leuven, Ghent University, Université de Liège (ULiège), Sorbonne Université, Sciences Po and Université Paris-Saclay. ETH Zurich is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does hub have an API?
No public API is recorded for hub.
What industry is hub in?
hub's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools, with a secondary code of EDAHABAA, Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary). Its NAICS code is 61131 and its SIC code is 8200.