SPIROU AT 75 - Invest in wallonia

32 Pages·2013·3.19 MB·English

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SPIROU AT 75
THE YEAR OF THE BELLBOY
Redu:
The fi nal frontier for
spage-age start-ups
Go West Invest:
Supporting fi lm in Wallonia
001_001_Cover_Spring_2013.indd 1 26/03/13 12:38
CONTENTS
S, 2013
UI
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Editor Sarah Crew
Deputy editor Sally Tipper
Reporters Leo Cendrowicz, PM Doutreligne
Andy Furniere, Alan Hope, Mark Latham
Saffina Rana, Georgio Valentino
Art director Paul Van Dooren Editorial
Managing director Hans De Loore
AWEX/WBI and Ackroyd Publications
Philippe Suinen – AWEX/WBI
The 75th birthday of Spirou is testimony to the illustrious history of comic
Marie-Catherine Duchêne
AWEX, Place Sainctelette 2 strips in Wallonia. Jean Dupuis, the patriarch of the burgeoning family
1080 Brussels, Belgium
business in the Hainaut mining village of Marcinelles, was 62 when he
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone] first published his new comic for children in 1938. Local legend has it that
email: [email protected] there was an earlier publication in 1889: Li Spirou, written entirely in Liège
Walloon dialect.

The name may not have been original, but what was important was that
Dupuis created a character in his own image and that of his company;
mischievous, yes, but with a big heart. These were the qualities Dupuis
Publishing adhered to, from its beginnings in the family kitchen in 1896
through the turmoil of German occupation during World War Two to the
competitive pressure of today’s publishing world.
The Spirou phenomenon also launched the careers of an exclusive club of
French-speaking writers and artists, their names forever forged in the annals
of the country’s prestigious comic history. While to outsiders Belgium is
synonymous with Hergé’s Tintin, within the country Spirou has proved his
unbounded popularity; a working-class hero of the provinces.
 WWW.SPIROU.COM
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BIG PICTURE
Spirou and company
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NEWS
Headlines from the region
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BUSINESS
Go West for audiovisual tax shelter
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INNOVATION
OncoDNA – treating cancer quickly
12
12 INVESTMENT
Space mecca Galaxia
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SPIROU AT 75
24 2013 is a year-long celebration of
Belgium’s favourite comic character
22
HOME AND ABROAD
Comic-strip artists Philippe Bercovici
and Zidrou
24
TOURISM
Folklore walks win Unesco statue
26
GASTRONOMY
Michelin accolade for Liège restaurant
28
PANORAMA
Fabrizio Borrini’s urban art
28
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AGENDA
Spring culture preview
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WORK THE BIG PICTURE
Happy birthday Spirou
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It was 75 years ago that Belgian Spirou put the industrial town of The 52-page weekly Journal de Spirou
publisher Jean Dupuis and French Marcinelle, near Charleroi, on the is still going strong with a circulation
artist Robert Velter (known better comic map. An entire school grew of 90,000 copies, making it the biggest
as Rob-Vel) introduced one of the most around the creative team behind the children’s magazine in Belgium and the
enduring comic strip creations of all Spirou books, which, besides enduring second-biggest in France. The Spirou
time, a brave young bellboy named for three-quarters of a century, have media empire also includes albums,
Spirou. The name itself – regional slang spawned dozens of spin-offs, including animated cartoons and tons of branded
designating a squirrel or a mischievous some that are now household names in merchandise. Belgium’s favourite
youngster – suggests Spirou’s Walloon their own right: the Smurfs, Lucky Luke bellboy is also set to enter the brave new
roots. Indeed, Dupuis, Rob-Vel and and Marsupilami. world of digital media (see page 20).
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WORK NEWS
Walloon Region buys military zone
of Liège Airport
The Walloon Region is to transform 120 hectares of land close to Liège Airport into a busi-
ness park. The land at Bierset, previously used by the Belgian army, was sold by the Defence
Ministry for €14 million. The acquisition will go ahead in two stages: the first concerns 97
hectares of land containing buildings;
the second, involving 22 hectares, will
take place after the departure next year
of the Red Cross, which runs a centre
for asylum-seekers at the site. Liège Air-
port was established 20 years ago as an
important European cargo hub. It now
plans to diversify its activities and in-
crease the development of its business
park.
Green light for Charleroi bone therapy
Biopharma company Bone Therapeutics has received accreditation for the manufacture of
a new bone-cell therapy product. Based at Biopark in Gosselies, the ULB spin-off specialises
in the treatment of osteoarticular diseases using cell therapy. The accreditation is for the
manufacture of its ALLOB allogeneic bone-cell therapy, initially developed for the treatment
of impaired fractures.
