Expo 2025 Osaka: Belgian pavilion showcases medical innovation

13 April 2025

The World Expo opened on Sunday in Osaka, Japan, where Belgium will be showcasing its expertise in medical innovation rather than its traditional culinary staples. The Belgian pavilion, themed "Human Regeneration", will focus on vaccines and life sciences.

Located on Yumeshima - the artificial "Dream Island" in Osaka Bay - the Expo site features a huge circular wooden structure nearly 2km in circumference, an architectural homage to Japanese carpentry. The event runs until 13 October and brings together 158 participating countries.

The Belgian pavilion will be officially opened on Wednesday by Belgian doctor and former UN under secretary general Peter Piot and a performance by DJ Buscemi. Belgium's focus on medical innovation is no coincidence. Home to global pharmaceutical companies such as Janssen, GSK and Pfizer, the country plays a key role in the global vaccine supply chain.

"Waffles and fries may still be iconic, but our pharmaceutical reputation has taken on a life of its own"

"Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Japan sees Belgium as the world's vaccine hub," said Justine Theunissen of the Belgian Commission General for International Exhibitions. "Almost all the vaccines used here come from Belgium. Waffles and fries may still be iconic, but our pharmaceutical reputation has taken on a life of its own."

Research and distribution

Belgium also excels in research and distribution. Each region is showcasing its own strengths in the pavilion.

Flanders is contributing Circle of Life, an exhibition on how technology improves health throughout life.
Brussels is highlighting advances in medical robotics and artificial intelligence, with innovations from Axiles Bionics, a spin-off from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel developing state-of-the-art prosthetics.
Wallonia is focusing on AI in healthcare, with an emphasis on digital twins - virtual patient models that enable personalised treatment.

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The pavilion itself is architecturally inspired by Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken objects with gold, echoing the theme of regeneration. It was designed by a consortium led by Carré 7, a studio based in La Louvière, and extends over three floors.

The Belgian mascot is BeluBelu, an anthropomorphic cell symbolising the building block of life. "It may not be an image typically associated with Belgium," says Theunissen, "but like a cell that constantly reinvents itself, so does our country."

^{© PHOTO RICHAR A BROOKS / AFP}

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