There is now a Federal platform to fight economic espionage in Belgium. It will be managed by National Security, De Tijd reported on Saturday. The paper also revealed that a Chinese employee at the Imec research centre was deported after he was suspected of passing knowledge onto China.

The new platform to protect “economic and scientific potential” has already had two meetings. The regions can also participate, Justice Minister Koen Geens has confirmed.

De Tijd said a Chinese employee who worked at Imec (Leuven) for several years was sent back when National Security discovered he was involved in “one of China’s programs to gain scientific and technological knowledge”. His children, who were born in Belgium, and his wife were also deported.

The Chinese employee still denies the accusation, his lawyer told De Tijd. Attempts to stop his deportation failed. His defence lawyer said he was never told what he was accused of and had to leave the country based on a vague warning by National Security.

Maria Novak

The Brussels Times