Day 1 – 24.11.2025 – Spin it off: From student project/academic research to tech venture

This event was planned to discover how to turn research or a student project into a real-world tech venture through talks, workshops & networking. Due to national strikes (source: Belgium faces nationwide disruption as final day of strike hits airports, transport and industry « Euro Weekly News) only 10 participants from 30 subscribers were present.

13:00-13:30: Opening remarks by Louis Heiremans (business developer of Brubotics)

Louis welcomed participants and introduces the vision behind the event. In his opening, he highlighted the goals and current impact of TBrainBoost. He also explained how TBrainBoost might support companies, researchers, and startups by stimulating multidisciplinary collaboration, driving innovation in key domains, and translating cutting-edge research into industry-ready technologies.

13:30-14:15: Panel talk: How I started – From lab to launch by Marc Goldstein (Prof. Em. Business management), Bram Vanderborght (President Brubotics) and Pablo Garcia (co-founder Ailos).

This panel was led by Prof Goldstein and put emphasis on real stories from spin-off founders, researchers, and coaches about how they turned academic ideas into successful tech ventures. Different inventions from VUB were highlighted such as 3D camera images on Iphone and Collibra company, and from TBrainBoost partners BrainTrip and subsequent.

14:45-15:45: Parallel sessions led by Louis Heiremans and Marc Goldstein

Parallel sessions were organized including different interactive workshops, where participants further developed the project idea, defined the value proposition and practiced the pitch. These sessions were completed with insightful expert talks exploring how to navigate the local tech ecosystem, identify opportunities, and connect your research to real-world impact. The latter focused on two VUB spinoff companies, i.e., Healant (Bram Vanderborght) and Skinetix (Kevin De Pauw, vice president Brubotics).

15:45-16:15: Creative challenge

Participants teamed up to tackle a realistic startup challenge. Participants brainstormed, prototyped, and pitched their solution in a fast-paced session that put creativity and collaboration to the test.

16:15-16:45: Live idea check

Two teams pitched their developed ideas to the panel of founders, coaches, and researchers who shared quick, constructive feedback to help turn early concepts into viable ventures.

16:45-18:00: Drinks & Fingerfood

Informal networking was organized to connect with fellow innovators, founders, and researchers, exchange ideas, and spark future collaborations.

Day 2 – 26.11.2025 – Lab visits and demos

13:00-13:30: Welcome & Introduction

Bart Roelands and Kevin De Pauw (professors MFYS-VUB, partners TBrainBoost)

The lab visits started with a welcome session, including the introduction of the research team, whereabouts of the European project TBrainBoost, an explanation of the (overarching) research lines within the research group, and an outline of the goals of the visit. This session set the scientific and collaborative context for the following lab tours and demonstrations.

13:30-14:30: Visit FARI – AI research institute VUB-ULB

Carl Morch (Coordinator of FARI)

Participants were guided through the FARI building, Brussels’ interdisciplinary AI institute jointly run by VUB and ULB. The visit included an overview of FARI’s mission and its work in socially responsible AI, robotics, and data innovation. Carl Morch highlighted ongoing flagship projects, gave insights into real-world AI applications, and discussed how FARI supports public institutions, citizens, and industry.

15:30-16:30: Lab visit AI Experience Center and demos of robotics technologies

Kevin De Pauw (MFYS-VUB)

At the AI Experience Center, visitors explored cutting-edge technology used across VUB’s applied AI ecosystem. The session includes guided demonstrations of robotic systems—showcasing human–robot interaction, autonomous platforms, and AI-driven assistance technologies. Context was provided on how these innovations connect to sports sciences, health, and human performance.

16:30-17:30: Lab visits Brussels Human Performance Lab (BLITS) and demos of VR-EEG technology

Bart Roelands (MFYS-VUB)

The tour continued at BLITS, VUB’s state-of-the-art human performance research facility. Prof. Roelands introduced the lab’s capabilities for studying fatigue, injury prevention, return to sports and the human response to robotics applications. Demonstrations of VR-integrated EEG systems showed how immersive environments and neurophysiological data are combined to study human behavior, decision-making, and performance under realistic yet controlled conditions.

17:30-19:00: Networking

Day 3 – 27.11.2025 – Brubotics 10 Years – A Decade of Innovation, a Future of Impact

On 27 November 2025, Brubotics marked its 10-year anniversary with a vibrant celebration of robotics, physical AI, and humanity-centered innovation at the new USquare site of VUB–ULB. The event gathered over 130 participants—university leadership, researchers, international stakeholders, industry partners, and spinoff founders—for an afternoon and evening blending inspiration, hands-on demos, industry insights, and entrepreneurial showcases. With more than 17 interactive demos, high-level keynotes, and contributions from leaders at VUB, imec, and Flanders Make, the celebration highlighted a decade of research excellence and societal impact while setting the stage for the future of robotics for good.

14:00–14:30: Welcome & Introduction

The event opened with a tech demo by the Safebot-coera team and a welcome coffee encouraging early networking. The programme was hosted and moderated by Birgit Morlion (HealthTech Valorization Manager at VUB–Brubotics).

