Facts & Figures 2026

VUB 2025

A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF OUR UNIVERSITY FACTS AND FIGURES Everything you need to know about the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, home to high-quality research and education. Our place in the international academic landscape.

It is shaped by a history that underpins our commitment to critical and impactful scholarship. Who our students are and where they come from. The research-informed programmes they pursue. How our graduates successfully enter the labour market, equipped with strong analytical and professional skills. Our academic and support staff deliver excellent teaching and advance high-quality research every day. Our campuses continue to develop into future-ready environments. They foster innovation and learning. Our funding sustains leading research. It generates results that translate into patents, entrepreneurship and successful spin-offs. At our university hospital, UZ Brussel, pioneering research and high-quality care come together. We continue to work towards a sustainable university, committed to excellence and to a better society.

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CONTENT

#WEAREVUB.........................................................................................................................................................................................4 #WEAREVUB........................................................................................................................................................................................5 RESEARCH & INNOVATION.................................................................................................................................................................7 RESEARCH & INNOVATION ................................................................................................................................................................8 RESEARCH & INNOVATION: 2025 BUDGET IN DETAIL......................................................................................................................9 SUCCESS IN EUROPEAN RESEARCH FUNDING..............................................................................................................................11 INVESTING IN RESEARCH: INFRASTRUCTURE 2025......................................................................................................................13 VUB INSTALLED A 7 TESLA MRI SCANNER IN 2025 ......................................................................................................................14 NETWORKS FOR SOCIETAL: IMPACT THROUGH SCIENCE............................................................................................................15 RESEARCH AWARDS: A FEW HIGHLIGHTS 2025............................................................................................................................17 SPOTLIGHT ON CITIZEN SCIENCE....................................................................................................................................................18 OUTREACH 2025................................................................................................................................................................................20 OUTREACH VUB KINDERUNIVERSITEIT...........................................................................................................................................21 VUB INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH FUND 2025.......................................................................................................................................23 SUCCESSFUL EU INNOVATION DRIVEN CASES 2025.....................................................................................................................24 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS & SPIN-OFFS 2025.................................................................................................................25 INCUBATORS......................................................................................................................................................................................26 RESEARCH PARK...............................................................................................................................................................................27 STUDENTS & EDUCATION.................................................................................................................................................................29 GRADUATION CEREMONY ON THE GROTE MARKT........................................................................................................................30 STUDENTS BY FACULTY 2025-2026.................................................................................................................................................32 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 2024-2025.........................................................................................................................................33 EXCHANGE STUDENTS.....................................................................................................................................................................34 STUDENT HOUSING...........................................................................................................................................................................36 UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 2024..............................................................................................................................................................37 INCLUSIVE UNIVERSITY....................................................................................................................................................................38 INNOVATION IN EDUCATION............................................................................................................................................................41 INNOVATION IN EDUCATION: LEARNING AND INNOVATION CENTER..........................................................................................43 INNOVATION IN EDUCATION: QE......................................................................................................................................................45 INNOVATION IN EDUCATION: AI4EDUCATION.................................................................................................................................46 NOVA ACADEMY................................................................................................................................................................................47 VUB PHDS..........................................................................................................................................................................................48 DOCTORAL RESEARCH......................................................................................................................................................................49 THE STRENGTHS OF A PHD.............................................................................................................................................................51 PHILANTHROPIC FUNDRAISING......................................................................................................................................................52 VUB. EVERY DONATION RETURNS 2024-2025................................................................................................................................53 FELLOWSHIP......................................................................................................................................................................................55 CONNECTING ACADEMIA & SOCIETY ..............................................................................................................................................56

VUB ALUMNI......................................................................................................................................................................................57 ALUMNI 2025 ...................................................................................................................................................................................58 ALUMNI AND THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIVES....................................................................................................................................59 VUB STAFF.........................................................................................................................................................................................60 VUB STAFF.........................................................................................................................................................................................61 GENDER EQUALITY STAFF................................................................................................................................................................62 WORKING FOR THE VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL......................................................................................................................63 CONNECTING ACADEMIA & SOCIETY 2025.....................................................................................................................................65 ICT.......................................................................................................................................................................................................66 SERVICE DESK 2024-2025................................................................................................................................................................67 GENERAL IT MANAGEMENT.............................................................................................................................................................68 COMPUTING FOR RESEARCHERS....................................................................................................................................................69 VUB DATA CENTRE............................................................................................................................................................................70 APPLICATIONS...................................................................................................................................................................................71 DATA STORAGE..................................................................................................................................................................................72 UZ BRUSSEL......................................................................................................................................................................................73 UZ BRUSSEL: UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN 2025...............................................................................................................................74 UZ BRUSSEL & FACULTY OF MEDICINE & PHARMACY..................................................................................................................75 UZ BRUSSEL AS PIONEER................................................................................................................................................................76 EUTOPIA.............................................................................................................................................................................................78 CONNECTING COMMUNITIES WITHIN AND BEYOND EUROPE......................................................................................................79 EUTOPIA EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY 2025 - 2026..............................................................................................................................81 NETWORK...........................................................................................................................................................................................83 PARTNERSHIP VUB–ULB..................................................................................................................................................................84 #ENGAGED UNIVERSITY....................................................................................................................................................................85 SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITY..............................................................................................................................................................86 COMPASSIONATEUNIVERSITY.........................................................................................................................................................87 CAMPUSES.........................................................................................................................................................................................88 VUB ESTATE.......................................................................................................................................................................................89 BRUSSELS: EASY ACCESS................................................................................................................................................................90 BRUSSELS: BEATING HEART OF EUROPE.......................................................................................................................................91 HUMANISTIC SCULPTURE PARK .....................................................................................................................................................93 HISTORY.............................................................................................................................................................................................94 FINANCES...........................................................................................................................................................................................95 BALANCE SHEET 2025......................................................................................................................................................................96 PROFIT & LOSS .................................................................................................................................................................................98 STATEMENT 2025..............................................................................................................................................................................98

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#WEAREVUB

#WEAREVUB

OUR VALUES • Freedom • Equality • Connectedness

“THINKING MUST NEVER SUBMIT ITSELF, NEITHER TO A DOGMA, NOR TO A PARTY, NOR TO A PASSION, NOR TO AN INTEREST, NOR TO A PRECONCEIVED IDEA, NOR TO ANYTHING WHATSOEVER, EXCEPT TO THE FACTS THEMSELVES, BECAUSE FOR IT TO SUBMIT TO ANYTHING ELSE WOULD BE THE END OF ITS EXISTENCE.” Henri Poincaré (1854-1912)

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“STUDENTS MUST STUDY AND RESEARCHERS MUST CONDUCT RESEARCH FREE FROM RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, OR ANY OTHER EXTERNAL OR INTERNAL PRESSURE. NO CENSORSHIP, AND NO SELF-CENSORSHIP EITHER.” Jan Danckaert Rector

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RESEARCH & INNOVATION

RESEARCH & INNOVATION 

 41 LARGE RESEARCH GROUPS

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€155,1 million TOTAL RESEARCH BUDGET

55 ‘Regular’ Research Groups including 22 VUB-UGENT Alliance Research Groups 15 International Joint Research Groups 12 VUB-ULB Joint Research Groups

21 IOF GEARS

RESEARCH & INNOVATION INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

  5 NEW SPIN-OFFS, TOTAL ACTIVE 52

228 ACTIVE PATENT FAMILIES 5 SOCIETAL IMPACT THROUGH SCIENCE NETWORKS

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2,650 ACADEMIC AND SCIENTIFIC STAFF

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Supported by vice-rectorate for RESEARCH and vice-rectorate for INNOVATION & INDUSTRY RELATIONS.

(GROUPS OF EXCELLENCE IN APPLIED RESEARCH SUPPORTED

BY VUB’S INDUSTRIEEL ONDERZOEKSFONDS)

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2,632 PUBLICATIONS

2,326 DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS IN 3 DOCTORAL SCHOOLS

18 RESEARCH-COUNCILFUNDED INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH PROJECTS

 46 RESEARCH-COUNCIL-­ FUNDED STRATEGIC RESEARCH PROJECTS

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RESEARCH & INNOVATION 2025 BUDGET IN DETAIL TOTAL RESEARCH BUDGET Approx €155,000,000

Private Sector Collaboration 2025

€14,1 M

VUB Own Research Budget 2025

€33,3 M

Scientific Research Fund 2025

€28,4 M Public Project Funding 2025

€79,2 M

242 fellowships 102 mandates Fundamental & Strategic

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FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH AT VUB IS STRONGER THAN EVER, WITH RECORD NUMBERS GRANTS AT OUR UNIVERSITY. WE ARE PIONEERS IN REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE, DECARBONISATION TECHNOLOGIES, AI & ROBOTICS, STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY, PHOTONICS, SOCIOLOGY, BIOARCHEOLOGY,…

Pieter Ballon, Vice-rector Research VUB

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SUCCESS IN EUROPEAN RESEARCH FUNDING VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL EXTENSIVELY UTILIZES HORIZON PROGRAMS AND IS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL: Between 2021 and 2025, VUB already obtained 194 projects for approximately 119,7 million euro in EU contribution of which 37,2% comes from Pillar 1 (ERC, MSCA and Research Infrastructure).

VUB IS • the Brussels organization with the highest number of participants in Horizon Europe.

• the 4th Belgian organization in the number of Horizon Europe projects and the 1st in euros secured per professor.

In 2025, VUB secured 5 European Research Council grants and 13 Marie Skłodwska-Curie actions.

The number of awarded ERC and MSCA projects has doubled in the past four years compared to the previous period.

Our university contributes to making the BrusselsCapital Region a European innovation leader, notably excelling in the number of scientific co-publications.

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NEWLY EUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL GRANTS In 2025, 6 excellent principal investigators will conduct novel curiosity-driven research at VUB. ERC grants are the most prestigious sources of funding for top-tier research in Europe.

2 ERC ADVANCED GRANTS HOSTED BY VIB

1 ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANT

2 ERC STARTING GRANTS

1 ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANT

GABRIELE MACHO

PIETER-PAUL VERHAEGHE

EVA SWYNGEDOUW

KIAVASH MOVAHEDI

JAN STEYAERT

WILLEM STAELS

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INVESTING IN RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE 2025 CORE FACILITIES & INFRASTRUCTURE PLATFORMS Core facilities and infrastructure platforms make specialized equipment and highly qualified personnel available to the research community at economic prices.

