Flanders Strategic Research Centers VITO Leading European technological research & consulting for innovation & improved business
VITO is an independent, leading European contract research and consulting centre. It translates the latest scientific knowledge and innovative technologies into practical applications, both for governments and industry.
Flanders is a region with a flourishing industry in a wide range of sectors. In the last decade, more and more companies have adopted eco-efficiency linking company profits with sustainability as a priority. Research in Flanders on this and its related technological aspects is concentrated in a single institute called VITO. VITO, the Flemish Institute for Technological Research, is an independent, leading European contract research and consulting centre. It translates the latest scientific knowledge and innovative technologies into practical applications, both for governments and industry. VITO operates in the field of energy, environmental and material technology, in industrial product and process technologies and in remote sensing. Efficient and cost-effective production technologies, reduced energy consumption, biomaterials, cleaner environment, improved health care and mapping and monitoring of the effects of the global climate change are some of the many applications of the VITO research.

VITO at a glance

Founded: 1991 Headquarters: The VITO research institute is based in Mol, Flanders. It comprises some 16,000m2 office space and laboratories. Workforce: 500 highly qualified research scientists in different topics, technicians and staff personnel. Partnerships: VITO has built a strong network linking national and international companies, governments, sector federations, universities, colleges and other research organizations. Thanks to this, VITO is thoroughly embedded in the scientific and technological fabric of Flanders and Europe. Annual budget: In 2007 VITOs total budget is E 78 million. A fact worth noting: As part of its Pegasus Project, VITO owns and operates a High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (HALE UAV). This aircraft is unique in the world and flies at stratospheric altitudes for several months, carrying high-resolution remote sensing instruments. The images are used in applications such as urban mapping, damage assessment, oil spill detection, crop monitoring, forest fire control and pipeline monitoring.
Flanders Investment & Trade I Gaucheretstraat 90 I BE-1030 Brussels - Belgium I T +71 I F +70 invest@fitagency.be I www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com

What is VITO about?

Innovation partner for industry
Industrial companies today are using innovative technologies to improve process technology and increase cost effectiveness. VITO, as an independent expert in these areas, offers them a head start with technological expertise and advanced testing facilities to accelerate development and implementation. VITO customizes existing advanced technologies for its clients. They recognize that VITOs multidisciplinary approach is the key to finding the most sustainable solution. Examples can be found in the fields of energy conservation; renewable energy sources; re-use of process water, primary and secondary raw materials; groundwater management; surface coatings; advanced bio-active materials; air quality monitoring; waste water solutions; laser technology; fuel cells and earth observation.
Technological consultancy for government at all levels
VITO is active in policy-supporting research, thus contributing to the efficient and effective allocation of government funds and the social and economic viability of political decisions. Its research activities include identification of the health effects of environmental contamination through exposure modeling and human bio-monitoring, satellite mapping of the carbon dynamics of natural ecosystems, support to foreign countries with respect to the implementation of cleaner production technologies, and cost-effective treatment of soil.
International scientific research partner
VITO is tuning technological research to the real needs of society, industry and government. It brings together all relevant players and builds a strong network that includes companies, governments, universities, and other research organizations abroad. VITO is a major partner in various international research programs and collaborates, for example, with the Free University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), the Technical University of Delft (Netherlands), Lund University (Sweden), the University of Birmingham (UK), and the Institute for Protection & Security of the Citizen in Ispra (Italy).

Why collaborate with VITO?
VITO provides innovative, technological solutions and science-based advice and support for both SMEs and large corporations. VITO develops custom-tailored technology for any client company in any stage of innovation. Below are the main fields in which VITO offers services.

Energy

VITO provides power generators, appliance manufacturers, end users and governments with support in their quest for energy savings, energy and resource conservation and the reduction of CO2 emissions. It focuses on decentralized power generating systems and vehicle technologies. Participation within several European initiatives resulted in a world leading position of know-how and experience in the field of alternative fuels (bio-diesel, hydrogen), electric propulsion, battery management systems as well as fleet management tools. The feasibility of renewable energy sources are being tested both technologically and economically. Besides sun, wind, water and biomass, the subsoil is being explored.

Environment

VITO develops and commercializes new industrial technologies for the treatment of wastewater and the decontamination of polluted soils. It also acts as a consultant to companies and provides them with objective advice about environmentally friendly production and management technologies and solutions to environmental problems. Using the correct water source in the different steps of the production process and thus being able to re-use process water and byproducts can produce a substantial saving in water, raw materials and costs. VITO conducts research on the risks posed by chemical products and environmental pollution for humans, plants, and animals. By identifying the harmful effects of new or existing compounds and soil and water pollution, it provides support for the development of new products and technologies. VITO develops and applies environmental prediction models that can provide information on the state of the environment at a time, place or scale for which data are not yet available.

Materials

VITO supports the introduction and implementation of advanced materials and related processes in industries. The institute has excellent analysis and test facilities for that purpose. It is, for instance, involved in the development of innovative technologies for multifunctional surface treatment (coatings, etching and activating), offering total solutions from the design phase to full industrial scale. The development of bio-functional materials such as bioactive bone scaffolds and highly porous ceramic and metallic structures is highly estimated by VITOs industrial partners.

Remote sensing

VITO offers highly specialized services and information for improving the monitoring of environmental processes, including parameters for vegetation and crop monitoring. Research is focused on the development and demonstration of image-processing algorithms and associated models using data from both airborne and space-borne optical sensors. VITO is also part of several global monitoring programs.
Flanders Investment & Trade links you up with VITO
Flanders Investment & Trade provides advice and guidance to Flanders-based companies looking to explore international markets as well as to foreign companies that wish to set up or expand their business in Belgiums flourishing northern region. Besides companies, we also represent the Strategic Research Centers located in Flanders. We currently have representatives in more than 70 cities around the globe. Flanders Investment & Trade is VITOs privileged partner in its continuous search for partnerships with companies worldwide that aspire to develop innovative technologies and achieve goals they never dreamed possible. If you are interested in teaming up with VITO, do not hesitate to contact us:
Flanders Investment & Trade
Gaucheretstraat 90 BE-1030 Brussels Belgium Phone: +71 Fax: +70 invest@fitagency.be www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com

VITO NV

Boeretang 200 BE-2400 Mol Belgium Phone: +11 Fax: +99 vito@vito.be www.vito.be Flanders Investment & Trade I Gaucheretstraat 90 I BE-1030 Brussels - Belgium I T +71 I F +70 invest@fitagency.be I www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com