Ghent, Belgium
April 19, 2024
Today, VIB presented its annual results and reflects on an excellent year. Not only does the research institute continuously support scientific research into biotechnology, but it also translates its knowledge into concrete applications for treatments, diagnostics, and agriculture. VIB owes this in part to excellent collaborations with Flemish universities as well as numerous industrial players.
Since its operational start in 1996, year after year, VIB has made significant strides in exploring and understanding complex biological processes. The institute is steadfast in its commitment to biotechnological research across various disciplines. By 2023, 98 research groups were actively pushing the boundaries of fields such as cancer, neuroscience, microbiology, inflammation, plant biology, structural biology, and medical biotechnology. In addition, 2023 saw the establishment of new groups in artificial intelligence and computational biology with the launch of VIB.AI, a cutting-edge research center.
In 2023, VIB expanded to over 1,900 employees, predominantly researchers affiliated with Flemish universities. These researchers were pivotal in producing 728 scientific publications, including 293 in prestigious journals like Nature, Cell, and Science.
Motor for talent
Apart from scientific output, VIB also significantly contributes to the labor market by nurturing highly qualified talent. Last year, 95 scientists earned their PhDs.
The institute's research excellence is highlighted by substantial external funding and accolades. Notably, 31 ongoing European Research Council (ERC) grants support about one-third of our group leaders. VIB researchers have also received numerous local and international awards. In 2023, Professor Ludo Van den Bosch of the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research won the Generet Prize for rare disease research, and Professor Sarah-Maria Fendt of the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology received the Francqui Prize.
Christine Durinx, Managing Director of VIB: "Our organization prioritizes talent. By empowering our scientists to pursue their research objectives, we consistently achieve robust results. This approach is acknowledged through prestigious awards and substantial research funding from entities like the ERC. We are deeply grateful for this recognition."
Ajit Shetty, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Christine Durinx and Jérôme Van Biervliet, Managing Directors
Science with a vision for tomorrow
In fulfilling its dual mission of advancing science and translating discoveries into societal benefits, VIB also excelled in 2023. The patent team filed 37 new applications, a 5% increase over the previous year, and manages 283 active patent families, up 3.7%. Over the past five years, VIB has generated €138 million in revenue through partnerships and licensing deals with industry partners. These funds further support scientific research and investments in the Flemish biotech ecosystem, including startups, infrastructure, and technology.
VIB is also active in launching spin-offs, having established 37 startups, including a new one focused on obesity treatments in 2023. These ventures have contributed €1.84 billion in capital investments and approximately 920 direct jobs in the biotech sector.
Jérôme Van Biervliet, Managing Director of VIB: "Our institute plays a crucial role in transforming knowledge into societal value. Alongside our researchers, we tirelessly develop methods to turn our scientific insights into practical solutions for medicine, agriculture, and nutrition, addressing issues like neurodegenerative diseases and breeding climate-resilient crops."
The full annual report is available on our website.
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