VUB SUPPORT OF CORE FACILITIES: € 1,8 MILLION IN 2025 GOAL: SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR RESEARCH     

statistical-methodological support microscopy cell sorters cleanroom for microfluidics etc.

OVERVIEW  Brubotics Rehabilitation Research Center  In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging  FlowCore  Materials Characterisation  Microlab  Support for Quantitative and Qualitative Research  Animalarium  Visual and Spatial Tissue Analysis  The Social Study  Brussels Digital Text Lab  HUMan and ArtIficial miNds and bodIEs  Brightcore  7Tesla MRI

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VUB INSTALLED A 7 TESLA MRI SCANNER IN 2025

Dedicated facility is set up at Research Park Zellik to ensure the successful launch of this interuniversity project

A collaboration between all Flemish universities and university hospitals

Enables diseases such as dementia, epilepsy, kidney disorders, and tumors to be visualized and monitored with greater accuracy

Allows the participating universities and university hospitals to produce much more detailed images of, for example, the brain and joints

Higher field strength compared to the MRI systems already available in Flanders Investment more than €10 million

Unique in Flanders

More info: https://7t-mri.be/

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NETWORKS FOR SOCIETAL IMPACT THROUGH SCIENCE

INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH NETWORKS THAT TACKLE SOCIETAL CHALLENGES AWARDED IN 2024 110,000/ YEAR €2,75M

5 YEARS

· Brussels Centre for Urban Studies (BCUS), led by professor Bas Van Heur, focuses on urban engagement and societal impact through research on community infrastructures, public space, spatial justice, and urban futures. BCUS serves as a hub for inter- and transdisciplinary research, creating synergies between VUB research groups and non-academic stakeholders. · Painless Lifestyle Network, led by professor Jo Nijs, addresses chronic pain, a global health burden, by combining expertise in lifestyle interventions and pain management. The network develops innovative clinical trials and implementation strategies aimed at improving outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal and cancer-related chronic pain, fostering a shift towards multimodal, personalized treatments. · DESTINY, led by professor Maarten Messagie, is focused on accelerating the transition to a net-zero carbon society. This network unites research groups in energy technologies to develop and showcase sustainable solutions for decarbonization, with the Green Energy Park serving as a living lab for innovation and societal engagement. · PRISM Network, led by professor Imke Baetens, is dedicated to advancing mental health and resilience across the lifespan. By integrating clinical, cognitive, and biological psychology, PRISM develops tailored prevention strategies, innovative assessments, and technology-enhanced interventions to address mental health challenges in youth and older adults. · Brussels Interdisciplinary Reseach Centre on Migration and Minorities, led by professor Ilke Adam, builds on the success of BIRMM 1.0, enhancing the societal impact of migration research. With a multivocal board of stakeholders, BIRMM 2.0 addresses migration at multiple governance levels, promoting co-created research and science communication to influence policy and public discourse.

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RESEARCH AWARDS A FEW HIGHLIGHTS 2025 YOUNG SCHOLAR AWARD

FWO EXCELLENCE AWARD

The Young Scholar Award is presented annually by the Belgian Mathematical Society to a young mathematician who excels in scientific research and maintains a strong connection to Belgium. Although Kevin Iván Piterman hails from Argentina – where he earned his PhD at the University of Buenos Aires in 2019 – he is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the VUB, funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO).

FWO: “As a recognition that groundbreaking research requires not only scientific talent but also exceptional human qualities and sustained commitment.” Prof. Michel Van den Bergh (VUB/UHasselt): winner of the Dr. A. De Leeuw-Damry-Bourlart 2025 Excellence Award in Exact Sciences.

VANDERSCHUEREN PRIZE Jonathan Baldan received the Vanderschueren Prize for his research aimed at stopping pancreatic cancer before it starts.

KVAB ANNUAL SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AWARDS

ROGER VAN GEEN PRIZE The six-yearly Roger Van Geen Prize has been awarded in 2024 to Prof. Dr. Jan Steyaert, in recognition of a remarkable academic career that combines scientific excellence with societal impact and the reputation of VUB. The official award ceremony was held on May 5th this year.

Professor Jan Steyaert also won the prestigious Anfinsen Award from The Protein Society, which recognises groundbreaking contributions to protein science.

Presented to researchers who have made a significant contribution to promoting scientific understanding and interest among the general public through recent initiatives.

Andrei Covaci, Firass Kooli, Lesley De Cruz en Sara Top for the Instant City Climate Model with AI for their accessible and interactive workshop ‘Instant city climate model with AI’

Danielle Fernandes for City Confessions A serious board game for bystander education on sexual violence

Melissa Schuring for ‘Say What?!’

Science communication in Project OMG on the use of English words in children’s language

Soetkin Vervust for TESTEREP For her science communication initiatives related to the TESTEREP project

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RESEARCH AWARDS A FEW HIGHLIGHTS 2025

FERRAN SUNYER I BALAGUER PRIZE

GSK VACCINES PRIZE 2025

VUB-mathematician Leandro Vendramin won the prestigious Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer Prize for his combinatorial approach to solutions on: ‘Groups, radical rings and the Yang-Baxter equation’

Professor Damya Laoui received the GSK Vaccines Prize 2025 during the annual formal session of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium. The prize recognises her research into innovative immunotherapies for cancer, in particular her work on dendritic cells.

EVANS CORROSION AWARD

BRUSSELS WATS AMBASSADOR

Professor Herman Terryn has been awarded the Evans Corrosion Award, an international award from the British Institute of Corrosion, in Newcastle (UK).

The prize, often described as the “Nobel Prize for corrosion research”, has been awarded since 1976 to researchers who excel in fundamental and applied corrosion research worldwide.

Lesley De Cruz became the new Brussels WATS ambassador. This award highlights Brussels-based women who not only excel in STEM but also inspire others to follow in their footsteps. The prize is awarded based on their potential as role models and their concrete plans to encourage girls and women to consider STEM studies or careers.

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SPOTLIGHT ON CITIZEN SCIENCE

SMARTS-PROJECT: THE MENTAL HEALTH OF BRUSSELS’ YOUTH

MOMENT-GPS: GENDER-BASED SENSE OF SECURITY IN BRUSSELS PUBLIC SPACES

LAST WORDS: EXPLORING THE FINAL WORDS OF THE CONDEMNED

Strengthening Mental Health and Resilience Through Schools, an initiative by BRUCC and the Centre for Sport Psychology and Mental Support, focuses on the mental health and resilience of young people in Brussels. It is developing a prevention programme for schools, tailored to the needs of young people in the city.

This is a research project by the sociological research group TOR and the Cosmopolis Centre for Urban Research, examines how gender and the design of public space influence perceptions of safety in Brussels. By involving citizens as experts by experience, the project aims to support citizen initiatives around perceived safety through a real-time barometer.

The project The Last Words is a citizen science study into the final statements of people sentenced to death in Belgium. By analysing historical sources together with the public, the project maps personal stories alongside their social contexts. In doing so, it sheds new light on the human impact of the death penalty and its place in Belgian history.

Promotors for this project are prof. dr. Theun Pieter van Tienoven (TOR) and prof. dr. Bas van Heur (Cosmopolis).

Promoter for this project is prof. Dr. Nel De Mûlenaere

Promotors for this project are prof. dr. Imke Baetens (BRUCC), prof. dr. Martijn Van Heel (BRUCC) en prof. dr. Paul Wylleman (SPMB).

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“RESEARCH NEEDS SOCIETY AS SOCIETY NEEDS RESEARCH.THIS IS WHY VUB INVESTS STRUCTURALLY IN THE SOCIETAL IMPACT OF ITS RESEARCH GROUPS” Pieter Ballon

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OUTREACH 2025

7.500

over participants and visitors for our outreach activities in 2025

VUB researchers and research teams winning science communication prizes in 2025: KVAB SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AWARDS Soetkin Vevust, Danielle Fernandes, Melissa Schuring, Team ‘Instant stadsklimaatmodel met AI’ (Andrei Covaci, Mohamed Firas Kooli, Lesley De Cruz, Sara Top) WOMEN AWARD IN TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE (WATS) AWARD Lesley De Cruz (Innoviris, Brussels Capital Region) SAM MATTHEUS nominated for New Scientist ‘science talent award’ (Netherlands and Belgium)

129 VUB researchers participated in our

science communication training courses + 200 participating researchers for the activities in 2025

5 new media & interview trainings for members of large research groups and NSIS networks, with 40 participants.

8 In-house trainings for science outreach at VUB, organised several times in 2025.

New courses are a.o. science outreach for a broad audience, introduction to science communication and explore the possibilities of citizen science

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OUTREACH VUB KINDERUNIVERSITEIT FUN FACT Since its inception, VUB Kinderuniversiteit has aided VUB researchers in developing a total of 90 unique workshops!

VUB Kinderuniversiteit brings academic research to a child-friendly level ,with a focus on STEM. Under the guidance of a professional team, children discover the secrets of our bodies, explore the fascinating world of microbes under a microscope, or delve into the meaning of happiness. Anything is possible.

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Campus Workshops: 612 students and teachers from 29 schools VUB Kinderuniversiteit On Tour reached over 900 children and

over 1.350 people in general (broad audience) 

Roboticabox: 600 pupils via 20 libraries in Brussels

(Dutch Community) 

13 lead researchers and additional assisting colleagues

Total reach: 3462 The activities of VUB Kinderuniversiteit have been made possible thanks to funding of VUB and subsidies if the Flemish Government, Innoviris, the European Union, Foundation Ernest Solvay and VUB Foundation.

https://vubkinderuniversiteit.be/

NEW In 2025, VUB Kinderuniversiteit developed an AI onlineteaching package for teachers, together with DataBuzz and VUB researchers. This has been launched in 2026!

