From information technology research that is socially and economically important and academic research findings that help local international businesses innovate and grow, to close cooperation with partners from other disciplines and other organisations in order to create added value together... Over the past ten years academic IT research groups have started to take this kind of approach. But for us, this focus on applied research and exploitation is part of our DNA.

The whole spectrum

While most other academic research institutes have increasingly shifted their activities over the past ten to fifteen years from basic research to more applied research that is relevant to industry and society, we have actually moved in the opposite direction. Initially we deliberately adopted a consistently applied focus, because we were determined to generate economic and social impact with our research. Over the years, we have developed a better and broader theoretical basis for this applied research.

Our research activities now cover the entire spectrum: from fundamental and applied research to highly targeted contract research and commercial applications. But even within basic research we often deliver prototypes that are tested by users in order to assess their added value. Our research rarely exists in a vacuum.

Commercially driven

Exploitation of research results is extremely important to us, and with our patent applications, licences and spin-offs we can point to great results in this context. We will continue this focus in the future. Our aim is to help our partners and other industries grow.

~ Director prof. dr. Frank Van Reeth