Moonshot MOT Core Teams

To ensure high-quality research within the Moonshot Research Trajectories (MOTs), each MOT is supported by a MOT core team. This core team of selected peers is responsible for the scientific translation of its respective research trajectory.

Furthermore, each MOT core team:Each MOT core team consists of experts from Flemish universities and other knowledge institutes. These experts are (inter)nationally recognized for their expertise with regards to the Moonshot enablers and the relevant research trajectory. In composing the core teams, complementarity of expertise between the core members and institutional balances were also taken into account.

Within each core team, a spokesperson has been designated who acts as a point of contact. The MOT spokesperson communicates the vision and views of his or her MOT to external parties and stakeholders or to other Moonshot governance levels. In the overview below, spokespersons are listed in bold.

Additionally, each core team is supported by a dedicated representative of the Moonshot operational team. Together with the spokesperson, this representative provides guidance in the activities and deliverables of his or her MOT.

Currently, the four MOT core teams consist of the following members:

MOT1 Biobased Chemistry

  • Bert Sels (KU Leuven; expert heterogeneous catalysis & biomass conversion)
  • Karolien Vanbroekhoven (VITO; expert separation & TEA)
  • Wim Soetaert (UGent/BBEUPP; expert biocatalysis & fermentation)
  • Bert Maes (UAntwerpen; expert homogeneous catalysis & biomass conversion)
  • Isabelle Monnaie (Moonshot operational team)

MOT2 Circularity of Carbon in Materials

  • Filip Du Prez (UGent; expert polymer chemistry & ‘design for recycling’)
  • Isabel De Schrijver (Centexbel; expert plastics)
  • Louis Pitet (UHasselt; expert bio-based polymers)
  • Dirk De Vos (KU Leuven; expert chemical recycling)
  • Kathleen Smolders (Moonshot operational team)

MOT3 Electrification and Radical Process Transformation

  • Kevin Van Geem (UGent; expert chemical processing & process intensification)
  • Bert Bouwman (VITO; expert conversion technologies & technoeconomics)
  • Joeri Denayer (VUB; expert separation processes)
  • Luc Van Ginneken (Moonshot operational team)

MOT4 Energy Innovation

  • Johan Martens (KU Leuven; expert solar fuels)
  • Lieve Helsen (KU Leuven; expert thermal networks)
  • Michel De Paepe (UGent; expert heat and combustion dynamics)
  • Jan Vaes (VITO; expert P-2-X)
  • Luc Van Ginneken (Moonshot operational team)

Each MOT core team is complemented by a MOT pool. This pool is an active network of mostly Flemish academic experts in the field of the respective MOT. It connects the MOT core team to all other academic players with relevant experience and expertise. MOT pools meet regularly to network, brainstorm and pitch ideas. In short, MOT pools are the source for new Moonshot project ideas.

Interested in sharing your expertise and joining a particular MOT pool? Please contact the dedicated representative of the Moonshot operational team.