It has also been granted permission to process, preserve, store and distribute human tissue,
a pre-requisite for cell therapy. Bone Therapeutics will collaborate with LTCG, the accredited
Tissue Bank from the University Hospital Sart-Tilman in Liège. Bone Therapeutics chief
executive Enrico Bastianelli said: “Being awarded with ALLOB manufacturing authorisation is Dupuis Editions has bought Monaco-based
great news for Bone Therapeutics. This recent accreditation follows an earlier manufacturing company Marsu Productions, thereby regaining
authorisation for our lead product, PREOB, and we are delighted that we have the necessary the entire licensing rights of the work of Belgian
approvals to enable the development of both products.” comic artist André Franquin, including Marsupilami
(above) and Gaston. Marsupilami was a spin-off
character from the famous Spirou and Fantasio
series. Dupuis, a subsidiary of Média-Participa-
tions, was already a minority shareholder of Marsu
Productions.
Positive results in treating joint pain
Two biotech companies in Wallonia have joined forces to make significant advances in the
natural treatment of joint problems. A clinical study into the positive benefits of the plant-
based food supplement Flexofytol, manufactured by Tilman, has shown a decrease in carti-
lage degradation thanks to an innovative biomarker developed by Liège University spin-off
Artialis. Tilman, based near Durbuy, has been the leading herbal medicine specialist in Bel-
gium for more than 50 years. Director Yvan Dierckxsens explained that Flexofytol was based
on extracts of the spice turmeric: “Numerous studies have shown that turmeric aids joint
comfort by influencing the preservation of cartilage degradation, thereby limiting cartilage
aging.” He added that collaboration with biomarker specialist Artialis had been necessary to
show the positive effects of the product. Artialis director Houtaï Choumane said 22 people
suffering from reduced knee flexibility had been monitored during an 84-day trial. “We have
observed a significant diminution of biomarker COLL2-1 as well as a positive global effect on
the patient over the period of time.” The two companies now plan to continue their collabora-
tion in a larger-scale clinical trial.
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Keep on Toasting takes to Brussels’ streets
Anyone who thinks they know all there is to
know about the croque monsieur may think
again after sampling the fare of a food truck
that has hit the streets of Brussels. Jean-
Baptiste Nyssen, the man behind Keep on
Toasting, wants customers to sample the
wide range of flavours of his gourmet toast-
ed sandwiches. Instead of the usual Gruyère
and ham, the 26-year-old chef – who has
worked at such well-known Brussels restau-
rants as Bonsoir Clara, Lola and YuMe – has
created a Belgian croque made from chicory,
Villers-la-Vigne wine
Passendale cheese and ham, a French croque
made from spinach, chicken and Emmental,
wins silver medal
a vegetarian Indian croque made from car-
rots and tandoori cottage cheese and an
A wine made by volunteers at the Cistercian Italian one made with aubergines, Parma
monastery of Villers-la-Ville in Walloon Bra- ham and mozzarella. A special croque of the
bant has won a silver medal in an interna- month is also on offer. The Brussels-born
tional competition, ahead of producers from graduate of Namur’s hospitality school says,
Germany, the Netherlands, eastern Europe “Whether I have parked at Place Tomberg,
and Canada. The 2010 vintage was reward- Cinquantenaire Park or Boileau metro sta-
ed at a competition organised by a German tion, my clients have been impressed with
institute that created the Regent grape, the diversity, quality and prices. My croques
which the guild at Villers-la-Ville used for are good value and, because they are made with fresh ingredients and organic wheat, they
its wine. The abbey’s wine is the only one in are popular with customers keen to avoid processed food.” Customers can order on the web-
the world made from Regent grapes through site, which also shows where the van is parked and where it will be going.
a process known as carbonic maceration.
More than 250 wines were entered and the  WWW.KEEPONTOASTING.BE
monastery’s wine received high praise for its
colour, transparency, taste and aroma. Just
530 bottles of the 2010 vintage were made
as the production process doesn’t lend itself
to large-scale commercial production, and
the wine can only be bought at the monas-
tery.
 WWW.VILLERS-LA-VIGNE.BE
Andes survivor honoured by Tournai rugby club
A survivor of the 1972 Andes flight disaster has been appointed honorary president of Tournai
rugby club XV Picard. Medical student and rugby player Gustavo Zerbino was one of 45
people on board a Uruguayan plane when it crashed on a remote peak on the border between
Chile and Argentina in October 1972. More than a quarter of those on board died in the crash,
while others died from the cold or their injuries and eight were later killed by an avalanche.
Faced with starvation and radio reports that the rescue operation had been abandoned,
those remaining fed on the dead passengers who had been preserved in the snow. Rescuers
did not learn of the survivors until 72 days after the crash when two passengers completed
a 10-day trek across the Andes to summon help. The tale was turned into a book and a film.
