Startups
VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)
Ghent, Flanders, Belgium
VIB, legally Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie - Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, is an independent Belgian nonprofit life-sciences research institute. Belgian enterprise register 0456343923 identifies an active association established July 6, 1995, headquartered at Suzanne Tassierstraat 1 in Ghent. Operational since 1996, it combines strategic basic research with technology transfer in partnership with Ghent University, KU Leuven, University of Antwerp, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Hasselt University. Its centers cover neuroscience, molecular neurology, cancer, inflammation, microbiology, structural biology, plant biology and computational biology/AI. Christine Durinx and Jérôme Van Biervliet are current published managing directors, with Ajit Shetty as board chair. The institution-wide scientific committee and legal board are distinguished from general management, innovation/business employees and government observers with advisory votes. Its Innovation and Business division integrates IP, venture creation, business development, discovery research, AI Studio and biotope startup incubation. The public headquarters directory supplies named roles and authentic portraits; initials avatars are excluded. Source-verified institutional equity investments include several Augustine Therapeutics financings. Licensing, spin-off origin, a press announcement or a research partnership alone does not establish a cash investment. VIB is separate from V-Bio Ventures, the independent manager in which VIB invested and has preferred deal flow, and from the separate legal Biotope Ventures vehicles. Biotope’s 2023 first close of EUR4.5 million and 2025 Fund II first close of EUR5 million involve VIB as a cornerstone investor; the EUR9 million target is not closed cash, and these external vehicles are not VIB operating budgets or institution-managed LP funds. Research funding, partner venture fundraising and public allocations have distinct meanings. The profile covers public management, scientific governance and the complete published Innovation and Business division. Rik Audenaert’s legal daily-governance appointment is distinguished from his historical CFO title, while former managing director Johan Cardoen is explicitly memorial.
Founded 1995
Team
 Ajit ShettyChair of Board |
 Alex WindelsScientist Translational Research |
An BombaertSenior Agro Officer - Site Services |
 Ana Filipa OliveiraResearch associate translational research |
 Ana Rita SantosCo-Head of Discovery Sciences |
 Ann PeirsLEAD OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE |
 Anne HelferSenior Start-up Support Manager |
 Annick LauwersSenior Research Associate Translational Research |
 Annick VerweenHead of Biotope |
 Ayse BassezData Analyst |
 Bart De MoorDirector; Flemish Government Representative |
 Bart LambrechtDirectors’ Committee Member; VIB Group Leader / Expert |
Bart Van GansbekeScientific Project Manager |
 Bruno DombrechtCo-Head of Discovery Sciences |
Bruno PolletHead of Agro |
 Carla SnoeckNew Ventures Lead |
Carlos SimoesSenior Scientist Translational Research |
 Carolien RedantSenior Research Associate Translational Research |
 Catelijne StortelersExpert Scientist Translational Research |
Charlotte CrokaertsGovernance Manager |
Chris De JongheDirector; Industry Representative |
 Christine DurinxManaging Director · Directors’ Committee Member; Managing Director |
 Dieter DeforceDirector; Flemish Government Representative |
 Dieter PetitNew Ventures Manager |
 Diether LambrechtsDirectors’ Committee Member; VIB Group Leader / Expert |
 Dimitrios IliadisScientist Translational Research |
Els HublouxFinancieel Directeur |
 Emily WilkesBiotope Program Associate |
 Erik VerschuerenHead of AI Studio |
 Erwin SablonHead of Business Development |
 Ethan KuoBusiness Development Manager |
 Filip DonvilInnovation and Business Program Manager |
 Franky TerrasSenior IP Manager |
Frederik De ConinckDirectors’ Committee Member; ICT Director |
 Geert Van den LangenberghSenior Patent Administrator |
 Geert Van MinnebruggenTechnologies Director · Directors’ Committee Member; Director of Technology |
 Germano Teixeira GomesExpert Vision Engineer |
 Goedele DedeurwaerderSenior Innovation and Business Contract Officer |
 Griet Den HerderIP Lead |
 Griet NuytinckDirector; Industry Representative |
