www.vub.ac.be

VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSELPROFESSOR PAUL DE KNOPRECTOR

SOME HISTORY…

Independency act of 28 May 1970

INDEPENDENCY

split off on 1 October 1969

VUBULB

established in 1834

CORE VALUES

Promotion of research and thought without dogma or prejudice

An open atmosphere of tolerance and diversity

Active pluralism, respect and open

mindness

VUB TODAYEMPLOYABILITY, CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

almost

15.000students21% international students

127 nationalities

of which 40 are taught in English

29 BA –

75 MA –

22 MA-after-MA-

16 PG- programmes

THE ‘KAREL VAN MIERT’ INTERNATIONAL BUILDING VUB TODAY

CAMPUS ETTERBEEK7 FACULTIES

CAMPUS JETTE

Academic Hospital

325.000 consultations

30.000 patients in hospitalisation

3.500 employees

Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy

Diabetes, Center for Reproduction, ….

VUB TODAY

6.800

employees

232 million EUR

turnover

94million EUR

research

18million EUR

spin-offs

> 120

patents & pending

VUB TODAY

largest Dutch speaking employer

in Brussels

Together with the hospital

BRUSSELS 4th business city in Europe, after London, Paris, Frankfurt

(Cushman &Wakefield Cities Monitor 2009)

1 million inhabitants, 30% non-Belgian nationality, 55% non-Belgian origin (France, Morocco, Italy, Spain,...)

European diversity on a small scale

Easy accessibility from all over Europe and worldwide

International decision center, EU institutions, NATO

International talent pool

Cost of living lower than London, Paris, Amsterdam Mercer Human Resources – Cost of Living Index 2009

BRUSSELS

Brussels

HEART OF EUROPE

From Brussel to ..

London: 2 hoursParis: 1 hour 20 min.Frankfurt: 3 hoursAmsterdam: 2 hours

KNOWLEDGE CENTERS

Created in 2001 on the initiative of the Flemish Government.

It teaches advanced Master programmes focusing on interdisciplinary research in European Studies, more specifically on the role of the EU in an international setting.

BICCS serves as the capital of Europe's main academic hub between Europe and China.

Research - enhancing understanding of China’s development

Education - The institute runs four major post-graduate programmes related to business and investment

Institute forEuropean Studies

IES

Brussels Institute for

Contemporary China Studies

BICCS

BRUSSELS COLLABORATION AND BEYOND

Université Libre de Bruxelles

Erasmus College for Higher Education Brussels (Erasmus

Hogeschool Brussel)

Royal Military School

Vesalius College

Kent University (Brussels’ antenna)

Other Flemish universities (UGent !)

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

475 bilateral

agreements

International research projects

Long tradition in development cooperation

UNICA

(EC, Belgian & Flemish government, partnerships)

Network of the Universities in the Capitals of Europe + many research networks43 universities in 32 capital cities

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONAFRICA

African studies:

humanities

Geographic research area of research groups:

mangrove, water, soil, genetic manipulated crop

Institutional projects in

Kenya (10 years)Own initiatives

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONASIA

Europe-Korea

Institute

Brussels Institute for Contemporary China studies

Trans-continental Internship

Programme

China Scholarship Council, Erasmus Mundus

Vietnam: many research projects: ports, shrimp, urban

planning

Nyctiba-trachus vrijeuni

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONLATIN AMERICA

Cuba 10 years of intense

collaboration

Bolivia humanities: vulnerable children

Brazilpartner in Erasmus

Mundus (coord. Granada) and affiliate member

of the Institute for Studies Brazil-Europe

Other areas being explored

VUB FROM RESEARCH TO SPIN-OFFS FACTS & FIGURES

Flemish governmental support for fundamental research

13%

Projects funded by governments

45,5%

Revenues from collaboration with

private sector

23,5%

Own research means

18%

Exclusief FWO-mandaten

OPERATIONAL STRUCTURER&D Department: TTI and CROSSTALKS

Solid research policy and advice concerning research funding

Research Quality Assessments 

Research coordination underpins VUB research policy and offers advice concerning external developments

The EU-cell is the interface between researchers and the European Commission’s international research projects

1.

Research Coordination of

8 faculties

OPERATIONAL STRUCTURER&D Department: TTI and CROSSTALKS

Offers educational projects for youngsters

Knowledge debates for the wider public

Research projects assigned by civil society organizations

Science Shop

2.

Science Communication

OPERATIONAL STRUCTURER&D Department: TTI and CROSSTALKS

Gateway between the university’s research & expertise and industrial partners

Technology transfer, valorization & business development

A multidisciplinary team of experts: technology transfer officers, innovation specialists, business & spin-off consultancy, legal advisors, intellectual property management, risk capital fund, event organization

3.

Technology Transfer Interface

OPERATIONAL STRUCTURER&D Department: TTI and CROSSTALKS

Creating a new exchange dynamic

Interdisciplinary & bottom-up approach

Encouraging cross-talking and stimulating innovation through

different formats (workshops, round tables) and international publications

4.

CROSSTALKS - VUB’s

University and Industry Network

TTI = BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OF IP PORTFOLIO

40patent families

(application) VUB

65patent families

(application) with partners

Several patent families

(application) with other research

institutions and industry

such as Interuniversity institute for Micro-electronics (IMEC)

Flemish Interuniversity institute for Biotechnology (VIB)

More than

100

patents!

More information on technology offers: www.vubtechtransfer.be

SPIN-OFF PORTFOLIO IN A RANGE OF DOMAINS

SYMBION

COLLABORATIONS MU - VUBHealth, Medicine and Life Sciences (MU) – Vrije Universiteit BrusselSamenwerkingsovereenkomst op het gebied van medisch onderwijs en onderzoek en uitwisseling studenten en academische staf

Arts & Social Sciences (MU) – Arts and Philosophy (VUB)Prof A Knotter (MU) – Prof. P Scholliers & Prof G Vanthemsche (VUB)

Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (MU) - Medicine and Pharmacy (VUB)Prof J Kleinjans & Dr J Van Delft (MU) – Prof V Rogiers (VUB)

Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (MU) - Science and Bio-engineering Sciences (VUB)Prof F. J. van Schooten, Dr J van Delft, Prof J Kleinjans (MU) - Prof M Volders (VUB)

Knowledge Engineering (UM) - Science and Bio-engineering Sciences (VUB)Dr K Tuyls (MU) – Prof A Nowé (VUB)

ASSETS

Defined Centers of

Excellence in research

Portfolio of English taught programmes

(MA, MA-after-MA, Post-graduate)

Green campus in the Capital

of Europe

Experienced in Technology

Transfer

Strong European network

THE BRUSSELS UNIVERSITY ALLIANCE (BUA)

Enlargement of the study

programmes in English at

MA level

Increasing synergies in education

and research, optimization of

resources

Exploration of new

routes for international collaboration