The von Karman Institute (VKI) and the Belgian Ministry of Defence signed a cooperation agreement on Thursday to bolster the country's expertise in hypersonic technology.
The Defence Ministry was represented by the Royal Higher Institute for Defence (RHID), which aims to enhance Belgium’s technological and industrial competitiveness.
The VKI is recognised globally in fluid dynamics, specifically in aeronautics, aerospace, turbomachinery, propulsion, and environmental and industrial processes.
Through this partnership, the Ministry of Defence seeks to expand its knowledge and industrial expertise in hypersonic technology, enhancing Belgium’s capabilities in both technology and security, according to the RHID.
The agreement marks a significant milestone for VKI, according to its director, Peter Grognard. The institute’s infrastructure and research activities, first established by the Ministry of Defence over a century ago, continue a longstanding tradition of cooperation.
Last year, the VKI in Rhode-Saint-Genèse (Flemish Brabant) was designated a laboratory for NATO countries under the DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) project.
The VKI employs 140 staff and annually trains nearly 200 students and temporary researchers through its continuing education programme for industrial professionals and academics.