 Griet VanpouckeHead of New Ventures |
 Griet VerhaegenSenior Business Development Manager |
 Han RemautDirectors’ Committee Member; VIB Group Leader / Expert |
 Harold GrosjeanAssociate Scientist Translational Research |
 Helena BeyaertGreenhouse Officer |
 Hui Qi LuSenior Research Associate Translational Research |
 Ilse LambeauAdm/log/fin support |
 Inge BoetsDirectors’ Committee Member; Communications Director |
 Irina NeyensSenior Administrative Assistant |
Isabel HessContract Manager |
Isabelle CambréScientist Translational Research |
 Jan DemolderHead of IP |
 Jan StaelensHead of Contract Alliance Management |
 Jan SteyaertDirectors’ Committee Member; VIB Group Leader / Expert |
Javier del Pino GarciaSenior Research Associate Translational Research |
 Jean-Christophe MarineDirectors’ Committee Member; VIB Group Leader / Expert |
Jelle DucheyneGreenhouse Officer |
 Jessica Yelena Vargas GalarceInternational Grants Manager |
 Jiska van der ReestSenior Business Development Manager |
 Johan CardoenFormer Managing Director (memorial; died2025) |
Jose Ignacio Alvira LarizgoitiaAssociate Scientist Translational Research |
Juris LabeeAgro Officer - Facilities |
 Jérôme Van BiervlietManaging Director · Directors’ Committee Member; Managing Director |
 Karin LemmensSenior Administrative Assistant - Innovation and Business |
 Katleen VerleysenDirector; Industry Representative |
 Kevin VerstrepenDirectors’ Committee Member; VIB Group Leader / Expert |
 Koen TybergheinSenior Business Development Manager |
 Kris GevaertDirectors’ Committee Member; VIB Group Leader / Expert |
Laura De CnopBusiness Development Manager |
 Laura LapienyteSenior Business Development Manager |
Laurent GalibertExpert Scientist Translational Research |
 Leen LimbourgDirector; Industry Representative |
 Lien MoreelsScientist Translational Research |
 Lies VannesteExternal Affairs Lead |
 Liesbeth MinnoyeSenior Valorisation Manager |
 Lore De ValckInnovation and Business Program Manager |
Luc MoensVice-Chair; University Representative |
Léa LegrandSenior Research Associate Translational Research |
Maarten VanholleGovernment Observer (advisory vote only) |
 Maarten WeynDirector; University Representative |
 Marleen VanstraelenDirectors’ Committee Member; Head of Science Policy |
 Mathias WillemijnsSenior Agro Officer - Crops |
 Melinda De RijckSenior Executive Assistant |
 Michiel BontinckSenior Business Development Manager |
 Mieke de JaegerSenior Executive Assistant |
 Nadja van BoxelSenior Research Associate Translational Research |
 Nathalie StrybolSenior Administrative Assistant - Innovation and Business |
Nicolo RigamontiNew Ventures Manager |
 Olesea MeriacreSenior Data Protection Officer |
 Patrick CallaertsDirector; University Representative |
 Patrik VerstrekenDirectors’ Committee Member; VIB Group Leader / Expert |
Pawel Bieniasz-KrzywiecIP Manager |
 Peter CauwelsLead Fund Manager |
 Peter SchelkensDirector; University Representative |
 Petra De SutterDirector; University Representative |
Rafael AbbeloosExpert Software Development |
Rik AudenaertDaily Management Officer (KBO current); CFO (historically published, current operational title unverified) |
 Robin DomsSenior Research Associate Translational Research |
 Rosa RademakersDirectors’ Committee Member; VIB Group Leader / Expert |
Sandra De RoeckGovernment Observer (advisory vote only) |
 Saskia LippensDirectors’ Committee Member; VIB Group Leader / Expert |
 Shanna Van ZwamSenior Research Associate Translational Research |
 Siele CeuppensSenior Scientist Translational Research |
 Sirima KraisinSenior Research Associate Translational Research |
 Sofie CoelusSenior Business Development Manager |
 Stefaan VaesDirector; University Representative |
 Stein AertsDirectors’ Committee Member; VIB Group Leader / Expert |
 Stijn DhondtLead of Operations |
 Thijs VackierBusiness Development Manager |
 Thomas SchalckTrainee Business Development |
 Tom ViaeneSenior New Ventures Manager |
 Veerle BogaertDirectors’ Committee Member; HR Director |
 Veerle DanielsBusiness Development Manager |
 Veronique StormeExpert Data Scientist |
Vincent De MaesschalckBusiness Development Manager |
 Visnja PopovicSenior IP Manager |
Vojtech DvorakAssociate Scientist Translational Research |
 Wouter DuvergerTrainee IP |
 Yadira Olvera CarrilloSenior Business Development Manager |
 Yves Van de PeerDirectors’ Committee Member; VIB Group Leader / Expert |