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“AT VUB, WE COMBINE CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH WITH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO TACKLE SOCIETAL CHALLENGES. FOR US, INNOVATION IS PROGRESS, AND THROUGH SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS, WE STRIVE TO POSITIVELY IMPACT PEOPLE’S LIVES AND CONTRIBUTE TO A BETTER WORLD.” Peter Schelkens, Vice-rector Innovation & Industry Relations VUB

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VUB INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH FUND 2025 Groups of Excellence in Applied Research or GEARs, supported by VUB’s Industrial Research Fund in 2025, performing research in domains below

VUB INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH FUND 2025 (IOF)

Advanced GEARs (TRL 4-5-6): · Photonics · Electromobility · Nanotools · Sustainable Material Technologies

Fostering excellent applied research with economic potential

Consolidator GEARs (TRL 3-4-5): · Artificial Intelligence · Accoustics & Vibration · INTEGRAL - Immunotherapy · Law for Cybersecurity and Health · Gene therapy · Algorithmic systems · House of Sustainable Transitions · Liver research · Human-centered Robotics

Supporting 20 Groups of Excellence in Applied Research or GEARs

Starter GEARs (TRL 2-3): · Software Systems · Advance Imaging · Microfluidics · AI in Neurology, neurosurgery & psychiatry · Sustainable Chemistry · Radiopharmaceuticals · Health data

Budget acknowledged to GEARs: €6,417,731

Mechanics

Materials ICT

Chemical Process

Mobility Health

Biotechnology & Food Pharma

Energy Electronics & Photonics

to our IOF portfolio:  Go https://www.vubtechtransfer.be/industrial-research-fund-iof-research-groups-0

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SUCCESSFUL EU INNOVATION DRIVEN CASES 2025 www.vubtechtransfer.be

SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES

SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

LIFE SCIENCES

Prof. Dr. Mesfin Haile Mamme, professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, coordinates the European‑funded project FULL‑MAP (FULLy integrated, autonomous and chemistry‑agnostic Materials Acceleration Platform for sustinable batteries), a flagship initiative under the Battery 2030+ vision. FULL‑MAP aims to transform how next‑generation battery materials and interfaces are discovered and developed.

Prof. Dr. Carlo de Asmundis (UZ Brussel / Vrije Universiteit Brussel) plays a key role in ERIS (European Research Institute on Simulation), a European funded initiative to advance training in cardiac electrophysiology (EP). ERIS addresses fragmentation and inequality in EP education by promoting a standardized, high quality, simulation based European training approach.

The project replaces traditional trial‑and‑error battery development with a data‑driven, AI‑accelerated approach, combining advanced computational modelling, materials discovery tools, and highthroughput & autonomous optimisation strategies.

By integrating multiscale simulations, machine learning, and experimental feedback, FULL‑MAP accelerates the discovery of high‑performance and sustainable battery materials.

ERIS will establish a Europe wide academic institute for simulation based EP education, integrating theoretical teaching and advanced simulation into EU accredited programmes.

By standardising curricula, the project aims to reduce regional disparities and support equitable access to life saving cardiac treatments across Europe.

The project brings together 13 partners from 9 countries, including universities, companies, and international organizations.

As coordinator, VUB plays a central role in AI‑enabled modelling, data integration, and materials optimisation, supporting Europe’s strategic leadership in energy storage, electric mobility, and the transition to a sustainable energy system.

Within the consortium, VUB contributes academic leadership through its internationally recognised Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, led by Prof. Dr. Carlo de Asmundis.

VUB is partner.

VUB budget: € 595,750

VUB is coordinator VUB budget: € 2,465,000

VUB is partner VUB budget: € 281,250

Prof. Dr. Heritiana Ranaivoson, from the Studies in Media, Innovation, and Technology Research Group (SMIT), is part of an international consortium for the Horizon Europe project StreamSCAPES (Driving Sustainable Climate Transition of Video-On-Demand Platforms at a Time of Transformation).

The overarching goal of StreamSCAPES is to kick start a new era in forward “thinking and doing” in the ways in which production, consumption and decision-making systems in the Cultural and Creative Industries lead through the sustainable climate transition with a particular emphasis on Video-On-Demand platforms as central nodes within audiovisual and cultural ecosystems.

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS & SPIN-OFFS 2025 imec-VUB 36

www.vubtechtransfer.be

PATENTS IN 2025

IPR LIES AT THE CORE OF • licensing research outcome • creating spin-offs • generating revenue for the university

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52 inventions disclosed 31 new patent applications filed 228 Active patent famillies

AILOS - Driving modern robotics from its very core: the gearboxes

SPIN-OFFS 52 ACTIVE VUB SPIN-OFFS 5 NEW SPIN-OFF COMPANIES (2 COMPANIES TO BE ANNOUNCED)

EMAXSIS - Advanced Edge Technologies and Solutions EMAXSIS specialises in edge-monitoring technologies to ensure the reliability of power electronics in the automotive and energy sectors.

Their hardware and software solutions support the transition towards sustainable electrification.

www.emaxsis.be

with other partner 44

VIB-VUB 68

62% INCREASE IN NUMBER OF ACTIVE PATENT FAMILIES SINCE 2018

• fostering long-term collaborations with companies

DELIVERING TANGIBLE IMPACT FOR VUB’S RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

VUB only applicant 60

The advancement of modern robotics starts at its foundation: the gearboxes. Ailos aims to define how these industries operate with increased precision, efficiency and versatility. By innovating gearbox technology across diverse fields, Ailos is catalyzing the transition towards the next wave of automation, productivity and agility.

ailos-robotics.com

Spica Therapeutics - Pioneering Macrophage-Subset Targeting for Transformative Therapies Spica Therapeutics is a pioneering biotech company dedicated to transforming macrophage biology into breakthrough therapies for patients across multiple therapeutic areas. Leveraging its proprietary functional macrophage fingerprinting technology, Spica identifies and selectively targets disease-relevant macrophage subsets to address unmet medical needs in oncology, fibroinflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

spicatx.com

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INCUBATORS www.vubtechtransfer.be

VUB -VIB BIO INCUBATOR BRUSSELS

“WITH THE NEW BIO-INCUBATOR, WE WANT TO FACILITATE THE CREATION OF NEW START-UP COMPANIES AND STRENGTHEN THE LINK BETWEEN OUR LAB AND OUR SPIN-OFFS.”

on VUB main campus with partner VIB focus on biotech in renovated Willy Van der Meeren units 2025 first fully operational year • move-in-ready lab and office spaces • shared (lab) kitchen • houses VIB NANOBODY® VHH Core facility

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near VUB main campus focus on start-ups & scale-ups in technology and engineering high occupancy rate acess to expertise, facilities and strategic partnerships www.icabrussel.be 

Jan Steyaert, Scientific Director VIB-VUB Centre for Structural Biology

2025 

VUB BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR - ICAB NV 

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focus on embedding BIB in biotech ecosystem (Flanders & Brussels) active prospection new companies

prospering industry-university collaboration www.vubtechtransfer.be/bio-incubator-brussels-bib 

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STARTLAB.BRUSSELS initiated by VUB and ULB pre-incubator supporting first-time entrepreneurs s ince 2025 pre-incubator for research-based spin-offs training and coaching programmes co-working space in Etterbeek access to a network of mentors and investors startlab.brussels 

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RESEARCH PARK www.vubtechtransfer.be

GREEN ENERGY PARK RESEARCHPARK ZELLIK 

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VUB co-manager of Researchpark Zellik (Flemish Brabant) Park evolving into a thematic innovation cluster:

healthtech, robotics, research infrastructure 

Company presence linked to active research &

structural collaboration with VUB

2025 

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Major strategic acceleration and repositioning New governance & ownership structure

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Created in 2019 (non-profit) Located at Researchpark Zellik Large-scale living lab for sustainable innovation & co-creation Focus on collaboration between industry, academia, government & users Key developments:

|S mart Living Lab |R econstruct demo house |D ata center (construction 2022 – completed 2024, with Ghelamco) www.greenenergypark.be

PROJECTS IN PROGRESS VISION: INTEGRATED CAMPUS COMBINING RESEARCH, INFRASTRUCTURE, INCUBATION & SCALING 

Redevelopment of ex-Roularta building as a flagship site

|H ome to 7 Tesla MRI -U nique, state-of-the-art infrastructure -F ocus: neuroscience, medical imaging, personalized healthcare -B oosts collaboration with academic & industry partners |D evelopment of a robotics hub -A pplications in healthcare, industry, and research -F ocus on start-ups, spin-offs & deeptech companies Development of new Origin building |M ixed use project with lab spaces Former Innovation & Incubation Center Brussel - IICB |R edestination of building towards flexible research & innovation infrastructure

Full land ownership acquired by VUB from VLAIO

Enables targeted attraction of strategic companies

www.zone-researchpark.be

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“IN A CONTEXT OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, THOUGHTFUL INVESTMENTS IN INNOVATION ARE OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO INCREASE OUR ECONOMIC AND SOCIETAL RESILIENCE.THE STRONG PERFORMANCE OF VUB IN COMPETITIVE R&D&I FUNDING PROGRAMMES AND SPIN-OFF GENERATION, REFLECTS THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CAPACITY.” Peter Schelkens, Vice-rector Innovation & Industry Relations

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STUDENTS & EDUCATION

400

200

0 400

300

200 FACULTY OF SCIENCES AND BIOENGINEERING SCIENCES

FACULTY OF LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY

FACULTY OF PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES

FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND HUMANITIES

FACULTY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND PHYSIOTHERAPY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

1000

FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY

2,834 MASTER’S DEGREES

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND SOLVAY BUSINESS SCHOOL

MULTIDISCIPLINARY INSTITUTE FOR TEACHER EDUCATION (MILO)

FACULTY OF SCIENCES AND BIOENGINEERING SCIENCES

FACULTY OF LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY

FACULTY OF PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES

FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND HUMANITIES

FACULTY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND PHYSIOTHERAPY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

600

FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY

800

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND SOLVAY BUSINESS SCHOOL

GRADUATION CEREMONY ON THE GROTE MARKT

OUR GRADUATES 2024-2025 1,591 BACHELOR’S DEGREES

500

100

0

30

STUDENTS 2025-2026

24,695

students

20,451

21,617

22,313 22,366

+ 2,05%

24,199

19,156

12.23% FIRST-TIME UNIVERSITY STUDENTS 3,021

9,687

students

2008 2009

2009 2010

59,4% Women

2010 2011

2011 2012

2012 2013

2013 2014

40,6% Men

2014 2015

2015 2016

2016 2017

2017 2018

2018 2019

2019 2020

2020 2021

2021 2022

2022 2023

2023 2024

2024 2025

2025 2026

31

STUDENTS BY FACULTY 2025-2026 2025-2026 SOCIAL SCIENCES & SOLVAY BUSINESS SCHOOL

53% 47%

74% 26%

6,916 students 1,124 first-time university students 35% international LAW & CRIMINOLOGY

3,236 students 448 first-time university students 10,3% international MEDICINE & PHARMACY

