Flemish Institute for Technological Research

The Flemish Institute for Technological Research (Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek or VITO), is an independent Flemish research organisation that provides scientific advice and technological innovations that facilitate the transition to a sustainable society, and this in the areas of energy, chemistry, materials, health and land use.

Organisation
VITO is a public limited company incorporated under the decree of 23 January 1991. This decree was replaced by the decree of 30 April 2009. VITO is part of the policy domain of the Department of Economy, science & Innovation (EWI) of the Flemish government.

VITO works partly with its own resources (contract research, patents), partly with grants from the Flemish government, so that government commissioners from the Department of Economy, science and Innovation (EWI) are also part of the Board of Directors.

Civil Engineer Dirk Fransaer was Managing Director, starting in 2001. Since May 2023, Inge Neven is the CEO of VITO.  Also part of the Board of Directors:


 * Peter Vercaemst (adjunct-CEO)
 * Walter Eevers (R&D en Valorisation)
 * Bert Bouwman (Materials & Chemistry)
 * Leen Govaerts (Water & Energy Transition)
 * Rudi Torfs (Environmental Intelligence)
 * Carmen Six (Finance & Operations)

The head office of VITO is located in Mol. VITO also has offices in Berchem, Genk, Ostend, Ghent and Kortrijk. The international offices are located in Qatar, Beijing and Dubai.

VITO is active in 40 countries and has around 850 employees with 43 different nationalities.

Objectives

 * Accelerate the transition to a competitive, clean and secure energy system in Flanders and the world
 * Introduce short material cycles to set up ecosystems throughout the world for circular economy
 * Radically reduce the consumption of fossil-based feedstocks and energy within the Flemish chemical sector
 * Facilitate innovative, preventive and affordable healthcare, underpinned by measuring instruments and data
 * Stimulate sustainable use of space and water, with links to health, agriculture and more

Collaborations
VITO cooperates with companies, either directly or in partnership with industry networks such as the spearhead clusters and business organisation. In Flanders and by extension internationally.

VITO also works closely with European scientific communities and international institutions such as:


 * EnergyVille
 * Cleantech Flanders
 * Vlakwa