Join us on 18–19 September 2026 for a unique two‑day anniversary event bringing together alumni, scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, international partners, and friends of VKI from around the world.

Founded in 1956, VKI has grown into a world‑class international education and research institute specializing in fluid dynamics, with applications in aeronautics and aerospace, turbomachinery and propulsion, and environmental and applied fluid dynamics. This anniversary is a moment to honour our heritage, celebrate our achievements, and look forward to the next decades of innovation.

The event is exclusively open to invited guests, VKI Alumni and VKI Staff.

Registration (on invitation only) Accommodation Programme Sponsorship Packages

Programme

This preliminary programme gives you an insight of the two-days events. The full programme will be available soon.

Friday, 18 September 2026

This day will be dedicated to highlighting the strong partnerships the Institute has built over the years.

10:00 – 12:30 Visit of the labs for the invited guests

12:30 – 13:30 Sandwich lunch for the invited guests participating in the visit of the labs

13:30 – 14:00 Welcome and Registration

14:00 - 16:30 Plenary Session featuring long-term VKI partners from industry, politics, universities, research centers, and governmental agencies: preliminary programme

14:00 – 14:10   Open Words
Mr. Bryan Wells, Chair of the VKI Board of Directors

14:10 – 14:25   Welcome address and VKI in the future
Mr. Peter Grognard, Managing Director, VKI

14:25 – 14:35   Science, Security, and the Power of Partnership: Marking 70 years of VKI
Representative of NATO

14:35 – 14:45   Belgium Science Policy Framework and the Key Contribution of VKI
Representative of the Ministry in charge of Science Policy

14:45 – 14:55   The Next frontier: VI’s Role in Preparing Belgium for Tomorrow’s Challenges
Representative of the Ministry in charge of Defense 

14:55 – 15:05 Seventy Years, One Mission: Research, Défense, and a Strong VKI–KMS Alliance
General Major Aviation An-Roos De Potter, Director of Royal Military Academy

15:05 – 15:15   A Longstanding Partnership: VKI and SCK CEN from MYRRHA to Small Modular Reactors
Mr. Christophe Bruggeman, Deputy Director-General of SCK CEN

15:15 – 15:25   VKI, privileged partners of Safran since decades
Mr. Jérôme Bonini, VP Research & Technology, Technical Director Military Engines, Safran Aircraft Reactors

15:25 – 15:35   Seventy Years of VKI: Enabling Europe’s Exploration of Space
Mr. Tommaso Ghidini, Head of the Mechanical Department, European Space Agency

15:35 – 15:45 Congratulatory video message
Dr. Josef Aschbacher, Director General, ESA

15:45 – 15:55   Advancing Spacecraft Safety: NASA–VKI Cooperation under the Space Act Agreement
Dr. Margareth Stackpoole, TPS Branch Chief, NASA (to be confirmed)

15:55 – 16:05   Cultivating Talent Together: VKI-ULB Joint PhD and Academic Collaboration
Dr. Marius Gilbert, Vice-Rector for Research, Université libre de Bruxelles 

16:05 – 16:15   An Alliance for Knowledge: VKI and VUB’s Academic and Scientific Collaboration
Dr. Jan Danckaert, Rector, Vrije Universiteit Brussels

16:15 Closing Word
Mr. Peter Grognard, Managing Director, VKI

16:30 Reception

Saturday, 19 September 2026 - Alumni Day

10:00 – 12:00 VKI Alumni Association Board of Directors (for members of the Board only, invitation will be sent later by the VKI Alumni Association)

10:30 – 11:00 Registration and Welcome

11:00 – 12:00 Academic Session : Past Foundations, Future Directions

11:00 – 11:10 Welcome address
Mr. Peter Grognard, Managing Director, VKI

11:10 – 11:20 Word from the VKI Alumni Association
Dr. Cis De Maesschalck, President of the VKI Alumni Association and Capability Lead - Fluid Mechanics at Rolls-Royce

11:20 – 11:40 Shaping the Next 70 Years: VKI’s Strategy for the Future
Mr. Peter Grognard, Managing Director, VKI
Mr. Sven Van Loo, Executive Director for Institutional and Infrastructure Development

11:40 – 11:50 Educating the Next Generation: The Strategic Evolution of VKI’s Academic Programmes
Prof. Jeroen van Beeck, dean of the faculty

11:50 – 12:00 Inspiring the Next Generation: Women Driving Innovation in Fluid Dynamics
Prof. Delphine Laboureur, VKI professor and Chair of BeWise

12:00 – 13:00 Sandwich Lunch

13:00 – 14:00 Alumni Session: The VKI Community - Alumni Speeches

Prof. Dr. Filippo Coletti, Full Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zürich

Dr. George Simeonides, Project Adviser, European Commission

Prof. Clara Garcia Sanchez, Associate Professor at the department of Architecture and Built Environment ,TU Delft

Dr. Kurt Sermeus, Section Chief, Aircraft Systems Architecture, Bombardier

Dr. Jérôme Anthoine, Director of DMPE (Multi-Physics for Energetics Department, ONERA

and additional alumni to be announced soon

14:00 – 14:45 Roundtable: the future of VKI

14:45 – 15:15 Coffee break

15:15 – 16:30 VKI Alumni Association General Assembly
Chair: Dr. Cis De Maesschalck, President of the VKI Alumni Association and Capability Lead - Fluid Mechanics at Rolls-Royce

Spouses and children are welcome to attend the following part of the programme

16:45 – 18:15 Visit of the labs

18:30 Bus departure from VKI to Hotel Van Der Valk Nivelles Sud

19:00 – 22:00 Alumni Dinner at Hotel Van Der Valk Nivelles Sud
The Alumni Dinner consists of a cocktail reception followed by a three-course dinner, drinks included. The children's menu is composed of one meal and one dessert, drinks included. You will receive several menu options to choose from at a later stage.

22:00 Bus departure back to Brussels (stop at Waterloo, VKI, Brussels Center). The last bus stop is avenue Louise in Brussels near the IBIS Brussels Centre Châtelain. 

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21/10/2025

It was a profound honour for Mr. Peter Grognard, Managing Director, Prof. Fabrizio Fontaneto, and Prof. Sergio Lavagnoli of the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI) to be invited to the Royal Palace in Brussels yesterday evening for the state banquet hosted by Their Majesties, the King and Queen of Belgium, in honour of His Excellency, the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella.

This reception was a celebration of the enduring friendship between Belgium and Italy, marked by a shared commitment to international collaboration, and strategic partnership. In his address, His Majesty the King of Belgium underscored the importance of institutions like VKI in fostering cooperation and safeguarding our future: “To guarantee our security, Belgium and Italy remain committed partners within our defensive alliance, NATO. The war in Ukraine requires us to strengthen our cooperation. Our independence and sovereignty are at stake. Our armed forces and defence industries are called upon to collaborate even more closely. What our countries are achieving within an institution such as von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics is exemplary in this regard.” (Full speech of His Majesty the KING available here:https://www.monarchie.be/fr/agenda/discours-du-roi-a-loccasion-de-la-visite-detat-entrante-de-se-president-mattarella)

This recognition highlights VKI’s pivotal role in advancing joint research and innovation in aerospace and defence, and its contribution to strengthening the strategic ties between our nations.

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