Client: Province of Oost-Vlaanderen
Date: October 2025
Location: Ghent, Belgium and online
The Province of Oost-Vlaanderen aims to tap into the access economy by introducing and expanding rental and sharing services across the region. To support this, the province partnered with Bax Innovation and Wij Delen to deliver a training programme for municipalities and public agencies, equipping participants with both theoretical insights and practical tools.
The training helped participants understand how sharing can strengthen the service offering and resource-efficiency of municipalities, which access economy services and operating models exist, and how to turn these insights into regional action. It also connected municipalities with a wider ecosystem of peers and key actors.
If you are a government, region, metropolitan authority, municipality, or other organisation interested in hosting an access economy training, please get in touch.
Challenge
The access economy represents a systemic shift that requires action from all stakeholders, cities and regions, small and large retailers, brand manufacturers, and many others. Emerging services such as sharing stations, peer-to-peer sharing, and short-term rental are likely to account for a growing share of consumption in the future. Public authorities need a clear understanding of what this new consumption model looks like and the economic, environmental, and social benefits it can deliver. With the right knowledge, inspiration, and network, they can take an active role in shaping and developing the access economy locally.
Approach
Bax organised a 4-week training programme, that included one on-site kick-off meeting and three online training sessions. The training programme was organised around four themes: An introduction to rental and sharing services (their value, current status and how to launch); How different rental and sharing services work and the business models behind them; How to promote and encourage the use of rental and sharing services; How public sector authorities can stimulate the development and adoption of rental and sharing services.
Impact
“A fascinating introduction to various subsystems, including their pros and cons. Very interesting to see how other countries are experimenting with this as well.”
– Training participant
“In an accessible way, you will become acquainted with the various possibilities of rental and sharing initiatives within a local government and what role you can play in this, with inspiration from home and abroad and concrete exercises that challenge you to explore renting and sharing in your own context.”
– Training participant
