| Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) | |
| Slogan: | Science meets life |
| Location: | Flanders, Belgium |
| Founder: | Flemish Government |
| Established: | 1995 |
| Num Members: | ~1900 |
| Chairman: | Ajit Shetty (Chairman of the Board of Directors) |
| Mission: | To conduct frontline biomolecular research in life sciences for the benefit of scientific progress & the benefit of society |
VIB is a research institute located in Flanders, Belgium. It was founded by the Flemish government in 1995, and became a full-fledged institute on 1 January 1996. The main objective of VIB is to strengthen the excellence of Flemish life sciences research and to turn the results into new economic growth.[1] VIB spends almost 80% of its budget on research activities, while almost 12% is spent on technology transfer activities and stimulating the creation of new businesses, in addition VIB spends approximately 2% on socio-economic activities. VIB is member of EU-LIFE, an alliance of leading life sciences research centres in Europe.[2]
The institute is led by Christine Durinx and Jérôme Van Biervliet.[3] [4] Ajit Shetty is chairman of the board of directors.[5]
VIB's mission is to conduct frontline biomolecular research in life sciences for the benefit of scientific progress and the benefit of society. The strategic goals of the VIB are:
The VIB scientist works on the normal and abnormal or pathological processes occurring in a cell, an organ and an organism (humans, plants, micro organisms). Instead of relocating scientists to a new campus, the VIB researchers work in research departments on six Flemish campuses: Ghent University, KU Leuven, University of Antwerp, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, IMEC and Hasselt University.
VIB has established several core facilities focused on advanced technologies, which make high through-flow technologies available to academic and industrial researchers in Flanders.
VIB was involved in the creation of spin-offs from academic research groups, such as for Ablynx, DevGen, CropDesign, ActoGeniX, Pronota (formerly Peakadilly), Agrosavfe, Multiplicom, Q-biologicals, SoluCel, Aphea.Bio and Aelin Therapeutics.[6]