hub

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

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

• Higher education services
• Academic research programs
• University degree programs
• Continuing education
• Doctoral research programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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
3. Continuing Education: Revenue from professional development courses, continuing education programs, and specialized training offerings through the Formation continue department
4. Mécénat and Donations: Support through charitable donations, sponsorship programs, and foundation partnerships such as the Fondation Helios

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fondation HeliosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Foundation 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 ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Project 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 AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIVIS 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration 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 PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network of universities and institutions worldwide enabling student exchanges, research collaborations, and joint programs. Includes Erasmus Mundus joint masters and bilateral agreements.
• InnoviriscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels 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-UCADminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university network partnership connecting ULB with institutions in Africa for academic exchange and research collaboration.
• NAVIGATOR (Horizon Europe Project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorizon 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 PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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

Direct 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

• Xtwitter.com/ULBruxelles
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ULBruxelles
• Facebookfacebook.com/HopitalErasme
• LinkedInulb.be/fr/linkedin
• Instagramulb.be/fr/instagram
• TikToktiktok.com/@ulbruxelles

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries16 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 hub