Benelux, research

New academic network aims to give the Benelux a more prominent place in research and policymaking

22 May. 2026

Researchers and experts from Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg gathered at the Benelux Secretariat in Brussels for the launch of BENELUX-RISE, a new academic network aimed at strengthening the visibility and development of cooperation within the Benelux.

The initiative was launched by Hasselt University and KU Leuven. The founders seek to bring together researchers from the three countries to reflect on the functioning, outcomes and future of Benelux cooperation.

BENELUX-RISE aims to reinforce scientific research on the Benelux while increasing the visibility of this cooperation. According to the initiators, the concrete impact and full potential of the Benelux still receive insufficient attention in academic research today.

The network therefore intends to examine how cooperation between Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg operates in practice, and where further opportunities lie. Particular attention is given to the legal instruments available within the Benelux framework, which make it possible to set up cross-border projects more quickly and efficiently than is often the case at the European level.

By analysing these instruments in greater depth, researchers hope to gain a better understanding of how they facilitate cooperation between governments, institutions and citizens.

During the first workshop, around fifteen academic contributions were presented. These resulted from an international call earlier this year and address a wide range of themes, including cross-border cooperation, legal frameworks and practical challenges in border regions.

The initiators hope that BENELUX-RISE will, over time, develop into a structured network that anchors the Benelux more firmly in both academic research and policymaking.

The meeting marked the official launch of the network. On behalf of the Benelux Secretariat-General, Deputy Secretary-General Tom Köller expressed his appreciation for this initiative, noting that it not only enhances the visibility of the Benelux, but can also provide inspiration to further optimise its functioning.