Skip to content

Thomas Geernaert

Thomas Geernaert joined VARIO as policy advisor in May 2022.

He obtained a doctorate in Engineering in 2011 (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) in the domain of photonics, which was awarded with the ‘Photonics21 Student Innovation award’. After his PhD he was involved in numerous fundamental, applied and industrial research projects in Flanders and Europe. Thomas was professor at VUB (2016-2022) and leader of the research team for optical fiber sensors with applications in industry 4.0, biomedicine and structural health monitoring of structures and materials.

With his switch to VARIO he wants to contribute to successful innovation and entrepreneurship policy.

Advices and reports

View all advices

Advies 49: Sterke we­ten­schap beter benutten: kansen voor tech­no­lo­gi­sche ont­wik­ke­ling in Vlaan­de­ren

13 July 2026

Vlaanderen is sterk in wetenschap. In zijn nieuwe advies toont VARIO hoe die sterke kennisbasis nog beter kan worden benut voor technologische ontwikkeling en economische impact in Vlaanderen en Europa.

Advisory report 45: Break­through science and tech­no­lo­gy in Flanders

14 November 2025

VARIO calls for a research culture that tolerates risk.

Advisory report 37: Towards higher pro­duc­ti­vi­ty growth

6 November 2024
VARIO calls for better study of Flanders' productivity performance, sharpening of R&D&I policy and transverse innovation policy