• Flanders Investment & Trade
  • Invest in Flanders

VITO is an independent Flanders-based research organization that specializes in the areas of cleantech and sustainable development. Its goal? To accelerate the transition toward a sustainable world. VITO connects research, government and market as well as knowledge, policy and business to create impactful changes. It’s the perfect innovation partner for clean technologies or an integrated R&D approach to sustainability.

Founded in 1991, VITO has the largest and best-equipped facility for research excellence in the following domains:

  • sustainable chemistry;
  • sustainable materials;
  • sustainable energy;
  • remote sensing;
  • sustainable land use;
  • sustainable health.

Key advantages

VITO is ideally located in Flanders, right at the heart of the European Union and close to major European capitals, industrial zones and airports. It provides quick and easy access to:

  • international travel destinations and connections by road, air and public transportation;
  • a vast network of corporate clients and partners;
  • local, national and international authorities.

In addition, VITO:

  • has direct partnerships and relations with major European universities;
  • is the founding partner of research collaborations such as EnergyVille, Biorizon and CAPTURE;
  • leads two EEA topic centers and participates in many others;
  • is an official partner of EIT KIC organizations;
  • has subsidiaries in China and the Middle East.

Specific focus areas

  • Clean & sustainable technologies
  • Deep geothermal energy
  • Circular economy
  • New value chains from alternative feedstock
  • Sustainable industrial processes
  • Battery management systems (EnergyVille)
  • Electrical storage (EnergyVille)
  • Smart cities (EnergyVille)
  • Software tools and models for land, water and air
  • Preventive healthcare 
VITO, multidisciplinary research center in Flanders