2010
Bio-Accelerator opens officially with Ablynx as first company
Because the demand for space was greater than the supply, VIB played the role of catalyst in bringing together parties ready to build and operate
the Bio-Accelerator. The Bio-Accelerator is a building of 12,000 m2 that is made available to larger biotech companies.
Biotechnology Day with biotech market
In the context of Biotechnology Day, VIB and the City of Ghent organize a biotech market in the center of Ghent. Enthusiastic market vendors extol the virtues of their wares to 1500 passers-by: each item – from bread, cheese and beer to washing products and jeans – has been made with the help of biotechnology.
Ruelens-Van Gorp Foundation and VIB-K.U.Leuven establish Chair for research on the brain disease Dystonia
2009
NERF is established
NERF, the Center for Neuro-Electronic Research in Flanders, unites the expertise of three premier Flemish institutes: nano-electronics (IMEC), medicine (K.U.Leuven), and biotechnology (VIB). This is the first multi-disciplinary research initiative in neuro-electronics in the world.
VIB launches VRTC, a training program for researchers
VIB launches
VRTC – a cross-disciplinary training package in the life sciences – in collaboration with the scientifically oriented coordinators of doctoral education in the partner universities.
VIB accomplishes first GMO field test since 2002
Minister Patricia Ceysens gives the go-ahead for the field test with genetically modified poplars. These trees – with modified wood composition – are better suited for the production of bio-ethanol.
VIB in numbers
- 1194 scientists of which 29% non-Belgian, from 60 countries
- 107 top publications
- 457 employees in VIB startups
- 560 industrial collaborations
2008
Technology Watch Team
VIB establishes a ‘Technology Watch Team’ to identify ‘disruptive technologies’ that are important for VIB scientists and to facilitate their early, privileged access to these technologies.
Biotechnology Day
3000 Flemings discover the applications of biotechnology during an open house day and investor’s congress organized by VIB, Gimv and BiotechFonds Vlaanderen.
VIBes in Biosciences
The first international VIB Ph.D. symposium – organized by and for Ph.D. students – attracts 300 Ph.D. students in the life sciences from all parts of Europe.
Thematic research program inspires 4 new groups
VIB selects 4 top candidates out of the 77 responses (from 21 countries) to the every-fifth-year call. Each one starts a new, autonomous research group in VIB.
VIB in numbers
- 1154 scientists of which 25% non-Belgian, from 55 countries
- 86 top publications
- 430 employees in VIB startups
- 484 industrial collaborations
2007
First candidate therapeutics derived from VIB research in clinical trials
VIB research leads to Phase I clinical trials for therapies for diseases such as thrombosis, influenza and cancer.
VIB in numbers
- 1124 scientists of which 22% non-Belgian, from 57 countries
- 86 top publications - 22 patent applications
- 390 employees in VIB startups
- 409 industrial collaborations
2006
Flemish government increases VIB’s funding by 20%
Based on the positive results of the evaluations, the Flemish government deems VIB a great success and increases funding for the 3rd management agreement (2007-2011) to 38.1 million euro per year.
VIB celebrates 10th anniversary
VIB pays tribute to innovation, pioneering research, and technology transfer in the life sciences with an international symposium. ‘10 years VIB’ signifies a decade of world-class research in Flanders, yielding a wealth of scientific knowledge. VIB brings all of this together in the jubilee book TODAY=TOMORROW.
VIB establishes ActoGeniX
VIB establishes
ActoGeniX to further develop and commercialize an innovative technology for administering protein therapeutics orally. 20 million euro is collected during the first capital round – one of the world’s largest Series A investments for a biotech startup from a research institute.
Bio-incubators in Ghent and Leuven
THE DNA CASE
Drawing 50,000 visitors, the exhibition ‘THE DNA CASE’ offers an interactive and attractive glimpse of biotechnology’s role in medicine and its influence on our health. Parts of the exhibition are installed permanently in ‘
Living Tomorrow’.
VIB in numbers
- 1117 scientists of which 17% non-Belgian, from 54 countries
- 64 top publications
- 294 employees in VIB startups
- 345 industrial collaborations
2005
International Ph.D. Program
VIB attracts great international interest in its
new doctoral program, built around interdisciplinary projects in two different VIB research groups.
Belgian Biosafety Professionals (BBP)
VIB is one of the initiators in the establishment of the Belgian platform for biosafety coordinators and professionals. BBP is an important communication vehicle toward the government concerning rules and legislation on biosafety.
VIB and VTT establish Solucel
At the basis of VIB’s fifth startup –
Solucel – lies a technology platform with which scientists can increase the biosynthesis of phyto-pharmaceutical products in plants and can synthesize new candidate medicines in plants.
VIB in numbers
- 1060 scientists of which 15% non-Belgian, from 50 countries
- 65 top publications - 23 patent applications
- 231 employees in VIB startups
- 293 industrial collaborations
2004
VIB cited as model for research
Philippe Busquin, EU research commissioner, calls VIB a model for research in Europe.
First Group Leaders Committee
In 2004, VIB focuses a lot of attention on strengthening institutional ties. This produces numerous new initiatives, including the start of a new institutional body: the Group Leaders Committee, which proposes and develops initiatives for the advancement of VIB’s institutional excellence.
Diffusion of technology within the institute is stimulated
To promote the diffusion of technology within VIB, an electronic toolbox is developed that provides VIB technologies to VIB researchers via the intranet. In addition, new service facilities also make innovative technologies available to VIB scientists.
