Collaborating with industry is one way of advancing research and bringing innovation and technological development to consumers, patients and farmers.

New spin-offs are an important way to translate the results of VIB research into practical applications. Moreover, starting biotech companies in Flanders have a huge impact on our local ecosystem: not only do they attract inward investments, they also create jobs. By anchoring intellectual property and knowledge in our region, start-ups play a major role in society.

VIB translates scientific discoveries into useful applications for society.

VIB provides significant support for the growth and development of the life sciences cluster in Flanders.

The VIB Discovery Sciences team focuses on making specific expertise available to promising projects in VIB labs that are amenable to translation.

We translate research results into new products, agricultural innovations, medicines, and therapies that improve lives.

To translate science into benefits for society, technology transfer is essential. Bio-incubators and accelerators are a crucial component of a life sciences ecosystem that enables technology transfer.

Through providing specialized infrastructure to young and established companies, incubators and accelerators act as a breeding ground for innovation. Both young start-ups and international pharmaceutical companies can develop, find important partners, and tap into available talent and know-how.

VIB pioneered the exploitation of the first bio-incubator in the late 1990s in Ghent. Since then, we've grown our incubators to more than 25,000 m² of specialized infrastructure. All of our incubators are fully licensed to conduct biotech activities and are available for local and international partners in the life sciences sector.