Team valorisation office

Are you a company struggling to find a solution to an industrial problem? Or a researcher in need of guidance to valorise his/her project? The expert staff at the valorisation office will gladly help you on your way!

Jurgen Joossens

dr. Jurgen Joossens

​+32 3 265 30 25

Head of Valorisation Office

Jurgen Joossens is the Head of the Valorisation Office and aims to connect stakeholders with different backgrounds. He coaches a team of valorisation managers and experts in order to support exploitation initiatives of academic researchers. Jurgen is specialized in IP-protection, pre-incubation and proof of concept projects, business development, license negotiation, investor relationships and spin-off creation. He holds a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry.

Kris Bonnarens

dr. Kris Bonnarens

Valorisation Manager UZA/UAntwerpen

Kris Bonnarens is our Valorisation Manger and liaison with UZA. She guides researchers who are developing innovations in the healthcare industry and fosters the partnership with UZA.

Sander Goeteyn

Sander Goeteyn

+32 3 265 13 78

Assistant IOF Coordinator

Sander Goeteyn supports the IOF coordinator in the application and follow-up of projects funded by the Industrial Research Fund. He also provides general administrative support to the Valorisation Office.

Damjan Grozdanovski

Damjan Grozdanovski

+32 3 265 10 49

License Manager

Damjan Grozdanovski is the License Manager of the Valorisation Office and is in charge of the strategic preparation of legal documents in the negotiation phase, namely licensing agreements and shareholder agreements. He is supporting negotiations, optimizing processes and managing contractual agreements regarding the transfer or licensing of intellectual property, as well as managing and reviewing shareholder agreements. Damjan is a Master of Laws in the field of European Business Law.

Ilse Heyvaert

dr. Ilse Heyvaert

+32 3 265 90 72

IP Manager

Ilse Heyvaert is one of the Intellectual Property Managers of the Valorisation Office and is responsible for intellectual property matters in general and patent portfolio management of Antwerp University Association (AUHA). She guides researchers, valorization & IOF managers in defining the most appropriate protection strategy for their inventions and takes care of the sensitisation of all stakeholders on the importance of protection of IP-matters. Ilse holds a PhD in physics.

Lieve Hoflack

dr. Lieve Hoflack

+32 3 265 19 84

Valorisation Manager Project Development

Lieve Hoflack is a Valorisation Manager for Life Sciences and supports projects in Medical devices and Software. Lieve holds a PhD in Biotechnology.

Nele Kindt

dr. Nele Kindt

+32 3 265 89 84

Valorisation Manager Life Sciences

Nele Kindt is the Valorisation Manager in the domain of Life Sciences and supports researchers in valorisation projects related to topics such as Biology, (Bio)chemistry, Pharmaceuticals and Genetics. Nele holds a PhD in Medical Sciences.

Pascale Nagels

Pascale Nagels

+32 3 265 10 98

Patent Administrator / Paralegal

Supports the Valorisation Department with patent administration and related affairs. She is the administrative force of the Valorisation Office.

Diane Stroobants

Diane Stroobants

+32 3 265 87 13 

Licensing and IP support officer

Diane Stroobants supports the Valorisation Office in matters related to patents and licencing. She is the administrative force in our office and is strong with data.

Inge Torfs

Inge Torfs

​+32 3 265 92 76

IOF Officer

Inge Torfs is our IOF Officer and is responsible for the Industrial Research Fund (IOF in Dutch). Inge is the point of contact for all questions regarding applications, procedures and follow-up of IOF-funding.

Iris Vanaelst

dr. Iris Vanaelst​​

+32 3 265 88 35

Venturing & Licensing Manager

Iris Vanaelst is the Venturing & Licensing Manager of the Valorisation Office and is the programme director and coach of the Deep Dive into Business Programme which supports the university’s spin-offs. She is specialised in the composition of entrepreneurial teams in high-tech new ventures. Iris holds a PhD in Applied Economics.

Laurens van der Steen

dr. Laurens van der Steen

+32 3 265 49 07

Valorisation Manager Social & Human Sciences

Laurens van der Steen is our valorisation manager in the field of social and human sciences. He supports researchers in partnerships with companies, service- and non-disclosure agreements, external financing, spin-offs and other business cases. As the point of contact for valorisation projects related to human sciences, from philosophy to the study of nursing, he is active on all our campuses. Laurens holds a PhD in the Social and Human Sciences.  

Eva Van Doren

Eva Van Doren

+32 3 265 49 44

Communications Manager

Eva Van Doren is the Communications Manager of the Valorisation Office and is responsible for marketing, communications and events regarding valorisation topics.

Bram Verbinnen

dr. Bram Verbinnen

+32 3 265 88 84

Valorisation Manager Exact and Applied Sciences

Bram Verbinnen is our Valorisation Manager in the field of Exact and Applied Sciences. He guides researchers in valorisation projects related to engineering sciences, physics, chemistry,... Bram holds a PhD in chemical engineering but focuses now on bringing the University of Antwerp knowledge to the society. He initiates collaborations with companies and guides researchers in setting up their own spin-off.

Steven Vermeir

dr. Steven Vermeir​​

+32 3 265 37 02

IP Manager

Steven Vermeir is one of the Intellectual Property Managers of the Valorisation Office and is responsible for intellectual property matters in general and patent portfolio management of Antwerp University Association (AUHA). He guides researchers, valorization & IOF managers in defining the most appropriate protection strategy for their inventions and takes care of the sensitisation of all stakeholders on the importance of protection of IP-matters. Steven holds a PhD in Bioengineering Sciences.