Prof. Wim Soetaert holds a degree in chemical and biochemical engineering and did a PhD in bioengineering at Ghent University.
Prof. Wim Soetaert currently heads the Centre of Expertise for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis (InBio.be) at Ghent University, Faculty of BioScience Engineering. His research group of about 40 people is active in the areas of industrial biotechnology, biocatalysis, fermentation science and engineering.
He is the founder and chairman of Ghent Bio-Energy Valley, a public private partnership to promote the development of biobased activities in the Ghent area 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 already invested in the port of Ghent.
Prof. Wim Soetaert is also the director of the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, an open innovation Pilot Plant for biobased products and processes based in Ghent. Within the framework of an Interreg project, over 21 Million euros have been invested in Bio Base Europe.
Prof. Wim Soetaert is the vice chairman of ESAB, the Section Applied Biocatalysis of the European Federation of Biotechnology.
During his earlier career, Wim Soetaert has worked as a research director in Germany and France, for the sugar group Pfeifer & Langen and the wheat processing company Chamtor.
