AHA!-awards 2023

Annemie Bogaerts is head of the interdisciplinary research group PLASMANT (Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – ANTwerp). Her research focuses on a better understanding of plasmas, by means of modeling and experiments, for various applications. The main applications are in green chemistry and medicine. She is a co-founder of two spin-off companies from her research group focused on plasma for sustainable chemistry, D-CRBN and Optanic.

The Antwerp Time Machine project, led by Tim Soens, Iason Jongepier, and Mike Kestemont, is creating history-inclusive landscapes. This is meant as a pilot project, elaborated during the development of the European Time Machine Large Scale Research Initiative. The Antwerp Time Machine aims to prepare data to investigate possibilities for integration of data, which already exists, and inventory the prerequisites needed for further integration, automatisation and valorisation of these data. Furthermore, it aims to show the potential for different scientific, public and economic actors.

Tom Breugelmans serves as the spokesperson for the ELCAT research group (Applied Electrochemistry and Catalysis), contributing to research in electrochemical engineering. His expertise spans electrochemistry, electrocatalysis, materials science, chemical engineering and reactor engineering. His research will be an important tool to develop answer to the increasing energy and climate challenges. Since September 2020, he has taken on the role of dean at the Faculty of Applied Engineering Sciences. He recently acquired more than 13 M€ in the so-called third and fourth funding flow, 1 patent, a UAntwerp spin-off company Oxylum, where he serves as scientific advisor. His scientific importance was recently awarded by Europe with an ERC consolidator grant (TRANSCEND) in the field of electrochemical reactor engineering.

In the experiential study 'Onderweg', Siska Van Daele and An Piessens from the Research Centre for Pedagogy in Practice examined the experiences of refugee children during their leisure time and their school time. During a symposium for practitioners and policymakers, the researchers launched a narrative website, a photo exhibition and a research report. That symposium sparked the interest of several newspapers. In a second phase, Siska and An wrote contributions for professional journals and magazines and provided several national and international webinars and conference contributions for practitioners, teachers and researchers. The project ‘Op Weg’, following the experiential studycontinued the practice-oriented and policy-informing activities. Thus the researchers initiated social debate, aiming to make the voices of refugee children heard and contribute to a child-friendly reception network.

The Design Sciences Hub is a research, design and innovation hub with a mission to provide answers to complex spatial challenges. DSH forms the bridge between academia and practice by valorisation knowledge in the fields of urban development and architecture, spatial planning and mobility.

Jan Dries is spokesperson of the BioWAVE research group. His research expertise is situated in the domain of industrial wastewater engineering and reuse. The mission of the team is the transfer of sustainable innovative technology to industrial application.

Jan Staes is professor at the ECOSPHERE research group, where he investigates the potential of ecosystem-based adaptation measure to climate change impacts and ecosystem services. His water system maps allow for sustainable water management measures.

Johann Marquez-Barja takes a great interest in new ways of deploying dynamic wireless and wired networks, providing a truly end-to-end network, relying on 5G/6G programmable networks. He is leading both the Intelligent Networking Cluster and the Flexible Programmable Networks Research Group at the IDLab research group of UAntwerp and imec. Furthermore, he is involved in the SmartHighway, Citylab Smart City and 5Gopen@TheBeacon experimentation testbeds of Antwerp.

​Kris Martens coordinates the Sustainable Energy and Mobility domain within the Sustainable Industries Research Centre of KdG. He is specialised in research on alternative fuels for internal combustion engines, electrification of mobility applications, and the intelligent use of CAN bus data (for cars and bicycles), such as in smart mobility or remanufacturing. One of the highlights in his career is the launch of the first spin-off of KdG, LinkedCar.

Peter Hellinckx’ research focuses on Distributed Artificial Intelligence for Internet of Things (IoT) and Cyber Physical Systems in the domains of autonomous driving/shipping, logistics and mobility, Industry 4.0 and Smart Cities, with a strong focus on sustainability. His work has led to, amongst others, the creation of the spin-off Digitrans.

Since its inception in Antwerp, UAntwerpen and Pharma.aero (sector organisation for pharma logistics), have created a unique environment for international business and academia to find opportunities for collaboration. Through workshops, keynotes and informal meetings, the Pharmalogistics Masterclass fosters industrial collaborations and partnerships between the research ecosystem and business partners worldwide. The Masterclass alternates annually in a location where an industrial and academic pharma cluster is present. This initiative already took place in Antwerp (2021), Abu Dhabi (2022), Singapore (2023) and Dallas (2024). 

Pieter Van Der Veken is a pharmaceutical scientist, specialized in medicinal chemistry. He designs and synthesizes small molecules that have a biological effect. Interesting molecules are further investigated as possible medicines. Disease areas in which he is active are: infectious diseases (parasitic, tuberculosis, viral), cancer and diseases of the immune system.

Higher education institutions as well as companies face the challenge of shaping lifelong learning processes their respective organisations. They  can rely on the expertise of the Research Centre for Lifelong Learning & Innovation of AP University of Applied Sciences & Arts in designing learning and innovation processes for adult learners. The research centre focuses on themes such as self-regulated learning, workplace learning and the development of soft skills. They also investigate how data and educational technologies can strengthen learning and innovation processes.

Research into solar light-active nanomaterials for hydrogen production, air purification, sensors and self-cleaning surfaces is part of Sammy Verbruggen’s expertise. Sammy Verbruggen is team leader of the Verbruggen Lab within the DuEL research group.

Stefan De Wachter is professor of urology at the University of Antwerp and an expert in the field of neuromodulation to treat urinary incontinence. His new surgical technique and neuronavigation tool lie at the very core of Amber Therapeutics, a spin-off of the UAntwerp, UZA and Oxford University. Since September 2023, two years after spinning out, the spin-off is owner of the technology that serves as the basis for its neuromodulation system. Since February 2024, Amber Therapeutics is closing its series A investment, going forward to CE and FDA studies

The InViLab research group focuses on optical measurement techniques for different applications such as damage detection, shape measurement and material characterization. The research focus is oriented towards in-situ measurements. Steve Vanlanduit’s projects span several domains from cancer research to oil spills in the port of Antwerp.