VIB headquarters and bio-incubator

The Flemish biotech sector is booming. In the past five years, more than 35 new biotech companies have been founded in our country, and several start-ups have established themselves in Flanders. The Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB) is the driving force behind that evolution. To meet the evolution of the sector, VIB – with PMV as co-financier – is building a state-of-the-art bio-incubator that will also contain VIB’s new headquarters. The building will be located on the new technology campus on Tech Lane Ghent Science Park, a project of UGent, the city of Ghent and PMV that will position two campuses, a newly developed knowledge zone on the Zwijnaarde business park and the further development of the Ardoyen Technology Park internationally as an ecosystem for knowledge-intensive companies.

Growing biotech cluster

Together, the VIB and PMV set up a project company to realise and operate the project on the Tech Lane Ghent Science Park to ensure the further anchoring of the biotech cluster in Ghent. The project will meet the high demand for adapted lab infrastructure. The new bio-incubator will support and assist start-up biotech companies and spin-offs in their growth. For Tech Lane Ghent Science Park, the arrival of the VIB headquarters is an important catalyst for the further development of the site. A total of 350 people will be employed by the realisation of this project. PMV coordinated the procedures and provided a subordinated loan to the project company responsible for construction and operation.

Appearance

The new building will be the showcase not only for VIB, but for all its users and for biotechnology in Flanders in general. It is a leading building, which with its remarkable and forward-looking design will be a beacon for the biotech cluster along the E40. With its unique location on the industrial estate along the E40, and also right on the park entrance, the complex will act as a gatekeeper for the park’s research zone. The winning design by Modulo, SBA, and Istema is both compact and functional. It harmoniously blends the VIB headquarters and the new bio-incubator. It casts itself as a vertical screen, consisting of two parts: a dynamic and (inter)active side on the E40 and a creative side on the campus. This dichotomy is reinforced by the buffering effect of the building. It acts as an acoustic screen facing the E40 and protects the campus/knowledge zone behind it.

Low impact campus

A major asset of the sustainable business park is its strategic location: along the E40 motorway, with a direct connection to the R4 and close to the UZ Gent campus. The park offers space to knowledge-based companies that will find a green campus climate where co-creation and sharing of common infrastructure are central. The new business park will be developed according to progressive, international standards and will function as a low-impact campus. It will be an attractive working environment, with a strong focus on shared facilities and supporting collaborations between companies. The park, and by extension also the new VIB building, has the ambition to achieve a BREEAM-durability certificate.

Start of construction

On 1 July 2021, the building permit for the project became final and enforceable. The planning decision was clear: “The proposal has sufficient qualities to be expected with such a strategic building. Good local construction and spatial planning will not be harmed, quite the contrary: the proposal adds value to the surrounding area, which is all the more crisp because of the site’s history as a brownfield.” Meanwhile, the construction works were also awarded to the temporary partnership Jansen-Cordeel-Fabricom through a public procedure. Site construction is in full swing. Construction works started on 18 October 2021. They should be completed within 24 months after which the building can answer the rising demand for the dedicated lab infrastructure.

PMV’s role

• Project director and management of the placement procedures to be carried out for the new building.
• Contribution of risk capital and provision of a subordinated loan to the project company responsible for construction and operation.
• Expertise and deployment of an area development process.

The project in numbers

• Major expansion of the life sciences cluster in Ghent by attracting start-ups, biotech companies and spin-offs.
• New potential employment of 350 people.
• Sustainable new building of approx. 14,363 m², spread over 9 building layers, landmark on E40.
• Construction works to start in autumn 2021 and completion in autumn 2023.

Other partners

• VIB is a strategic research centre dedicated to life sciences and biotechnology. VIB comprises 75 research groups organised thematically in eight research centres. VIB’s tech transfer team proactively translates biological insights into new economic activities, including through the creation of start-ups and partnerships with the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. VIB has a partnership with five Flemish universities – UGent, KU Leuven, Universiteit Antwerpen, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Universiteit Hasselt. More information: www.vib.be
• With Tech Lane Ghent Science Park (a project of UGent, the city of Ghent and PMV), two campuses, a newly to be developed knowledge zone on the Eiland Zwijnaarde business park and the further expansion of the Ardoyen Technology Park, will be jointly positioned internationally as an ecosystem for knowledge-intensive companies in the sectors of ICT, cleantech, biotech and materials research, among others. The knowledge zone on Eiland Zwijnaarde, where the VIB plans to build a bio-Incubator and its headquarters, is part of a 35-hectare business park along the E40 motorway.

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