70% 30%

2,318 students 220 first-time university students 13,16% international PSYCHOLOGY & EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES

85% 15%

3,048 students 332 first-time university students 13,6% international

versus 2024-2025

versus 2024-2025

+5,70%

-5,3%

-0,97%

-13,8%

0%

+3,8%

+2,1%

-0,7%

-2,1%

+19,1%

-18,2%

-2,1%

+4,1%

+0,1%

-9,3%

+12,3%

OTHER

2,634 students (for example Teacher Training MILO [Multidisciplinair Instituut Lerarenopleiding])

2025-2026 ARTS & PHILOSOPHY

1,655 students 218 first-time university students 25,8% international

65%

35%

SCIENCES & BIO-ENGINEERING SCIENCES

2,301 students 274 first-time university students 30% international

41% 59 %

ENGINEERING

1,936 students 232 first-time university students

26%

33,5% international

74%

PHYSICAL EDUCATION & PHYSIOTHERAPY

994 students 219 first-time university students 8,9% international

44% 56% 32

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 2024-2025

FRANCE: 196 (3.2%) NETHERLANDS: 609 (10.1%)

SPAIN: 308 (5.1%)

151 NATIONALITIES

24.38%

45,6%

NON-EEA COUNTRIES

54.4%

1 4 GERMANY: 218 (3.6%)

2

6,043 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS EEA COUNTRIES

3

5

TOP 5 EEA* NATIONALITIES

ITALY: 407 (6.7%) TURKEY: 202 (3.3%)

56.7% 43.3%

3

PAKISTAN: 165 (2.7%) CHINA: 329

2 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN STUDY PROGRAMMES

* EEA: European Economic Area

Bachelor: 1,967

18.2%

Master: 1,859

25.4%

Advanced Master: 196

21.1%

PhD: 1,202

52.5%

Other: 1,536

26.6%

IRAN: 238 (3.9%)

(5.4%)

5 4

1

INDIA: 186 (3.1%)

TOP 5 NON-EEA COUNTRIES

33

EXCHANGE STUDENTS

4 5

3 2

2024-2025 INCOMING STUDENTS

40%

2

1 4

50 countries*

33%

315 students (EBelgica included)

1

67%

40 countries

60%

Total: 377 students (EBelgica included)

5

2024-2025 OUTGOING STUDENTS

24 EEA countries ; 16 NON EEA countries

3

24 EEA countries - 26 non-EEA countries

E BELGICA INCOMING TOP 5 INCOMING COUNTRIES*

*

1 SPAIN

62

2 ITALY

59

3 FRANCE

26

4 TURKEY

21

5 GERMANY

19

based on students’ nationality

8 incoming students

TOP 5 OUTGOING COUNTRIES 1 SPAIN

50

2 ITALY

32

3 FRANCE

25

4 NETHERLANDS

18

5 SWEDEN

16 **

EEA: European Economic Area

1 outgoing students

38% 62% 100%

34

“INTERNATIONALISATION SITS AT THE CORE OF EVERYTHING WE AS A UNIVERSITY DO: FROM OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF,THROUGH TO OUR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH,TO OUR SOCIAL COMMITMENTS TOWARDS THE WIDER WORLD. OUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ARE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN ENSURING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS BECOME WORLD CITIZENS. IN ADDITION, WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR EMPHASIS ON THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF OUR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, BY ELABORATING COLLABORATION WITHIN EUTOPIA AND WITH OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS, AS THIS IS VITAL IN FURTHER REINFORCING OUR COMMITMENT AND REPUTATION AS AN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY.” Karin Vanderkerken, Vice-rector Internationalisation VUB 35

STUDENT HOUSING OCCUPATION

40% international students

PLANNING USQUARE (VUB-ULB) +465 NEW STUDENT ROOMS 127 VUB, 292 ULB, 46 BRUSSELS STUDENT

1,540 VUB ROOMS STUDENT HOUSES XY (NEW: 2019)

650

+/- 5,500 PRIVATEPARTNER ROOMS

STUDENT HOUSE NIEUWELAAN (*2008)

340 STUDENT HOUSE SCHOOFSLAAN (*2025) & TRIOMFLAAN (2000)

U-RESIDENCE 95 rooms

304 STUDENT HOUSES JETTE (*2007)

Brik 400 rooms 4500 private rooms and studios on MyKot database

246

Bru Upkot 216 studios VUB-ULB, of which 108 for VUB Jet Upkot 143 studios, of which 91 for VUB

* Renovated

Brusello XL 130 studios SVKS

JETTE

246 rooms

ELSENE

356 rooms and studios - a new project featuring 198 student housing units will be delivered in September 2026 Social Housing Office for Students with limited income

1,294 rooms

36

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 2024 698,756 Scholarly publications

in the digital collection

2

Libraries – Medical Library in Jette and Central Library in Etterbeek

369,447

Scholarly publications in the physical collection

30,5 Staff members

73 Weekly opening hours: Medical Library (66.5 hours) and Central Library (64 hours)

895,321 Publications downloaded

11,147 Loans 498,140 Physical visits 80

Library information sessions

560,975 Search queries

27 Group study rooms

645 Study seats

37

INCLUSIVE UNIVERSITY VUB WAS ONE OF THE FIRST UNIVERSITIES TO WELCOME WORKING STUDENTS

PARTICIPATION

21,28% SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS

• Students participate in rector elections • 20% of students participate in student elections • 10% of members of all VUB governing boards are students

OPEN CAMPUS

5.235

7,90% WORKING STUDENTS TRAJECT

20,30% STUDENTS WHO ARE ALSO WORKING

GENERAL SATISFACTION SURVEY 2024-2025 72% of students is satisfied with VUB. *

• Welcoming policy for international students • Individual and group study coaching

FINANCIAL SUPPORT 2024-2025 • 1.674 VUB-grants for students who experience financial thresholds that may complicate their study path (€1.842.515 in total)

MELDPUNT - REPORT IT • ‘Unwanted and inappropriate behaviour’: report it!

• For students and staff

FRATERNITIES • The VUB has 49 recognised student fraternities * 9% very satisfied, 33% satisfied, 30% rather satisfied, 21% neutral, 5% rather dissatisfied, 1% dissatisfied and 1% very dissatisfied

38

“VUB IS MEETING THE GROWING DEMAND FOR INTERNATIONAL, DIGITAL, AND FLEXIBLE EDUCATION. WE OFFER TAILORED PROGRAMS FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS: FROM FIRST-YEAR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS SEEKING TO UPDATE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN RESPONSE TO EVOLVING JOB REQUIREMENTS. OUR PORTFOLIO INCLUDES SHORT COURSES WITH MICROCREDENTIALS, EXTENDED CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND POSTGRADUATE STUDIES. IN BLENDED OFFERINGS WE COMBINE THE BEST OF ONLINE AND ON-CAMPUS EXPERIENCES.” Nadine Engels, Vice-rector for Education and Student Affairs

39

INCLUSIVE UNIVERSITY

VUB as the first university with 6 inclusive exam accomodations for all students, implemented in academy year 2023-2024: - Sufficient time will be provided for every student during an exam - Every student is allowed to use scrap paper during an exam - Each student may use non-electronic earbuds during an exam - Any student may make designations on the question sheet of an exam - Any student may take (prescribed) medication during an exam -E ach exam will be provided in an inclusive format that enhances the readability and accessibility of an exam. That is, exams will be prepared in a suitably large, sans serif font.

9000

8830

8000

22-23 June

23-24 June

24-25 June

7000 6000 5000 4000

4379 4148

3000 2000 1000

580 477 452

363 332 341

Number of students involved

Number of teachers involved

0 Number of exam accomodations requested

1.522 STUDENTS WITH REFLEX* STATUS 2024-2025 TYPE Developmental disorder: learning disorder

545

Developmental disorder: non-learning disorder

785

Chronic Disease

156

Psychiatric disability

116

Physical disability

36

Visual disability

27

Other

79

Hearing disability

16

(dislexia, dyscalculia)

(ASD, ADHD, stammering, DCD, dysphasia, tic disorder)

* ReFlex stands for reasonable flexibility,involving adjustments to teaching and examination regulations. You can also get the ReFlex status for other reasons, such as being a family caregiver, pregnancy, refugee status, or being a student representative.

40

INNOVATION IN EDUCATION

VUB AS AN URBAN ENGAGED UNIVERSITY WHAT DO WE AIM FOR WITH OUR STUDENTS? 5 CORNERSTONES

HOW DO WE SHAPE OUR EDUCATION? 7 INGREDIENTS

OPEN-MINDED RESEARCH-INFORMED DIDACTICS COMMITMENT STUDENT OWNERSHIP CITIZENS OF THE WORLD INTERDISCIPLINARITY ATTITUDE OF FREE INQUIRY THOUGHTFUL BLEND READY FOR A PROFESSIONAL CAREER

MULTILINGUALISM OPEN AND CO-CREATIVE EDUCATION LIFELONG LEARNING

41

“VUB HAS BUILT A TRADITION OF CONNECTING ACADEMIA AND SOCIETY, IN EDUCATION AS WELL AS IN RESEARCH. EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS THAT GIVE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONE THEIR SOCIAL COMMITMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY AND ENABLE THEM TO USE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN COMPLEX REAL-LIFE SITUATIONS, REFLECT OUR MISSION AND VISION ON EDUCATION. Nadine Engels, Vice-rector for Education and Student Affairs

42

INNOVATION IN EDUCATION LEARNING AND INNOVATION CENTER FUTURE PROOF INFRASTRUCTURE: LEARNING AND INNOVATION CENTER

Podcast Studio A dedicated space equipped with microphones, recording software, and soundproofing to produce high-quality audio content. In education, it can be used by students and teachers to create engaging content, like interviews, or discussions. Integrating podcasts as an assignment encourages creativity, collaboration, and modern communication skills.

Collaboration Room A dynamic learning space designed for flexibility and interaction. Begin with a plenary presentation before students split into smaller groups, each equipped with their own table and screen. Remote participants can join effortlessly via MS Teams, ensuring seamless collaboration. Content can be shared both from the instructor’s screen to the student screens and in reverse, fostering truly interactive learning experiences.

Immersive 360° Room Step into a truly unique learning environment where images and videos are projected across all four walls, creating a fully surrounding visual experience.

