The Institute
The Flemish institute for technological research (Dutch: Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek or VITO), is an independent Flemish research organisation that provides scientific advice and technological innovations that facilitate the transition to a sustainable society, and this in the areas of energy, chemistry, materials, health and land use. VITO is a public limited company incorporated under the decree of 23 January 1991. This decree was replaced by the decree of 30 April 2009. VITO is part of the policy domain of the Department of Economy, science & Innovation (EWI) of the Flemish government. VITO works partly with its own resources (contract research, patents), partly with grants from the Flemish government, so that government commissioners from the Department of Economy, science and Innovation (EWI) are also part of the Board of Directors.
The Supervisor
Dr. Vesna Middelkoop is a Scientist at the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) and is recognized for her work on materials synthesis, development of chemical reactors, and their advanced characterization. She earned her PhD degree from the University of London in 2010, with a research focus on synchrotron X-Ray characterization of materials synthesis processes. Dr. Middelkoop has extensive R&D industry experience, having worked in London as a project engineer responsible for the strategic planning and management of projects on instrumental set-ups and materials measurements before joining VITO. She is (or has been) Project Lead in several Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects (CARMOF, KEROGREEN, ZEOCAT-3D, GLAMOUR, ORACLE, HYSTRAM, STORMING) and is the coordinator of CO2FOKUS.