In the 40 years since, Zerbino has travelled the world giving training courses and talks on
management, leadership and motivation. At a recent talk attended by youngsters from the
Tournai rugby club, it was announced that Zerbino had accepted XV Picard’s invitation to
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WORK BUSINESS
The team works
Tax shelter and pooled resources are giving
homegrown audiovisual projects extra muscle
BY ALAN HOPE
Go West Invest was launched in According to Thibault Baras, managing
April 2010, made up of fi ve audi- director of DreamWall, the company
ovisual services companies and aims to offer a “one-stop shop” with
fi ve regional investment agencies. The all audiovisual production services in
purpose is not only to pool efforts to one place. That includes 2D animated
fi nd fi nancing for audiovisual produc- cartoons (like Spirou & Co), 3D
The survival of the
tions and bring international projects animations like 2011’s Approved for
to Belgium, but also to provide synergy Adoption, the creation of virtual studio
sector was in danger,
for the companies who sell audiovisual sets for the RTBF, and 3D visualisation,
services. Within Go West those are the for example a video for a planned
but fortunately in
Dame Blanche sound and vision studio light-rail metro in Charleroi. They
in Genval; special effects lab Benuts also provide more routine services
2004 this system
and production company FDP Produc- like editing, audio mixing and studio
tion in Charleroi; Emakina in Waterloo; fi lming, as well as a 3D projection
was put in place
and DreamWall, an animation studio in room.
Marcinelle.
LÉON PERAHIA Their KeyWall virtual techniques
DreamWall was set up in 2007, a division now produces eight weather
partnership between the publisher bulletins a day for the RTBF and
Dupuis and the French-speaking three for AB3, and records peak-
Community’s public broadcaster, RTBF, time programmes such as C’est du
to allow Dupuis to make use of the tax Belge, Matière grise and Le jardin
shelter for audiovisual productions. extraordinaire.
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The reason for bringing together the restaurant bills but actual production
audiovisual producers and the Walloon work,” Perahia says. “So there are
investors was, according to Léon quite a number of conditions to be met
Perahia, audiovisual director at Dupuis before a project can take advantage of
and managing director of Go West, to the system.”
give the producers extra muscle when
it came to attracting international Since 2004, Perahia says, first Dupuis
productions to the region. then Go West have taken part in
about 40 projects under the tax-
“The market for audiovisual services Belgium has been able to rise again.” shelter system, for a total amount in
is pretty international,” he explained the region of €30 to €35 million over
to WAB. “Especially in Europe, The tax-shelter system in Belgium is those eight years. Examples include
productions are frequently co- organised on a federal level – because the animation Le petit Spirou, a very
productions across various countries, it concerns company tax legislation successful adaptation of the comic
and most of those have in place some – but implemented on a community strip, and the cinema release of the
sort of public support system. If Belgium level, with the Walloon, German- latest Largo Winch film, also based on
had been the only one that didn’t speaking and Flemish communities a comic strip.
support that sort of activity, clearly the administering the system in their own
production sector would never have areas. “In fact most audiovisual projects
seen the sort of development it did, in Belgium these days have been
because the companies that compete Companies may provide up to 50% made possible by the system, with a
with our providers, like DreamWall of the production budget (excluding total subsidy of something like €150
for example, would have been a great promotion and distribution), and in million for the whole sector across the
deal more competitive. The costs return they are granted a tax exemption country,” he says. “That shows you
in other countries, especially the on 150% of the sums invested provided how important the system is. If you
countries around Belgium like France the money is spent in Belgium. look at the five partners, they’re very
and Germany, are all pretty much the Productions eligible for tax-shelter complementary. The whole aim was to
same, so if a subsidy allows a service funding are limited to animated series, allow any of those service providers,
provider in another country to reduce documentaries and full-length films if they’re bidding for a production
the net cost, that will obviously affect made either for television or cinema; contract, to offer the producer not
the producer’s choice.” medium and short films for cinema only Go West’s help in finding finance,
distribution; and TV series made for but also a range of other services
To help the sector compete with children or young people. from the other partners. And that sort
companies in other countries, the of arrangement could make all the
federal government set up its tax- “The rules are extremely precise, difference in competing for a contract.”
shelter system. “The survival of the not only that a certain amount of the
sector was in danger, but fortunately in production work has to be carried  WWW.GOWESTINVEST.BE
2004 this system was put in place, and out in Belgium, but also the type of
since then the audiovisual industry in work, in other words not just hotel and
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WWOORRKK IINNNNOOVVAATTIIOONN
In the genes
A small Walloon spin-off is excelling at identifying
accurate cancer treatments quickly
BY SAFFINA RANA
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Targeted therapies are one of the genetic instructions that all living
most recent advances in cancer organisms, and many viruses, use
treatment, and a major focus of to develop and function. These
current cancer research. Unlike chemo- instructions are organised into
therapy drugs, which are toxic to nor- sequences called genes. Throughout
mal cells and often cause debilitating life, we are exposed to physical or
Cancers move fast.
side effects, targeted drugs identify and chemical agents that change the DNA
attack cancer cells more precisely, usu- within the cells of the body, causing
You need fast and
ally with little damage to normal cells. them to mutate. When the frequency
of mutations reaches above certain
effective treatment to
But fi nding the right drug, or the right normal levels, it leads to cancer.
combination of drugs, to treat a cancer
stand a good chance
effectively is a tricky business. Classical methods to fi nd mutations
are slow and not always accurate,
of recovery
Cancers occur because of abnormalities according to Jean-Pol Detiffe, an
in the body’s DNA – deoxyribonucleic industrial pharmacist and the founder
JEAN-POL DETIFFE acid, the chemical that contains the and CEO of new Walloon company
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