Brussels launches €4 million AI hub to boost SME adoption from 15%

Only 15% of micro-enterprises and small- to medium-sized businesses in Brussels have adopted artificial intelligence, according to regional development agency hub.brussels, a figure that local officials and business groups are now racing to change through a suite of new programs launched this year.

The low adoption rate comes despite evidence that AI can cut costs and streamline operations, and it stands in stark contrast to Brussels’ broader tech momentum. The capital hosts roughly 319 active tech startups, about one-third of Belgium’s total, and digital startups raised a record €330 million in the first half of 2026 alone, according to sector data. The city’s tech workforce grew at a 10% compound annual rate between 2023 and 2025, adding about 2,235 international jobs.

New hubs and training programs target small businesses

To reach the millions of euros in AI investment already flowing into larger companies, the Brussels-Capital Region has invested €7.3 million to support 46 AI projects. That includes FARI, an AI test and experiment center at BeCentral that connects researchers directly with local firms.

A new European Digital Expertise Hub (EDIH) opened at the same BeCentral location with €4 million in funding. It offers free AI guidance and digital transformation support to any Brussels business, regardless of size or sector.

Separately, “Start AI Brussels” launched in 2025, run by Innoviris and the SustAIn.brussels network. The program gives SMEs access to 32 expert partners and has already supported over 500 companies across Belgium, according to program documents.

BECI and Microsoft target 10,000 entrepreneurs by 2029

The city’s largest employer federation, BECI, is preparing its own push. The “AI for Brussels” initiative officially launches on January 1, 2026, with Microsoft as technology partner. The goal is to train 10,000 entrepreneurs in generative and agentic AI by 2029.

The initiative fills a gap that business leaders say has become urgent. While healthtech leads Brussels’ startup ecosystem and fintech hosts an estimated 150 active startups, many traditional retailers, construction firms, and service companies have yet to experiment with even basic AI tools like automated customer service or inventory forecasting.

For business owners looking to start, the regional government points to the free consultations available at the BeCentral EDIH hub and the expert directory maintained by Start AI Brussels. With five new programs now operating or about to launch, the next test will be whether Brussels can turn its AI investment into adoption rates that match its startup dynamism.