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Further steps in the cooperation between Lille Metropole and Liège
Since 2024, Lille Métropole and Liège have been regularly exchanging expertise and launching new cooperation initiatives. First discussions were organized during which Lille Métropole and hello Lille shared their experiences with le Gré Liège, in the framework of the elaboration of the economic development strategy for the Liège metropolitan area.
These discussions were followed by a first concrete cooperation action, which took place at MIPIM in March 2025 with the organization of a joint conference during the exhibition focusing on two themes:
‘Liège and Lille: two metropoles committed to enhancing their ‘attractiveness’
‘Riverside land: the backbone of economic regeneration between the Meuse and Deûle rivers’.
Since then, discussions have continued with a view to building on this initial initiative. Lille Metropole has identified several areas for continuing this cooperation, focusing on three key topics:
Attractiveness and influence (promoting our metropolitan area to economic stakeholders, potential investors and the business community; or exploring ways to pool our efforts in terms in these fields)
Sectors and innovation (exploring opportunities for cooperation between our economic metropolitan clusters, universities,… and their counterparts in Liège)
Institutional cooperation and metropolitan policies (enriching our metropolitan policies by learning from the innovative policies and initiatives implemented by Liège relating to metropolitan issues – urban planning, climate, culture, tourism, etc. – or, conversely, sharing best practice)
In September 2026, a new step was taken in the collaboration through the organization of an exploratory mission to Liège led by our Vice-President for European and International cooperation Laurent CAURE, in order to explore more in depth potential common actions and projects between our metropoles.
The Lille Metropole Delegation was genuinely interested in several projects and sectors of activity within the Liège metropolitan area, in particular in the economic dynamics and territorial strategy of Liège (5th largest cargo airport in Europe, performant industrial and university ecosystem, investments in innovative sectors,…).
Focus on the Creative and Cultural Industries: Liège boasts a particularly well-developed creative and cultural industries ecosystem, underpinned by a very strong cultural network. The creative and cultural industries are now Liège’s second-largest employer. Liège’s recognition as a UNESCO Creative City in the field of music is also a major factor in its appeal.
Other priority areas were discussed like life sciences, agri-food, energy, health, land use and real estate, etc.
This fruitful mission to Liège confirmed the synergies between our metropoles Liège and Lille and our shared interest in innovation and attractiveness. In early 2027, we will welcome in Lille Metropole a delegation from Liège to explore in greater depth the topics already identified: attractiveness, innovation (particularly in the fields of health and the creative and cultural industries) and sustainable spatial planning. The aim is to strengthen the links between our ecosystems to enable joint projects to emerge (including European projects, exchanges of best practice and collaboration between incubators).
