B-PHOT Director Hugo Thienpont pursues as vice-rector Innovation and Valorisation Policy

The new rector of VUB, Caroline Pauwels, who will lead her first academic opening on 27 September, has announced her team of vice-rectors. They are Jan Danckaert (Education and Student Policy), Karin Vanderkerken (Research Policy), Hugo Thienpont (Innovation & Industrial Policy), and Sonja Snacken (International Relations Policy). The Board decided unanimously to appoint the new rector’s team. 

Hugo Thienpont remains vice-rector of Innovation and Valorisation Policy. He is a professor of photonics and comes from the Faculty of Engineering Science. He created for his policy area a clear mission and vision. Under his impetus, fundraising made great progress, in the professionalisation of the organisation and in the acquisition of donations, chairs and legacies for VUB.

"We are looking for more co-innovation activities with industry in and around the university campuses in the Brussels Capital Region and the Flemish Region," Hugo stated.  "It means we can ensure that the revenue is reinvested in excellent researchers, open innovation and industrial cooperation."