This space allows students to be virtually transported to historical landmarks, scientific settings, or cultural worlds. The immersive design boosts engagement, deepens understanding, and helps students retain complex concepts more effectively.

Informal Complementing the formal learning spaces, the LIC also offers inviting areas for informal learning — places where students can collaborate, unwind, and share ideas. These environments play a vital role in fostering creativity, well-being, and meaningful peer-to-peer connections within the campus community.

43

LEARNING AND INNOVATION CENTER

384 individual study seats spread across 6 floors 24

10,004

desktop computers (12 VUB / 12 ULB)

unique visitors (mid-April to end of September)

22 caccommodating ollaboration booths, 90 people in total

1

220 seats

40 people

ranging from 2 to 20-person capacity, totalling

297,157 total visits (mid-April to end of September)

37 meeting rooms, 1

Learning Theatre with capacity for

60-80 people

7 classrooms with modular pods, 3 managed by ULB, 4 managed by VUB. Combined capacity: 184 people

Board Room with capacity for

Staff-only workspaces for

18 people

44

INNOVATION IN EDUCATION QE QE: A BRAND NEW FUTURE PROOF AUDITORIUM

New auditorium Step into our state-of-the-art auditorium — a brand-new, 600-seat venue built for impactful learning experiences. With three large screens ensuring perfect visibility from every seat and crystal-clear audio from top-tier speakers, every lecture comes to life. Integrated cameras and microphones connected to Panopto make it easy to record and share sessions, so no one ever misses a moment of inspiration.

Digital exams Our brand-new auditorium is designed for the future of digital education, featuring more than 250 conveniently placed power outlets — perfect for hosting large-scale digital exams in a single session. The dependable, high-performance infrastructure ensures smooth operations and opens exciting opportunities for smarter, more efficient exam management. With its gently tiered seating layout, students enjoy optimal comfort while maintaining fair and secure testing conditions.

45

INNOVATION IN EDUCATION AI4EDUCATION AI4EDUCATION AI and assessment: 4.684 course units were rigorously screened for potential impact of GenAI An automated scan systematically identified courses whose learning objectives and assessment criteria could potentially be compromised by the use of GenAI. Teaching staff is informed about the available support to adapt existing assessment and teaching strategies in response to AI developments.

VALIDITY OF ASSESMENT

AI-literacy: comprehensive support for students, teaching staff and programmes Teaching staff and students are offered support and resources to enhance their AI literacy.

AI-LITERACY SUPPORT

LECTURERS

WORKSHOPS

INSPIRATION SESSIONS

SHAREPOINT WEBSITE

PROGRAMMES

TAILORED SUPPORT

WORKSHOPS

SHAREPOINT WEBSITE

STUDENTS

CANVAS MODULES

AI CRASH COURSES

PRE-CHECK

REDESIGN & UPDATE COURSE DESCRIPTION FILE

POST-CHECK

46

NOVA ACADEMY

Nova Academy unites knowledge institutions around a single shared ambition: to strengthen lifelong learning, make it more accessible, and better align it with the needs of today and tomorrow. What started in 2021 as a joint initiative of Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Ghent University and University of Antwerp has grown into a powerful network of partners. Today, Artesis Plantijn University College, Antwerp Maritime Academy, Artevelde University College, Erasmushogeschool Brussels, HOGENT, Howest, and the Institute of Tropical Medicine also contribute to this ambition.

57 postgraduates 184 micro-credentials 178 long-term and short-term courses 171 lectures were spotlighted on this platform

www.nova-academy.be

MICRO-CREDENTIALS

- Economics and business aspects of Artificial Intelligence (Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences) - Governance and organisational aspects of AI (Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences) - Artificial intelligence the common good: people and culture (Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences) - Technology and Data (Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences) - Casestudies in responsible innovation with AI (Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences) - Fundamentals of AI for the Common Good (Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences) - Innovative procedural techniques in atrial fibrillation ablation (Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy)

INTERUNIVERSITY MICRO-CREDENTIAL KLINISCHE NUTRITIE

(Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy, coordination VUB, taught in Dutch)

A complete overview of micro-credentials offered at the VUB.



47

VUB PHDs

DOCTORAL RESEARCH

3 Doctoral Schools • Human Sciences (DSH): 858 registrations • Life Sciences and Medicine: 516 registrations • Natural Sciences & (Bioscience) Engineering:

937 registrations

2024-2025 Doctoral Students: 2,327

Doctorates by Gender & Faculty*

49,5% 50,5% 54,4% international

Succesful Doctorates: 295

6 doctorates in the interdisciplinary studies were granted

Social Sciences & Solvay Business School

Medicine & Pharmacy

Engineering

Arts & Philosophy

38

59

76

23

54%

42,1%

37,3%

77,6%

60,9%

57,9%

62,7%

22,4%

39,1%

46%

60,5% international

40,6% international

77,6% international

34,8% international

Physical Education & Physiotherapy

Psychology & Educational Sciences

Law & Criminology

Sciences & Bio-Engineering Sciences

11

13

13

56

55,6% international 32,3% EEA 67,7% non-EEA

60,9%

15,4%

46,2%

59%

39,1%

84,6%

53,9%

41%

63,6% international

38,5% international

76,9% international

46,4 % international

49

DOCTORAL RESEARCH (NEWLY) NEGOTIATED JOINT PHD’S

49 (NEWLY) NEGOTIATED INTERNATIONAL JOINT PHD’S

34

DOCTORAL TRAINING PROGRAMME ORGANISED BY 3 DOCTORAL SCHOOLS 2024 168 Certificates 180 Completed Programmes 23-24

EXCELLENT PHD SUPERVISION AWARDS

DEFENDED JOINT PHD’S

- Christophe Snoeck

BELGIUM INTERNATIONAL

- Rik Vosters - Kim De Veirman

30 29

Writing & Presenting

Methodology Wellbeing

Research Culture

Doctoral Derby laureates 2024-2025

- Paulien Leemans (Jury Award) - Vincent Vangrunderbeek (Audience Award) - Lynn De Mey (Written Research Summary)

Career & Entrpreneurship Transferable Skills Specialised Training

50

THE STRENGTHS OF A PHD INTREPID, HANDS-ON AND PERSEVERANT

TEAM PLAYERS AND INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVERS

STRATEGIC INSIGHT COMBINED WITH ANALYTICAL ABILITY

EXPERIENCED PLANNERS, PROJECT AND TIME MANAGERS

EXCELLENT COMMUNICATORS

CREATIVE, IMPROVISATION SKILLS AND OUT-OF-THE-BOX THINKING

ADAPTED TO AN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

51

PHILANTHROPIC FUNDRAISING

VUB. EVERY DONATION RETURNS. 2024-2025

FOUNDATION

THE VUB FOUNDATION RAISES PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS FROM COMPANIES, ORGANISATIONS, INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE TECHTRANSFER DEPARTMENT OF THE VICE-RECTORATE OF INNOVATION & INDUSTRY RELATIONS. THE VUB FOUNDATION COORDINATES ALL FUNDRAISING AT VUB UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE INNOVATION AND VALORISATION BOARD. € €

€ 853.057

Net revenue

€ 3.716.320

*T he overhead was lowered in November 2025 from 20% to 15%

€ € €

TOTAL REVENUE € 4.569.377 2024-2025 Overhead*

24 ACTIVE CHAIRS

€

€

HOW WE GROW THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT Donations

€ 962.681

Legacies

€ 235.943

Chairs

VUBFOUNDATION.BE

€

14 FUNDS BY NAME

€ 2.659.143

Sponsorships

€ 351.198

Funds by name

€ 360.409

53

“THE POLICY OF THE VUB FOUNDATION IS BASED ON THE CONVICTION THAT FOR EACH PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTION,THERE IS A SOCIETAL RETURN. EACH DONATION, SPONSORSHIP OR LEGACY SUPPORTS EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND/OR INNOVATION AT OUR UNIVERSITY. IT IS OUR AIM TO FIND THE PERFECT MATCH FOR EACH COMPANY, INSTITUTION OR PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, WITHIN OUR RESEARCH GROUPS AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTION.“ VUB. EVERY DONATION RETURNS.

54

FELLOWSHIP

CONNECTING ACADEMIA & SOCIETY

FELLOWSHIP

MISSION VUB fosters a network of fellows who connect academia with society. The interactions arising from this are of huge benefit for education, research, innovation, valorisation and policy. The VUB fellows are a diverse network of dedicated experts and leaders in their field who commit selflessly to the university and UZ Brussel. Thanks to their commitment, VUB can continue to evolve as an open institution connected with society and the business community.

To create a network of privileged VUB ambassadors who continue to challenge and inspire the university and UZ Brussel, and help propagate VUB’s ideology as a progressive institution of independent research and critical thinking.

VISION VUB FELLOWSHIP WEBSITE https://www.vub.be/fellowship

56

VUB ALUMNI

ALUMNI 2025 >80,000 AMBITIOUS PROFESSIONALS IN OUR RECORD BASE >64,000 ALUMNI WITH BELGIAN NATIONALITY (81%)

WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?*

* Country unknown 3.05%

>16,000 INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI (19%)

NORTH AMERICA: 612

EUROPE: 7,454 MIDDLE EAST: 883

AFRICA: 2,118

ASIA-PACIFIC: 3.939

SOUTH/LATIN AMERICA: 935

58 Source: Student Administration Center

ALUMNI AND THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIVES TOP 5 WHERE THEY WORK

SOCIAL SCIENCES & SOLVAY BUSINESS SCHOOL Technology, Information and Internet 4% Credit Interme4% diation

Advertising Services

6%

Business Consulting and Services

4%

Business 5% Consulting and Services

34%

Legal Services

IT Services and IT Consulting

PSYCHOLOGY & EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES Research Services

8%

6% 7% 6%

IT Services and IT Consulting

Health and Human Services

4% 5%

15%

5%

Business Consulting and Services

SCIENCES & BIO-ENGINEERING SCIENCES

Health and Human Services 4%

Business Consulting and Services 6%

8%

Advertising Services

5%

Business Consulting and Services

7%

5%

Media and Telecommunications

PHYSICAL EDUCATION & PHYSIOTHERAPY Research Services

Research Services Higher Education

LANGUAGES & HUMANITIES

Higher Education

7%

Technology, Information and Internet 5%

Machinery Manufacturing

Insurance Credit Intermediation 3% 3% Administration of Justice

9%

ENGINEERING

Civil Engineering

LAW & CRIMINOLOGY

12%

Medical Practices

Medical Practices

4% 16%

6% Recreational Facilities

8%

Technology, Information and Internet

Performing Arts and Spectator Sports

Business Consulting and Services Research Services

9%

10%

IT Services and IT Consulting

Higher Education 3%

3% 14%

7%

14%

Medical Practices

Chemical Manufacturing

MULTIDISCIPLINARY INSTITUTE FOR TEACHER EDUCATION Civic and Social Organizations

3%

Chemical Manufacturing 4%

Chemical Manufacturing

Research 16% Services

MEDICINE & PHARMACY

Health and Human Services

4% 8%

Research Services

9%

Primary and Secondary Education 13%

9%

Higher Education

59

VUB STAFF

VUB STAFF ACADEMIC STAFF

4.042 EMPLOYEES 2025

2.650

SUPPORT STAFF

1.419

48,4%

* 31 employees have both academic and support staff status.

