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From Wallonia to Türkiye, strengthening industrial ties at the Belgian Economic Mission
May 12, 2026 - A6K signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MEXT, the technological centre of Turkey's leading metallurgical federation, marking a new step in the international positioning of the Walloon industrial ecosystem.
As Europe accelerates its industrial transformation and seeks to build more resilient, sovereign production capabilities, cross-border collaboration between innovation hubs is becoming a strategic necessity. The Belgian Economic Mission to Türkiye, held under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, provided exactly that kind of platform, bringing together decision-makers, institutions and ecosystem leaders to turn strategic dialogue into concrete partnerships.
The mission's flagship event took place at MEXT, in Istanbul, under the theme "From Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0", a clear marker of the country's commitment to pushing industrial transformation further. With nearly 10,000 companies already engaged in digital transition, Türkiye is pursuing this shift at scale.
↘︎ 650+ companies in the MEXT ecosystem
↘︎ 70+ global technology partners
↘︎ 40% of Türkiye's manufacturing exports via MESS
↘︎ 10K companies in digital transformation
Two ecosystems, one shared model.
The alignment between A6K and MEXT runs deeper than geography. Both organisations are built around the same architecture, a digital factory, a large-scale training centre, a co-located industrial ecosystem, and a campus dedicated to the digital transformation of industry. The parallel is structural, and the opportunity it creates, significant.
MEXT is recognized by the World Economic Forum among the global hubs of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Its network spans partners including Microsoft, Bosch, Siemens, MIT, Harvard and the WEF itself. Its shareholder base, MESS, the Turkish metallurgical federation, drives 40% of Türkiye's manufacturing exports.
Like A6K, MEXT combines a production environment with a knowledge and talent ecosystem. The mirror is striking. And it is precisely this structural affinity that makes the MoU more than a symbolic handshake.
What the MoU commits to
- Co-development of joint industrial use cases across both ecosystems
- Sharing of digital factory capabilities between Wallonia and Türkiye
- Connecting engineers and technical talent across two continents
Clear signal from Belgian industry
The day extended beyond A6K alone. Flanders Make, the Flemish research centre, also signed a protocol with MEXT. Taken together, these agreements reflect a deliberate positioning, Belgian industry is anchoring itself to Turkish industry through its reference hubs, and A6K stands as the Walloon entry point into this dynamic.
The signature took place in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Mathilde and Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Vice-Minister-President of Wallonia, a recognition, at the highest level, of the strategic importance of this kind of cross-border industrial cooperation.
What's next?
MEXT partners are preparing their first visit to the A6K campus in the coming weeks.
For us, the Istanbul signing is both a recognition and a responsibility. A recognition that our model has reach and relevance beyond Belgium's borders. A responsibility to deliver on the potential this partnership opens up, for our ecosystem, for our members, and for European industrial transformation at large.
↘︎ Read the related articles in DH and in Soir mag for additional perspectives and insights.
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