Launch of FlandersBio
As one of the co-founders, VIB catalyzes
FlandersBio - a biotech sector network organization that helps develop Flanders as a highly competitive region in the life sciences.
VIB establishes Peakadilly (later re-named Pronota)
Peakadilly uses a new technology as the basis for developing and commercializing innovative biomarkers.
scientists@work
VIB’s
new school project gives youngsters a 1-day immersion in the world of biotech research. The first edition brings more than 800 students into biotech labs; and over 1800 students register for the second edition.
VIB in numbers
- 991 scientists of which 14% non-Belgian, from 44 countries
- 53 top publications - 23 patent applications
- 207 employees in VIB startups
- 234 industrial collaborations
2003
VIB establishes international advisory body
To assist VIB in its institutional policy, an international advisory body is established that provides VIB with recommendations concerning the research institute’s long-term strategy.
VIB researchers in Brussels and Ghent move into brand-new research buildings
VIB invests in the infrastructure supporting its researchers. In 2003, the researchers working in Brussels and Ghent moved into new buildings. Meanwhile, VIB continued work on infrastructure improvements for the research groups in Antwerp and Leuven.
Reverse Brain Drain: VIB brings Belgians back to Flanders
3 new independent research groups are started up under the VIB umbrella to develop new initiatives in emerging knowledge domains and technologies in the life sciences. Candidates are recruited worldwide via an open call and are evaluated by VIB’s institutional advisory body, with the assistance of an international panel of experts.
VIB in numbers
- 925 scientists of which 14% non-Belgian, from 45 countries
- 53 top publications - 30 patent applications
- 193 employees in VIB startups
- 183 industrial collaborations
2002
VIB sets up 2 new service facilities
Via the Proteomics Facility and the Genetic Service Facility, VIB makes innovative technologies available to its scientists.
2002 – VIB’s first school project: farmers@work
Together with VILT (Vlaams Instituut voor Land- en Tuinbouw), BLIVO (Biologische Landbouw - Instituut voor Onderzoek en Voorlichting), BelgoBiotech, and Testaankoop, VIB organizes a school project on the topics of agriculture and food.
VIB in numbers
- 907 scientists of which 14% non-Belgian, from 42 countries
- 51 top publications
- 27 patent applications
- 175 employees in VIB startups
- 136 industrial collaborations
2001
Ablynx is established
VIB’s Bio-Incubator is expanded by 1250 m2
The new facilities in VIB’s expanded Bio-Incubator are put to full use by 7 biotech companies.
‘Eet es genetisch’
‘Eet es genetisch’ (Try genetic food) – the interactive exhibition on applications of gene technology in agriculture and food – draws 30,000 visitors.
VIB in numbers
- 877 scientists of which 10% non-Belgian, from 38 countries
- 42 top publications - 29 patent applications
- 155 employees in VIB startups
- 102 industrial collaborations
2000
VIB sets up Micro Array Facility
Via the
Micro Array Facility, VIB makes this important technology available to Flemish researchers both within and outside VIB.
VIB earns positive report following first 5-year evaluation
After a 5-year cycle, VIB is evaluated by the Flemish government. A steering group was assembled in 2000 – with representatives from the Flemish government, EWI and IWT – to coordinate the evaluation, which was conducted by Arthur D. Little and a commission of foreign experts.
VIB in numbers
- 852 scientists
- 44 top publications
- 29 patent applications
- 120 employees in VIB startups
- 79 industrial collaborations
1999
VIB Bio-Incubator opens in Zwijnaarde
Via the
Bio-Incubator, VIB makes 2,500 m2 of fit-to-purpose infrastructure available to biotech companies, thus supporting the development of new industrial biotech activities. Methexis Genomics, Phase I Molecular Toxicology, and Algonomics are the first to benefit from the initiative.
VIB in numbers
- 845 scientists
- 50 top publications
- 80 employees in VIB startups
- 46 industrial collaborations
1998
VIB appointed spokesperson for Flemish biotech valley
The Flemish government designates VIB as spokesperson for the Flemish biotech valley.
CropDesign is established
Dirk Inzé’s research forms the basis for
CropDesign, VIB’s second startup. This biotech company focuses on optimizing the agricultural qualities of crops.
VIB in numbers
- 784 scientists
- 30 top publications - 24 patent applications
- 33 employees in VIB startups
- 31 industrial collaborations
1997
4 universities as partners
VIB enters into framework agreements with its four partner universities (the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Ghent University, the University of Antwerp, and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel).
First collaboration with industry
VIB signs its first collaborative agreement with the biotech industry.
Devgen is established
Thierry Bogaert is appointed head of the first VIB startup.
Devgen uses the microscopically small worm Caenorabditis elegans as model organism for elucidating human diseases. Devgen later enlarges its focus to include crop protection.
VIB in numbers
- 759 scientists
- 34 top publications - 20 patent applications
- 10 employees in VIB startups
- 16 industrial collaborations
1996
First management agreement
On 1 January 1996, VIB starts operations as a fully fledged institute with 650 scientists distributed over the campuses of 4 Flemish universities.
VIB in numbers
- 717 scientists
- 18 top publications
- 5 patent applications
- 8 industrial collaborations
1995
An initiative of the Flemish government
In July, VIB vzw is established as a result of a resolution by the Flemish government earlier in the year.
VIB in numbers
622 scientists
16 top publications