51,6%

Men

Women WOMEN

44,9%

VUB/UZ Brussel biggest Dutch-speaking employer in Brussels 8.153

WOMEN

64,1%

MEN

55,1% MEN

35,9%

61

GENDER EQUALITY STAFF

GENDER EQUALITY IN RECRUITMENT AND CAREER PROGRESSION

At VUB 44,3 % of the researchers are women and 35,5% of the professors

University council: 38% women

100%

Board of directors: 30% women

80% 60% 40%

GENDER BALANCE IN LEADERSHIP AND DECISION-MAKING

Academic council: 32% women 50%

20%

40,5%

42% 32%

34%

Associate professor

Professor

00%

PhD/research assistent

Postdoc

Assistant professor

Research council: 52,5% women 21,5%

Full Professor

MEASURES FOR WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND A RESPECTFUL WORKING ENVIRONMENT THE INTEGRATION OF GENDER INTO RESEARCH & TEACHING THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT GENDER PAY GAP (WHEN ASSESSED WITHIN THE SAME JOB FUNCTION)

Education council: 56,5% women Innovation and valorisation council: 31% women International policy council: 55,5% women Student council: 47% women

GENDER EQUALITY PLAN 2024 - 2027



62

WORKING FOR THE VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL Ethical and professional aspects 



Enhancing the awareness around ethics and integrity rules in research practices Stimulating equality and inclusion for all researchers

Recruitment and selection 

  

Training and development 

  

Skills and competences for all researchers Career development Stimulating team development Engaged leading in academic positions

HR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH ACTION PLAN 2024 - 2027



A toolkit to support academic recruitment and selection Employer branding Optimising the digital hiring process and its use Monitoring HR data and OTM-R compliance (OTM-R: Open, Transparant and Merit Based Recruitment)

Working conditions 



An integrated and evidence informed health and well-being policy Internationalisation and an optimal start at VUB

VUB proudly holds the European HR Excellence in Research Award. It demonstrates our commitment to open recruitment and a welcoming work environment with growth opportunities for researchers.

63

THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF OUR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: MAKING ACADEMIC AND SOCIETAL TALENT WORK TOGETHER TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS,TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE: THANKS TO ALL OF YOU! SO, LET’S KEEP ON BUILDING! Karsten De Clerck Chairman of the Board of VUB & honorary fellow

64

CONNECTING ACADEMIA & SOCIETY 2025 105 fellows

42 63 186 honorary fellows

74 112

FELLOWSHIP

THROUGH ACTIVITIES (INTER)NATIONAL STUDENT INTERNSHIPS NETWORKING

FELLOWS IMPROVE QUALITY OF RESEARCH & EDUCATION EMPLOYABILITY OF OUR GRADUATES CAPACITY FOR INNOVATION & COMPETITIVENESS INNOVATION

GUEST LECTURES CULTURAL ENRICHMENT COMPANY VISITS MASTER THESIS GUIDANCE SUPPORT OF RESEARCH INFLUENCERS’ ROLE

65

ICT

SERVICE DESK 2024-2025

TOTAL TICKETS: 9.427 60 PER DAY

HELP REQUESTS Other 5%

Account and access management, like problems with passwords and logins 30%

HOW? By walk-in 15% Through self service portal https://vub.service-now.com 10%

Microsoft 365 problems 15%

Information Security and Data Privacy Phishing & Authentication 10%

Hardware and software issues with notebooks 20%

By phone 20% Through helpdesk@vub.be 50%

67

GENERAL IT MANAGEMENT

GENERAL IT MANAGEMENT • VUB manages 2 data centers • Responsible for 30,000 user accounts

DATACENTER NEXUS Datacenter Nexus is VUB’s modern, energyefficient facility where important IT services are hosted, including private cloud, research computing, and academic data storage.

GREEN AND CERTIFIED • Holds 3 major certifications: BREEAM Excellent, EDGE Advanced, Uptime Institute Tier III • Designed for maximum energy efficiency (PUE 1.2) • Runs on 100% green energy, partly produced locally • Uses heat recovery to warm campus buildings • Collects rainwater for cooling

WHAT IT HOSTS

NETWORK

•4 8 server racks, using up to 520 kW of power •V UB Private Cloud: 900 computing cores, 1 petabyte of storage • 2 high-performance computing clusters for research • 3 petabytes of academic research data storage

• Internet speed up to 400 Gbit in the core network • Over 120 km of fiber cables connecting the data centers • Data is encrypted for security

68

COMPUTING FOR RESEARCHERS Hydra is VUB’s Tier-2 High-Performance Computing cluster, available free for all VUB researchers via the Flemish Supercomputer Center.

CLUSTER SPECS • 3,968 Central processing unit (CPU) cores • 22 graphics processing unit (GPU) devices • Compute power: 265 TFLOPS CPU, 236 TFLOPS GPU • 660 TB scratch filesystem

USAGE HIGHLIGHTS 2024 • 2.6 centuries of single-core CPU compute time used • 21.2 years of GPU compute time used • 1,500,695 jobs executed • 24% of jobs consumed 98% CPU and 96% GPU compute time • 383 unique users active • 237 new VUB accounts created at the Vlaams Supercomputer Centrum (Flemish Supercomputer Center)

MORE INFO: https://hpc.vub.be/news/2025/overview-of-2024/

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VUB DATA CENTRE TOTAL NUMBER 37,000 METRES

RACKS: 60

UTP CABLES

· Electricity: 5 · Supporting: 21 · IT: 34

ELECTRICAL POWER

ELECTRICAL POWER

TRANSFORMER 1 MW

BATTERIES

· Network + Minkels: 64 kW · POD: 200 kW COOLING CAPACITY OF 405 KW

FLOOR AREA 110 M³ TOTAL INVESTMENT 2,647,000 EUROS Improvement buildings POD

Of which 210 KW for POD

Cooling & Electricity Improvement IT installation Transfo & Emergency generator

SAFE LOCATION FOR SERVERS RESEARCH GROUPS 









ELECTRICAL POWER EMERGENCY GENERATOR: 1.2 MW



Installation in a rack Connectivity: high-speed 10 Gbps and more for normal interfaces and 1 Gbps for out-of-band management Secure access and fire protection Availability monitoring as basic function Performance monitoring Backup & data recovery for virtual machines

70

APPLICATIONS

APPLICATIONS • 131 centralized applications • 57% cloud vs 43% in house • 35 team members in Applications department • 75,828 lines of code in enrollment app

SERVERS 243 Linux servers

MICROSOFT • 36,089 mailboxes • 5M emails/month (4.4M read, 650K sent) • 1,764 SharePoint sites with 16,000 active users • 25K Teams meetings/month • 650K Teams chat messages/month • 10K direct Teams calls/month

188 Windows servers

71

DATA STORAGE

VUB uses two main systems for data storage: • Microsoft: Cloud-based storage for Teams, mailboxes, and SharePoint.

• Pixiu: On-premises system for research data, fully managed by VUB.

MICROSOFT (CLOUD) • 142.64 TB in SharePoint • 534.41 TB in Teams • 61.23 TB in mailboxes

PIXIU (LOCAL RESEARCH STORAGE) • 2 PB total capacity, 1.6 PB in use • Planned expansion to 4 PB • Data mirrored across 2 datacenters • 737 researchers, 92 accounts, 253 buckets

MORE INFO: https://hpc.vub.be/docs/pixiu/

72

UZ BRUSSEL

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

UZ BRUSSEL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN 2025 TAKING CARE OF A DIVERSE PUBLIC 3,493 FTE STAFF MEMBERS

Medical 19%

Support 27%

Other 3%

Staff members of nearly 70 nationalities are taking care of a broad variety of patients of around 160 nationalities from all over the world.

INVESTMENTS & ACTIVITIES Total investment 2025 €99,7 million

In 2025, UZ Brussel accounted for as many as 32,045 multiple day hospitalisations and 55.503 day-admissions. A total of 482,645 consultations and 15,951 interventions took place. 77,789 patients came through the Emergency Department.

Paramedics & Pharmacy 16% Nursing 35%

74

UZ BRUSSEL & FACULTY OF MEDICINE & PHARMACY MORE SCIENTIFIC OUTPUT

10 RESEARCH CLUSTERS • Development, Ageing and Pathology • Diabetes, Transplantation & Pathology • Liver & Cell Biology and Toxicology • Medical Imaging & Physical Sciences • Neurosciences • Oncology Research Centre • Pharmaceutical Research and Data Technology • Public Health • Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine • Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases

1225 scientific papers published in the 2025 academic year by UZ Brussel & VUB Medicine & Pharmacy Faculty

438 Clinical Research Files @Medical Ethics Commission In 2025 75

UZ BRUSSEL AS PIONEER WORLD-FIRST FERTILITY PROCEDURE OFFERS HOPE TO CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORS UZ BRUSSEL SURPASSES 500 PROCEDURES WITH AFFERA™ MAPPING AND ABLATION SYSTEM UZ Brussel is among the first hospitals in Europe to have performed more than 500 procedures using the Affera™ Mapping and Ablation System. This innovative technology combines mapping, ablation and validation in a single catheter, enabling cardiac arrhythmias to be treated more quickly, safely and with less burden on patients.

In a world first, cryopreserved immature testicular tissue has been retransplanted after 16 years into an infertile man who underwent chemotherapy as a child. The aim of the procedure is to restart sperm production and restore the patient’s fertility.

The transplantation follows years of pioneering research by Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Brussels IVF.

