Value proposition

A self-supporting research and innovation institute of the Faculty of Engineering of Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

VUB B-PHOT Brussels Photonics is a leading research center in photonics and optics at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, covering expert domains such as optical fibre sensors, freeform optics, nano-photonics, biophotonics, nonlinear optics, semiconductor micro lasers and photonics lab-on-chip.

With over 25 years of experience, B-PHOT has been internationally recognized for its fundamental and applied research and industrial innovation that pushes the boundaries of light technology ever further.

A multidisciplinary team of 50 highly skilled researchers and engineers - led by Prof. Dr. Ir. Hugo Thienpont - develops innovative solutions that can answer future challenges for health sciences, food safety, heritage, IoT, telecom, green energy, aviation, mobility and industry 4.0.

Its advanced Photonics Innovation Center with clean room offers a full high-tech value chain for the development of materials to ready-to-market prototypes. B-PHOT supports SMEs through the European incubator programme ACTPHAST, by integrating photonics and optics in new business solutions.


R&D, telecommunications, life sciences, display technologies, prototyping & low-volume production, freeform optics, microstructured optical fibres, optical spectroscopy, integrated photonics, micro-optics, VCSELs laser technology, and Internet of Things