Life Sciences & Biotech Community

From medical biotech to industrial biotech and agtech, East Flanders’ life sciences sector is built on a broad and diverse value chain of companies, research institutions, technology partners, investors and other enablers. By bringing these different players closer together, we aim to accelerate cross-pollination and create new opportunities.

At the same time, we capture signals from the sector and create space for topics that require collective action. In this way, the community becomes a platform that not only connects people, but also helps drive real progress.

With this community, we aim to:

• Strengthen connections and cross-pollination between companies, subsectors and other ecosystems such as tech and industry.
• Provide inspiration and new insights through forward-looking perspectives, relevant topics and leading speakers.
• Create new collaborations and targeted connections in an accessible and personal setting.
• Increase the visibility of the biotech cluster in Ghent and East Flanders, with the aim of attracting investment, talent, customers and partners.
• Provide support and advocacy through events, training, peer learning and strong signals to policymakers on topics such as space, talent, taxation, mobility and regulation.

The approach is deliberately practical: moving quickly, connecting the right people and developing activities around the concrete needs and opportunities that emerge from the sector.

Biotech 2050: Building the Next World-Class Region

September 29, 2026, 17:00 at Legend Biotech

With this opening session, we launch the Life Sciences Community and set out our ambition from the start: how can we further strengthen our biotech region and increase its international visibility and impact?

During an inspiring plenary session, we will look at the future of biotech, the strengths of our regional hub and the opportunities to put the region even more firmly on the map. The session will be complemented by a guided tour of Legend Biotech and a networking moment.

Programme

• Introduction to the community by Voka
• Introduction by Legend Biotech
• Keynote by Wim Van Criekinge
• Guided tour of the Legend Biotech labs
• Networking moment

Joining Forces in a Shifting World

December 3, 2026, 15:00 at The Nucleus

Biotech companies are operating in a rapidly changing international context. Geopolitical tensions, new regulations, strategic dependencies and shifting supply chains have a direct impact on collaboration, market access, investment and growth opportunities. In this session, we bring together business leaders, experts and policymakers to explore what these developments mean for biotech in Flanders and Europe.

Programme

• Introduction by the host
• Keynote by Jerome Van Biervliet (Managing Director, VIB)
• Panel discussion with Jan De Kerpel (Managing Director, Van Lanschot Kempen), Giacomo Bastianelli (co-founder & CEO, Rainbow Crops) and Kristof Van Emelen (CEO, Obulytix)
• Networking moment with food and drinks

From Silos to Synergy

February 18, 2027, 10:00 at Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant

Innovation accelerates when companies, subsectors and ecosystems connect more effectively. This session focuses on cross-pollination: between medical biotech, industrial biotech and agtech, between large and small companies, and between biotech and tech.

Through a number of concrete cases, companies will show how collaboration can create new opportunities and accelerate innovation in practice. Together, we will explore shared needs and opportunities, and how we can make smarter use of knowledge, technology, capacity and infrastructure across the region.

Programme

• Introduction by Bio Base Europe
• Pitches by several speakers on their collaborations:
  • Stéphanie Dupont (CEO, 4Tissue)
  • Annick Verween (Head of Biotope, VIB)
  • Speaker 3 TBA
  • Speaker 4 TBA
• Guided tour
• Networking moment

What Makes a Biotech Ecosystem Thrive?

April 13, 2027, 15:00 at Anacura

How can we organise our biotech ecosystem more effectively and strengthen it further? In this session, we will look at the critical success factors of a strong cluster: talent, infrastructure, collaboration, entrepreneurship, investment and international positioning.

With Jette Thykaer, Director at the BioInnovation Institute in Denmark, we welcome a speaker from an ecosystem that is widely regarded as a strong international example. The Danish model shows how a powerful combination of science, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and targeted support can help build a visible and successful life sciences ecosystem.

Drawing on her insights, we want to better understand which levers could also help our region achieve greater scale, stronger collaboration and increased international attractiveness.

Programme

• Introduction by Anacura
• Keynote by Jette Thykaer from the BioInnovation Institute
• Guided walk through the Anacura forest
• Networking moment with food and drinks

Building the conditions for impact – Workshop Sessions

June 17, 2027, 16:00 at Biotalys

In this session, we focus on the conditions needed to make biotech companies future-proof. AI and software are playing an increasingly important role. Starting from concrete cases and insights from both the tech and biotech worlds, we will explore how we can bring these two ecosystems closer together.

After a short introduction, we will move into 3 to 4 breakout tables around the following themes:

• Collaboration between tech and biotech: how can we bring talent and companies closer together?
• Differences in IP and ways of working: how can we bridge these in concrete collaborations?
• The role of AI, data and digital twins in biotech: where are the biggest opportunities?
• Ecosystem and collaboration: which initiatives and connections are still missing today?

The session will be followed by an after-work networking moment with drinks & bites.