AUGMENTED REALITY IMPROVES ACCURACY OF LIFE-SAVING BRAIN PROCEDURES

PROSTATE CANCER RADIOTHERAPY REDUCED FROM WEEKS TO DAYS Patients with prostate cancer can now complete their course of radiotherapy in just one week, compared with the traditional treatment schedule of four to eight weeks. This is one of the key findings of the PROSEVEN study conducted by UZ Brussel.

In 2021, UZ Brussel became the first hospital in Belgium to introduce the MRI-Linac, a state-of-the-art system that combines an MRI scanner with a radiotherapy machine. Through the PROSEVEN study, the centre further strengthens its pioneering role in Europe in the field of MRI-guided radiotherapy.

AI TECHNOLOGY SPEEDS UP AND IMPROVES SPERM CELL DETECTION Researchers at Brussels IVF, in collaboration with Robovision Healthcare, have developed an AI-powered system that can detect sperm cells far more quickly and accurately following testicular sperm extraction (TESE). This procedure is used in men whose ejaculate contains no sperm cells. The new technology, named T’easy, could mark an important step forward in fertility treatment.

Doctors at UZ Brussel using Augmented Reality (AR) to place life-saving brain drains achieve greater accuracy and higher success rates than colleagues performing the procedure without this technology. These findings emerge from a pilot study evaluating a newly developed AR system. The approach also reduces complications and lowers the likelihood that the procedure needs to be repeated.

UZ BRUSSEL PIONEERS NON-INVASIVE TREATMENT FOR LIFE-THREATENING CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA UZ Brussel has successfully treated a patient with persistent, life-threatening ventricular tachycardia (VT) using stereotactic radioablation. The technique delivers highly targeted radiation to the area of the heart responsible for the abnormal rhythm, guided by real-time imaging.

By disrupting the faulty electrical circuit, the treatment can restore a normal heart rhythm.

This approach offers a non-invasive treatment option for patients whose arrhythmias remain uncontrolled despite even the most advanced conventional therapies.

76

“HEALTHCARE IS CHANGING RAPIDLY, BUT OUR MISSION REMAINS

CLEAR: TO PROVIDE PATIENTS WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE, TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE. AS A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, WE BRING TOGETHER CARE, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION EVERY DAY. AS A DUTCH-SPEAKING UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN BRUSSELS, ROOTED IN THE FREE-THINKING AND HUMANIST VALUES OF THE VUB, WE AIM NOT ONLY TO PURSUE EXCELLENCE AND CONTINUE INVESTING IN INNOVATION, BUT ALSO TO REMAIN ACCESSIBLE AND HUMAN-CENTRED.” Prof. Mark De Ridder CEO UZ Brussel 77

EUTOPIA

EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES WITHIN AND BEYOND EUROPE

VUB IS A PROUD PARTNER OF EUTOPIA EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY One of the first 17 alliances to be selected by the European Commission.

EUTOPIA revolves around Connected Communities: inter-institutional platforms uniting our joint research and curriculum innovation ambitions. Using a co-creative approach, the Connected Communities provide the best possible environment for students and researchers to promote critical thinking and transferable knowledge and skills on interdisciplinary topics of global relevance and societal impact. With our Connected Communities, EUTOPIA directly inspires the further roll-out and successful development of the European Higher Education and Research Areas and explicitly aims to be a driving force for continuous innovation.

79

“WE ARE CONNECTED WITH NINE OTHER EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES THROUGH THE EUTOPIA ALLIANCE.TOGETHER, WE REPRESENT A COMMUNITY OF MORE THAN 280,000 STUDENTS. WITHIN EUTOPIA, WE HAVE CREATED DYNAMIC CONNECTED COMMUNITIES THROUGH WHICH STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS GAIN NEW INSIGHTS AND DEVELOP NEW FORMS OF COLLABORATION.” Rector Jan Danckaert Chair of EUTOPIA

80

EUTOPIA EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY 2025 - 2026 “JOINING FORCES TO BUILD A CONNECTED AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY, ADDRESSING GLOBAL AS WELL AS LOCAL CHALLENGES, ULTIMATELY BUILDING THE UNIVERSITY OF THE FUTURE.”

Ten regionally and nationally distinct universities.

Together, they form the EUTOPIA Alliance

EUTOPIA TOTAL STUDENTS

263,602

EUTOPIA TOTAL RESEARCH GROUPS

874

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium) CY Cergy Paris Université (France) Göteborgs Universitet (Sweden) Univerza v Ljubljani (Slovenia) Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Spain) University of Warwick (United Kingdom) Ca’Foscari University Venice (Italy) * Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal) * Technische Universität Dresden (Germany) * Universitatea Babes Bolyai (Romania) *

*since autumn 2021

Reach and ambition spreads beyond Europe: EUTOPIA happily joins forces with its 6 global partners: Université Internationale de Rabat (Morocco), Kyungpook National University (South Korea), Monash University (Australia), University of Stellenbosch (South Africa), Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), Arizona State University (USA).

81

“EUTOPIA IS NOT A PROJECT, IT’S A PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION. WITH EUTOPIA, WE AIM TO INTERNATIONALIZE OUR CURRICULUM AND RESEARCH, ADDING A EUROPEAN LAYER TO ALL STUDENT AND STAFF EXPERIENCES” Karin Vanderkerken, Vice-rector Internationalisation VUB

82

NETWORK

European University Associaton (EUA)

16,000 international alumni out of 80,000

VUB Asia Network

Student exchanges with 257 partner universities & 137 MoUs with 126 institutions

International Strategic Partners UCLV en UWC

EU university network EUTOPIA

Brussels University Alliance

University Centre for Development Cooperation (UCOS) Scholars at Risk

University Association Brussels (UAB)

Alliance with Ghent University

Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA)

Top Industrial Managers for Europe (T.I.M.E.)

International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion in Europe (IMISCOE)

83

PARTNERSHIP VUB–ULB

STRONG FOUNDATIONS 1834 Common origin

1969 2013 Split up, but continue Brussels University to work together Alliance

2025 Andrée Geulen Association



INTEGRATED EDUCATION MODEL





Bruface (Engineering) Master in Urban Studies

JOINT RESEARCH PLATFORMS 









FARI – AI for the Common Good USET – Urban & socio environmental research hub BrIAS – Institute for Advanced Studies OpenLab – participatory research BruPaCT – clinical research platform

JOINT PHD 







Dual supervision (ULB + VUB) Researchers active in 2 institutions simultaneously Embedded in joint research groups and platforms

84

#ENGAGED UNIVERSITY

2030 SBTi Targets

SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITY

absolute target 2030

% of reduction in 2030 compared to 2019

Scope 1 en 2

6.096

-46,2%

Scope 3

51.410

-18,4%

Our climate footprint per scope* 5.128

In setting up our Climate Action Plan, we charted all the Scope 1, 2 of 3? greenhouse gases we emit, both our direct emissions In setting1, up2our Action Plan, we charted all the greenhouse gases we emit, both Scope ofClimate 3?

(Scope 1) and our indirect emissions (Scopes 2 and 3). our direct emissions (Scope 1) and our indirect emissions (Scopes 2 and 3).

5.118 6.202

our direct emissions (Scope 1) and our indirect emissions (Scopes 2 and 3).

In setting up our Climate Action Plan, we charted all the greenhouse gases we emit, both our direct emissionsScope (Scope1:1) and our indirect emissions (Scopes 2 and 3).

the direct emissions of greenhouse gases on our campuses SCOPE 1 Scope 1: through the use of fuels, gas and the release of refrigerant gases. the direct emissions of greenhouse gases on our campuses Direct emissions of greenhouse gases on our campuses Scope 1: through the use of fuels, gas and the release of refrigerant gases. through the use of fuels, gas and the release of refrigerant gases. the direct emissions of greenhouse gases on our campuses Scope 2: through the use of fuels, gas and the release of refrigerant gases. the indirect emissions of greenhouse gases through the Scope 2: consumption SCOPE of 2 purchased electricity that was produced the indirect emissions of greenhouse gases through the elsewhere.

Belgian Alliance for Climate Action Scope 2: consumption of purchased electricity that was produced Indirect emissions of greenhouse gases through the the indirect emissions of greenhouse gases through the elsewhere.

Efforts by companies are Belgian Alliance and for organisations Climate Action consumption of purchased electricity consumption of purchased electricity that was produced that was produced Scope 3: crucial if we are to reduce the global emissions of elsewhere.

Efforts by Alliance companies for and Climate organisations are elsewhere.

Belgian Action all other indirect emissions, mainly from: greenhouse gases. So the VUB has affiliated itself Scope 3: crucial if we are to reduce the global emissions of with thebyBelgian Alliance Climate Action Efforts companies andfor organisations are (BACA), mobility, in particular, commuting and the international travel all• other indirect emissions, mainly from: greenhouse gases. So the VUB has affiliated itself Scope a national that invites organisations toof crucial if weinitiative are to reduce the global emissions SCOPE 3 students; of 3: staff and with the Belgian Alliance for Climate Action (BACA), mobility, in particular, commuting and the international travel all•other indirect emissions, mainly from: set up ambitious climate Theaffiliated goal is toitself set greenhouse gases.

So theplans.

VUB has production of purchased materials such as equipment, ICT • a national initiative that invites organisations to ofother staff and students; emissions, mainly from: Allmobility, indirect science-based targets.

Those are scientifically with the Belgian Alliance for Climate Action (BACA), in materials, particular,chemicals, commutingconsumables, and the international travel • hardware, food for the set up ambitious climate plans. The goal is to set production of purchased materials such as equipment, ICT • of and measurable CO2 reduction goalsto abacked national initiative that invites organisations staff and students; student restaurants etc.; science-based targets. Those are scientifically hardware, materials, chemicals, consumables, food for the with which we bring our operations in lineiswith set up ambitious climate plans.

The goal to set ••• production mobility, in particular, commuting and the international travel of staff and students of purchased materials such as equipment, ICT waste processing; backed and measurable CO2 reduction goals student restaurants etc.; the primary goal of the Those Paris Climate Agreement: science-based targets. are scientifically materials, chemicals, consumables, food such for the as equipment, •• hardware, production of purchased materials with which we bring our operations in line with construction and renovation of buildings and paved surfaces; restricting warming 1.5°C. Forgoals the VUB, backed andglobal measurable COto waste processing; • student 2 reduction restaurants etc.; thestudent primary goal of the Paris Climate Agreement: ICT hardware, materials, chemicals, consumables, food for the restaurants, etc. investment portfolio. that which meanswe that we measure our carbon •• construction with bring our operations in linefootprint with and renovation of buildings and paved surfaces; restricting global warming to 1.5°C. For the VUB, processing; •• waste waste processing andprimary subsequently measures to reduce our CO2 the goal oftake the Paris Climate Agreement: investment portfolio. that means that we measure our carbon footprint • construction and the renovation of buildings and paved surfaces; emissionsglobal as much as possible.

