Theme | Research Environment | Infrastructure |
Theme 1 | The ORSY division hosts fully equipped state-of-the art synthetic labs and has access to all analytical instruments for the separation and characterization of organic molecules [NMR, GC-MS, UPLC-(HR)MS, TLC-MS, IR , UV-VIS, cyclic voltammetry] required for organic synthesis. Preparative automated flash chromatography and preparative electrosynthesis equipment are also available. Within the CASCH consortium other analytical techniques [EPR, chiroptical spectroscopy (VCD, chiral Raman) and fluorescence spectroscopy] are available. A ThalesNano Phoenix flow reactor present at ORSY allows to transfer developed batch processes into continuous mode applying a wide range of pressures and temperatures.
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Theme 2 | PLASMANT | PLASMANT has many different types of plasma reactors (arc, gliding arc, microwave plasmas, atmospheric pressure glow discharges, and dielectric barrier discharges) available for gas conversion studies, as well as the necessary power supply units, and equipment for electrical and analytical characterization (probes, optical emission spectrometry, several gas chromatographs, NDIR, FTIR, GC-MS,…). For the computational work, PLASMANT has its own workstations and computer cluster, but also has access to the University Supercomputer and the Flemish Supercomputer Center. Moreover, chemical sustainability research activities are clustered (since 2025) in a new state-of-the-art chemistry building with fully equipped synthetic and analytic labs. |
Theme 3 | Product Development has all facilities to enable intense collaboration in various creative workspaces for brainstorming, cocreation, workshops and mapping exercises, relevant for research on governance for sustainable transitions. | |
Theme 4 | The A+I group has access to the Mekano Makerspace fabrication lab, the Light Lab and a Mixed Reality suite which supports both material prototyping and exploratory design research. The Mekano Makerspace fabrication provides facilities for 3D–printing, laser-cutting, wood- and material-working, casting and model-making, to more advanced fabrication technologies. The Light Lab enables optical and lighting experimentation and spatial atmospheres. Within A+I also equipment is available for immersive spatial simulations to prototype, visualise, and evaluate complex spatial, material, and ecological scenarios in real-time, bridging digital experimentation with embodied design exploration. | |
Theme 5 | LMB is well-equipped to support the research within theme 5, it possesses fully equipped lab spaces for recombinant protein production in both bacterial and eukaryotic host systems and protein purification). The lab is fully equipped with various plate readers for read-outs based on colorimetry of fluorimetry. LMB also houses a biomolecular interaction platform granting direct access to surface plasmon resonance (SPR, BCT200), grating-coupled interferometry (GCI, WAVEdelta), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC, MicroCal PEAQ-ITC). LMB has also established a robust platform for structural biology including macromolecular X-ray crystallography (MX), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). |