14:30–15:30: Inspirational Insights in Robotics

Opening speeches by key innovation leaders set an inspirational tone:

• Bram Vanderborght (President, Brubotics)
• Peter Schelkens (Vice-Rector for Innovation & Valorisation, VUB)
• Joost Seijnaeve (Vice President Industry & Consumer, imec)
• Wouter Favoreel (Sector Manager – Smart Manufacturing, Flanders Make)

Together, they reflected on the urgent need to invest in robotics and automation, highlighting the opportunity for Belgium and Europe to reclaim a central role in global innovation. They emphasized the rapid evolution and growing impact of Brubotics over the past decade, while expressing a shared commitment to advancing human-centered robotics within their respective organisations.

15:30–16:30: Impactful Industry–Research Collaborations

Industry partners presented powerful testimonial cases showing how joint R&D with Brubotics translates into real-world innovation:

• Melexis Technologies (Gaël Close, Innovation Director)

A Belgian micro-electronics company engineering semiconductor and sensor solutions that make cars and devices smarter, safer, and greener.

• Axiles Bionics (Fanny Delquignies, Clinical Specialist)

A Belgian spin-off developing bionic ankle-foot prostheses that merge robotics, AI, and human biomechanics.

• VoxelSensors (Andre Miodezky, CGO, CMO & President of the Board)

A deep-tech startup building ultra-low-power, ultra-low-latency 3D perception sensors enabling XR, wearables, and smart robotics.

• Inkendaal Rehabilitation Hospital (Marc Degelaen, Directeur Revalidatie)

A specialized rehabilitation hospital offering multidisciplinary treatment for complex conditions—presenting a RERE-related collaboration with BruBotics.

Speakers emphasized how academic–industrial cooperation accelerates breakthroughs in sensing, prosthetics, rehabilitation, and intelligent systems.

16:30–17:00: Lab Demos & Networking

Participants explored a rich exhibition of 17+ interactive demos covering robotics, AI, biomechanics, rehabilitation, human–robot interaction, and spinoff technologies.

List of Demos

• Safebot-coera: Making Physical AI Safe
• AugmentX & Exos: A one-stop shop for labour assessment
• Melexis: The sense of touch in robotics applications
• VoxelSensors: Enabling Physical & Contextual AI through intelligent sensing
• Axiles Bionics: Robotic ankle-foot prostheses for lower-limb amputees
• HUSKK: Next-generation exoskeletons for workers
• AILOS: Safe interaction through backdrivability
• Skinetix: Biomechanical intelligence for athlete excellence
• Valence & Self-healing Materials: Self-healing bike tyres (HEALANT®)
• MOVE: From Muscle to Motion: Neuromechanics of human movement
• BRRC: Rehabilitation technology
• BattMan: Battery management for mobile robots
• Wearable devices: Human-robot interaction wearable devices
• Anomaly Detection: Using AI to detect the unusual
• IRIS: Intelligent digital signage
• VALARSPIN: Agents for AI and data science workflows
• Exoskeleton Acceptance Framework: Human-centered exoskeleton adoption

17:00–18:00: Spinoff Pitches

Five Brubotics spinoffs pitched their ventures and valorisation strategies in an interactive session with the public:

• Safebot-coera (Constantin Scholz, CEO & Co-founder)

Sensor-fusion system enabling safe human-robot collaboration through on-robot spatial perception.

• Skinetix (Joris De Winter, CEO & Co-founder)

A VUB–imec spin-off developing sensor-embedded sportswear and AI tools for athletic performance and rehabilitation.

• Huskk (Joost Geeroms, CEO & Co-founder)

A Brussels fintech enabling startups to manage spending, liquidity, and corporate cards with seamless automation.

• Valence Technologies (Simon Beckers, CEO & Co-founder; Anastasia Klimenko, Business Developer)
  A Belgian advanced-materials company pioneering HEALANT® self-healing polymers for industrial use.
• Ailos (Pablo Lopez Garcia)

A startup developing next-generation high-efficiency gearboxes for agile robotics and industrial motion systems.

This session also featured a major strategic announcement: VUB and Brubotics fully recognise the growing need for robotics innovation capacity and dedicated support infrastructure. To address this, within the Research Park Zellik and alongside key VUB assets such as the supercomputer, VUB, co-led by Brubotics, is establishing a dedicated Robotics Startup Hub. This hub will provide a space for robotics companies to collaborate, share talent, and circulate capital and expertise efficiently, while offering joint workshops, specialised support services, and a nurturing environment designed to maximise the success of robotic ventures. Building on the complementary innovation programmes such as TBrainBoost, which fosters cross-disciplinary acceleration in AI- and brain-inspired technologies (among other techs), the Robotics Startup Hub will strengthen the pipeline from research to market by connecting advanced technological development with entrepreneurial support structures. The initiative underscores Brubotics’ commitment to reinforcing Belgium’s and Europe’s leadership in robotics innovation.

18:00–20:00 — Walking Dinner & Demos

The celebration closed with a private walking dinner surrounded by the demo zone, creating a relaxed, high-energy environment for networking, reconnecting, and forming new partnerships.