Wim SOETAERT

Prof. Wim Soetaert holds a degree in chemical and biochemical engineering (1987) and a PhD in bioengineering (1991) from Ghent University.
Prof. Wim Soetaert heads the Centre of Expertise for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis (InBio.be) at Ghent University, Faculty of BioScience Engineering. InBio is active in the areas of industrial biotechnology, biocatalysis, fermentation science and engineering. www.inbio.be
Prof. Wim Soetaert is also the founder and director of the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, an open innovation Pilot Plant for biobased products and processes based in Ghent. Starting in 2009 from a European Interreg project with a budget of 21 Million euros, the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant has grown into a leading biobased research and development organisation with about 100 collaborators. www.bbeu.org
Prof. Wim Soetaert is the founder and chairman of Ghent Bio-Energy Valley, a public private partnership to promote the development of biobased activities in Belgium. Since its creation in 2005, Ghent Bio-Energy Valley has quickly grown into one of the main growth centers for the biobased economy in Europe, with over 500 Million euros investments in the port of Ghent. Over the years, Ghent Bio-Energy Valley has expanded its scope to biobased products and products under the name Flanders BioBased Economy. www.fbbv.be
Prof. Wim Soetaert is the founder and executive chairman of Inbiose, a spin-off company of Ghent University that is producing speciality carbohydrates through industrial biotechnology. Inbiose is currently focusing on the synthesis of Human Milk Oligosaccharides for health applications. www.inbiose.com
During his earlier career, Wim Soetaert has worked as a research director in Germany and France, for the sugar group Pfeifer & Langen and the starch processing company Chamtor (now ADM).