MEDVIA and flanders.bio vote to merge organizations
The members of MEDVIA and flanders.bio have voted in favor of joining forces in a brand new organization. With a single voice, we will champion the entire healthtech and life sciences ecosystem.
MEDVIA, the industry-driven network fostering healthcare innovation in Flanders, and flanders.bio –dedicated to supporting innovation and growth in red, green and white biotech – have voted to merge their activities in the first half of 2025.
With a united voice, we will represent the entire healthtech and biotech ecosystem on the regional, federal and European stage.
Who are MEDVIA & flanders.bio?
MEDVIA is an industry-driven membership organization that fosters health innovation in Flanders. Founded in 2021 as one of six spearhead clusters supported by Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO), MEDVIA nurtures R&D at the intersection of biotech, medtech and digital technologies.
flanders.bio has been catalyzing growth in the Flemish life sciences sector for over 20 years. It is a respected source of information for key stakeholders, the media and local governments. flanders.bio organizes Knowledge for Growth, the biggest life sciences conference in the Benelux.
Why a merger?
The merger allows MEDVIA and flanders.bio to align activities and deliver more powerful support for our collective members. We will be able to achieve greater impact by offering broader, more dynamic networking opportunities, better directed funding for R&D in healthtech and biotech collaborations and increased efficiency, sharpening our focus in common areas while building strategic roadmaps for Flanders.
These unified services will allow us to cater to the entire biotech and healthtech ecosystem in Flanders, Belgium and beyond.
What is the structure?
Staff of both clusters will be active in the new company. The CEO will be Ann Van Gysel, the current CEO of MEDVIA. A 14-member Board of Directors will be appointed in the first quarter of 2025. The merger will be made official next week, and the two clusters will work in the coming months to finalize this powerful fusion to officially create one, new organization.
A new name for this groundbreaking organization will follow, along with a new website. Key announcements regarding this fusion will be shared at the 2025 edition of Knowledge for Growth on 8 May in Antwerp.