Philip Mathuis is co-founder and Executive Chairman of Trince, and was its CEO from 2021 to 2026. A serial entrepreneur who has co-founded multiple companies, including the ULB spin-off Ovizio Imaging Systems, he specialises in turning early-stage technologies into commercial products. He is named inventor on twelve patent families and seven granted US patents. Philip serves on the boards of several technology companies and previously chaired Aenitis Technologies in Paris. He holds an engineering degree and an MBA from ESCP Business School. Outside work, he plays drums in the Belgian band The Monotrol Kid.

Kevin Braeckmans is a professor and head of the bio-photonics research group at the University of Ghent. His main lines of research involve the development of biophotonics methods for drug delivery and biomedical diagnostics. In 2015, Kevin was awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant for his research on photoporation.

James Lovgren is a biotechnology executive with more than 25 years of experience helping life science companies translate innovative technologies into successful products while building and growing successful businesses. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Aspiro Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing novel therapies for respiratory diseases. Prior to Aspiro, he held executive leadership positions at MaxCyte, Berkeley Lights, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he helped define business strategy, guide product innovation, and expand adoption of enabling technologies supporting cell engineering, drug discovery, and life science research. He holds an MBA from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of North Florida.

Cédric Van Nevel has a strong interest in new and upcoming technologies and the impact they can generate on our society and daily life. He started his career as a strategic consultant at Boston Consulting Group before building further experience in the energy sector through a number of management positions at Fluxys (ranging from M&A to construction). Prior to joining Qbic, Cédric was responsible for the venturing activities of Bekaert, actively scouting for relevant technologies, setting up collaborations and holding a number of advisory board positions in international funds. He holds an MSc in Electronics from the University of Ghent.

Jan Van den Berghe is the founder of Novalis Biotech Incubation, and a serial entrepreneur in the food and biotech industry. Following his education in bio-engineering, he worked as senior consultant for the Boston Consulting Group and as an independent strategy consultant. Jan co-founded and served as director of Genohm, which was acquired by Agilent Technologies in 2018. Jan also served as director and chairman of Oystershell laboratories, a world-class developer of innovative consumer healthcare products. The company was acquired by Gilde Buy-Out Partners in 2017. Jan is co-owner and director of Lipa Holding, a family business in food and recycling, and is operating partner in Victus Participations, an independent agri and food growth investment fund. Jan obtained an MBA from INSEAD, and a Master in General Management from Vlerick Management School.

Walter Mastelinck is a commercially driven entrepreneur and investor with more than 25 years of experience in technology-driven businesses. As founder and CEO of Transics, he led the company from its inception in 1990, transforming it from a Belgian start-up into the European market leader in fleet management and telematics solutions for the transport industry. Under his leadership, Transics was successfully listed on Euronext in 2006. In 2014, the company was acquired by WABCO, after which Walter remained actively involved until the end of 2016. Since then, he has invested in a number of innovative growth companies. Walter holds a Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications and Microprocessors and brings extensive expertise in entrepreneurship, strategy, international expansion, and business development.

Stefaan De Smedt has been a professor at Ghent University since 1999 and is a world-renowned expert on advanced drug delivery. Currently he is the pro-dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the director of the Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines.

Marie-Pierre Rols is currently Research Director at the IPBS-CNRS laboratory in Toulouse, France, and head of the “Cellular Biophysics” group. Her main research interests are in the field of membrane destabilization by pulsed electric fields leading to electropermeabilization of cells and tissues. She is involved in various aspects such as the elucidation of the mechanisms of cell electroporation and DNA electrotransfer.

Pascale Berthet has more than 20 years of commercial and business development experience within the biotechnology industry. Her scientific background is in molecular and cellular biology. She worked for FujiFilm Regenerative Medicine and for TreeFrog Therapeutics where she initiated the Japan and US based business partnerships with biotech and Pharma companies. Possessing a strong curiosity-based mindset as the foundation for all projects involving new technologies and the people behind them.

Wilfred Germeraad is Associate professor of Immunology at the Department of Internal Medicine at Maastricht University, the Netherlands. He is also co-founder and CSO of CiMaas BV, a biotech company developing cellular immunotherapy for cancer that was created as spin-off from Maastricht University. His research focuses on developing NK cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia and bringing that to clinical applications in the GMP manufacturing facility of CiMaas. Further research into combination treatments of combination therapies with antibodies or CAR-NK cells is under development and include applications in solid tumors.

Prof. Heinz Redl is a leader in trauma research and tissue regeneration, co-directs the SHoW research group at Vienna’s Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology. With over 600 publications and 15 patents, his work has revolutionized trauma care. He coordinates the Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, organizes conferences, and holds prestigious awards and fellowships. Dr. Redl’s expertise spans trauma diagnostics, therapeutics, and musculoskeletal tissue regeneration, driving innovations that reshape medical possibilities globally.