Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie

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Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB)

Founder	Flemish Government
Established	1995
Mission	To conduct frontline biomolecular research in life sciences for the benefit of scientific progress & the benefit of society
Chair	Ajit Shetty (Chairman of the Board of Directors)
Key people	Christine Durinx Jérôme Van Biervliet
Members	~1900
Slogan	Science meets life
Location	Flanders, Belgium
Website	vib.be

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:

1. Strategic basic research
2. Technology transfer policy to transfer the inventions to consumers and patients
3. Scientific information for the general public

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.

• Ghent University:
  • VIB Inflammation Research Center, UGent (Bart Lambrecht)
  • VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, UGent (Dirk Inzé)
  • VIB Medical Biotechnology Center, UGent (Nico Callewaert)
  • Institute of Plant Biotechnology Outreach (IPBO), UGent (Marc Van Montagu)
• KU Leuven:
  • VIB Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven (Scientific directors: Diether Lambrechts and Chris Marine)
  • VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, KU Leuven (Scientific directors: Patrik Verstreken and Joris de Wit)
  • VIB Center for Microbiology, KU Leuven (Scientific director: Kevin Verstrepen)
• IMEC Campus
  • NERF, a joint research initiative between IMEC, VIB and KU Leuven
• University of Antwerp:
  • VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp (Rosa Rademakers)
  • VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, University of Antwerp
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel:
  • VIB Structural Biology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Jan Steyaert)
  • VIB Laboratory Myeloid Cell Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Jo Van Ginderachter)
  • VIB Nanobody Service Facility, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
• Hasselt University Campus

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 BioInformatics Training and Service facility
• VIB Compound Screening service Facility, UGent
• VIB Genetic Service Facility, University of Antwerp
• VIB Nucleomics Core, KU Leuven
• VIB Nanobody Service Facility, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
• VIB Protein Service Facility, UGent
• VIB Proteomics Expertise Center, UGent
• VIB Bio Imaging Core, UGent and KU Leuven
• VIB Metabolomics Core, UGent

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.^{[citation needed][6]}

• J. Comijn, P. Raeymaekers, A. Van Gysel, M. Veugelers, Today = Tomorrow : a tribute to life sciences research and innovation : 10 years of VIB, Snoeck, 2006, ISBN 978-90-5349-630-5
• Biotechnology industry in Belgium

• Official website

51°1′4.53″N 3°41′38.64″E / 51.0179250°N 3.6940667°E / 51.0179250; 3.6940667