The subdivision into ••scopes stems from Greenhouse Gas Protocol. warming to 1.5°C. For the VUB, construction and renovation of buildings and paved surfaces restricting and subsequently take measures to reduce our CO that means that we measure our carbon footprint 2 • investment portfolio. investment portfolio emissions as much as possible.

The subdivision into •scopes stems from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. and subsequently take measures to reduce our CO2 emissions as much as possible.

The subdivision into scopes stems from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

1.936

71.093 tonnes CO2-eq

74.332 tonnes CO2-eq

In setting1,up2our Action Plan, we charted all the greenhouse gases we emit, both Scope of Climate 3?

-4,4%

63.002

64.039

2019

2022 Scope 1

Scope 2

Scope 3

Our climate footprint broken down by source 21,5%

25,4%

22,4%

22,8%

9,3% 19,6%

23,2%

22,7% 9,9%

2019

The subdivision into scopes stems from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

buildings

REPORT TO SOCIETY

VUB - UNIVERSITY OF THE 21ST CENTURY

32

REPORT TO SOCIETY

VUB - UNIVERSITY OF THE 21ST CENTURY

32

investment

* market-based approach

23,1%

purchases

2022

mobility

equipment

86

COMPASSIONATE UNIVERSITY

DECLARATION OF INTENT On 19 November 2019, our university signed a declaration of intent to become a Compassionate University. By doing so, we officially underline our commitment to make everyone within our community aware of the importance of support and compassion in times of serious illness, death, dying and loss.

PLACES OF SOLACE An annual remembrance ceremony is held at the Monument of Comfort for staff and students who have passed away or who are facing difficult situations.

RESPONDING TO SERIOUS ILLNESS, CAREGIVING, DEATH, AND GRIEF

RAISING AWARENESS THROUGH COMPASSIONATE ACTIONS Staff training, research seminars and workshops, Compassionate Week https://www.vub.be/en/compassionate-university

INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH PROGRAMME (IRP) Compassionate Communities Center of Expertise (COCO)

The Compassionate Communities Center of Expertise (COCO) wants to do pioneering work through developing, implementing and evaluating the Compassionate Communities model in Flanders, Belgium, Europe and even further. It is carrying out an extensive and interdisciplinary research programme which links fundamental research and action research. The main goal of COCO is researching the processes that lead to the successful development of a Compassionate Community in different contexts. https://coco.research.vub.be/

87

CAMPUSES

VUB Main Campus Elsene

VUB Health Campus Jette

VUB Usquare Campus Elsene

VUB Photonics Campus

Gooik

Oranjerie & COOVI Campuses Diest, Leuven & Anderlecht

88

VUB ESTATE VUB IN BRUSSELS · 89 buildings · 315,000 m² built-up area, incl. parking · 33,000 m² labs and research space · 44,000 m² office space · 235,000 m² green areas

ZELLIK

IN JETTE

· 22 buildings · 93,000 m² built-up area · 10,600 m² labs and research space · 6,100 m² office space · 87,000 m² green areas

IN ELSENE

· 61 buildings · 193,000 m² built-up area · 20,000 m² labs and research space · 37,000 m² office space · 135,000 m² green areas

GOOIK, OETINGEN & HALLE

· 4 buildings · 24,500 m² built-up area · 1,500 m² labs and research space · 500 m² office space · 1,000 m² green areas

· 2 buildings · 24,000 m² built-up area · 1,000 m² labs and research space · 600 m² office space · 14,000 m² green areas

89

BRUSSELS: EASY ACCESS

FROM BRUSSELS TO London Paris

2 hours 1 hour 20 minutes Brussels

Frankfurt

3 hours

Amsterdam

2 hours

BELGIUM

MAIN CAMPUS çè BRUSSELS AIRPORT 25 minutes 2 trains/hour

90

BRUSSELS: BEATING HEART OF EUROPE

• EU, with the European Commission, the Council and numerous agencies • NAVO headquarters

• > 1.2 million inhabitants • 30% of foreign origin World’s largest press centre • > 1.000 accredited journalists • from more than 70 countries

• 107 languages

• 4th most important business city in Europe • > 2,000 international institution headquarters

• NGOs and other international lobbying organisations • Think tanks, like Bruegel, CEPS and Egmont Institute

91

OUR CHALLENGES

“THE MAJOR CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME – CLIMATE CHANGE, THE ENERGY TRANSITION, THE CHALLENGES OF AI, AND ALSO: BETTER UNDERSTANDING OUR OWN BRAINS AND THEIR DYSFUNCTIONS – CAN ONLY BE TACKLED WITH THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE, NEW INSIGHTS AND HUMANISM AS OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE.” Jan Danckaert Rector of VUB

92

HUMANISTIC SCULPTURE PARK

The Humanistic Sculpture park is a unique open-air museum with permanent and temporary art collections.

All the artworks symbolise or question the values and philosophy of VUB. Find your route and starting point here.

93

HISTORY

° Belgium

All ULB faculties offer courses in Dutch

° Brussels University Alliance (VUB-ULB)

1830

1963

2011

1834

1970

° ULB, University in Brussels, French spoken

° VUB independent, with full programmes in Dutch

NL

2019

Start European University EUTOPIA

94

FINANCES

BALANCE SHEET 2025

“VUB’S MODERN GOVERNANCE, BENCHMARKED AGAINST WORLD LEADING ORGANISATIONS, SUPPORTS THE UNIVERSITY AND ITS HOSPITAL IN ACHIEVING ITS STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL VISION AND WITH ITS FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES.” Karsten De Clerck, Chairman of the Board of VUB

ASSETS

2025

2024

FIXED ASSETS

482.474.103,05

444.145.700,86

0,00

0,00

I.

Formation expenses

II.

Intangible fixed assets

4.191.918,70

3.159.365,55

III.

Tangible fixed assets

466.810.366,31

434.764.119,02

IV.

Financial fixed assets

11.471.818,04

6.222.216,29

425.853.029,87

421.032.347,62

2.084.847,01

5.753.118,52

102.895,04

141.770,53

CURRENT ASSETS V.

Amounts receivable after more than one year

VI.

Stocks and contracts in progress

VII.

Amounts receivable within one year

37.798.288,46

41.901.103,16

VIII.

Current investments

350.041.434,75

331.848.450,01

IX.

Cash at bank and in hand

34.065.191,81

39.376.309,97

X.

Deferred charges and accrued income

1.760.372,80

2.011.595,43

908.327.132,92

865.178.048,48

TOTAL ASSETS

96

BALANCE SHEET 2025

LIABILITIES

2025

2024

EQUITY

557.461.363,57

559.011.628,21

I.

Capital

17.336.423,06

17.336.423,06

III.

Revaluation surpluses

0,00

0,00

IV.

Reserves

494.153.432,01

554.662.304,67

V.

Accumulated profits (losses)

3.108.655,95

-45.958.098,95

VI.

Investment grants

42.862.852,55

32.970.999,43

PROVISIONS

8.095.750,54

11.319.108,24

VII.

8.095.750,54

11.319.108,24

AMOUNTS PAYABLE

342.770.018,81

294.847.312,03

VIII.

Amounts payable after more than one year

32.827.463,87

34.221.964,41

IX.

Amounts payable within one year

307.572.121,64

257.015.831,71

X.

Accrued charges and deferred income

2.370.433,30

3.609.515,91

908.327.132,92

865.178.048,48

Provisions for liabilities and charges

TOTAL LIABILITIES

97

PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT 2025 2025

2024

OPERATING INCOME (+)

INCOME STATEMENT OF VUB

394.022.242,34

384.271.014,57

A. Income attached to education, research and services

372.444.162,65

349.839.159,09

A.1. Government grants and subsidies - core funding (first funding)

173.922.893,63

165.766.507,60

A.2. Government contributions to fundamental basic research (second funding)

48.675.001,52

48.202.929,42

A.3. Government contributions to applied research (3rd funding)

93.084.314,31

80.847.255,38

A.4. Contract research with private sector and scientific services (4th funding) A.5. Other income associated with education, research and services

14.168.873,87

15.517.472,45

42.593.079,32

39.504.994,24

-5.499.316,57

7.832.629,30

0,00

0,00

B. Increase (decrease) of work and contracts in progress C. Own construction capitalized D. Gifts, donations and legacies

3.825.395,31

4.824.707,46

E. Other operating income

23.252.000,95

21.774.518,72

OPERATING CHARGES (-)

419.882.959,86

400.311.725,35

A. Purchases

10.078.120,78

8.165.301,41

B. Services and other goods

92.163.897,78

92.213.079,50

C. Remuneration, social security costs and pensions

287.890.397,28

271.487.909,32

D. Depreciation of and amounts written off formation expenses, intangible and tangible fixed assets

31.253.127,23

28.218.599,48

E. Amounts written down stocks and trade debtors (appropriations +, write-backs -) F. Provisions for risks and charges (appropriations +, uses and write-backs -)

-163.873,50

105.458,05

-3.223.357,70

-2.303.393,59

G. Other operating charges

1.884.647,99

2.424.771,18

OPERATING PROFIT (LOSS)

-25.860.717,52

-16.040.710,78

FINANCIAL INCOME (+)

21.666.314,39

21.287.576,37

FINANCIAL CHARGES (-)

4.575.132,84

2.883.031,34

GAIN (LOSS) ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES

-8.769.535,97

2.363.834,25

366.046,97

104.580,32

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGES (-)

3.038.628,75

2.673.689,28

PROFIT (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD

-11.442.117,75

-205.274,71

EXTRAORDINARY INCOME (+)

98

VUB – URBAN, ENGAGED UNIVERSITY

“VUB HAS CLEARLY CHOSEN TO BE AN ACTIVE PART OF OUR BRUSSELS METROPOLITAN ENVIRONMENT. BRUSSELS IS A GREAT LIVING LAB FOR OUR RESEARCHERS AND FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE ARE AN URBAN ENGAGED UNIVERSITY.” Jan Danckaert Rector of VUB

99