Contact

Get in touch with our advisors

• Els Pandelaere

  Biotech investment advisor

  Els has been working for the city for over 10 years and is our go-to person for anything related to Biotech. She is actively involved in helping to attract talent and companies, both domestically and internationally, to our city. When she's not working, you can find her in a coffee bar in Ghent. In fact, Els has always dreamed of opening one herself.

  

• Pieter Vancoillie

  Healthtech investment advisor

  Pieter is our expert in Healthtech and has excellent networking skills. He is well-versed in the entire value chain and has strong project-based skills with a good understanding of financial channels. Apart from his work, he enjoys cooking as an amateur chef in his free time. He also loves to stay active by running, cycling, or being outdoors.

  

• Eva Van der Gucht

  Digitech investment advisor

  Eva is an expert in exploring our Digitech ecosystem. She has a keen interest in projects that are innovative and have a strong social impact. Eva enjoys talking and prefers to meet people in person. She loves attending events and networking. You can find her at a wine bar in Ghent when not working, as she used to own one herself. Eva finds relaxation in cooking, reading or taking a leisurely stroll around our beautiful city.

  

• Wouter Antheunis

  Cleantech investment advisor

  Wouter is crucial in shaping our Cleantech cluster, leading our city towards climate neutrality. He has a biochemistry and political science background and has worked on nitrogen recovery using electrochemical cells and membrane technology. When he's not reading about the latest hydrophobic membranes or digital twin models, you might find him carrying a selection of the finest local cheeses.

  

• Ellen Roels

  Communications manager

  Ellen’s passionate about spreading the word about our #Techcapital. She takes a hands-on approach to ensure efficient communication and engagement with the target audience. Additionally, she coordinates events and activities to attract new business opportunities to the city. She enjoys reading English novels and attending yoga classes in downtown Ghent in her free time.

  

• Dieter De Smedt

  Manager

  Dieter’s busy setting the stage for Ghent as technology capital. He's a strategic thinker who navigates across four key areas, elevating the international playing field. During his leisure time, he enjoys going for a run or exploring the diverse range of bars and restaurants in our vibrant, 'unsung capital of cool'.

  

Our services

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• Start-up business

  We’re at the centre of the Belgian start-up scene. Thanks to intelligent local policy Ghent sees more than its fair share of start-ups and maintains an excellent rate of successful transition from small start-up to established organisation. Here’s how we can help you:

  • Location scouting 
  • Advice on subsidies and funding for starters
  • Spreading awareness through our showcase
  • Concept testing opportunities
  • Active networking with relevant industries

• Scale-up business

  Looking to expand your business? We offer a host of expertise to help define, strategize and supervise your growth, along with valuable networking opportunities and access to capital. Ghent provides state-of-the-art incubators, accelerators and co-working spaces to help you take your business to the next level. Here’s our scale-up policy at a glance:

  • Bringing together local initiatives for collaboration to mutual gain
  • Attracting foreign capital to accelerate growth
  • Making efforts to make data more accessible
  • Positioning Ghent as an international start-up and scale-up city

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We support your business

• Supporting entrepreneurs

  The ‘OOG’, our support centre for entrepreneurs, offers assistance for entrepreneurs working and living in Ghent.

  

• Supporting investors

  The city of Ghent employs a team of specialists to help guide entrepreneurs and investors active in our key tech sectors.

  

• Supporting starters & growers

  In Ghent we provide expert guidance to local starters and growers, offering subsidies, support and so much more.