About VKI

Word of the directors

Mr. Peter Grognard, Managing Director of the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

Dear visitor,

Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to the website of the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics. I would like to share some insights about the VKI with you.

Green technologies such as noise reduction, reduction of pollution (NOX releases) as well as global warming (CO2 release) are the drivers for revolutionary changes in century old industries like aerospace, car industry or energy conversion. New ideas like using micro satellites for in orbit technology demonstration and debris mitigation, advances in new propulsion concepts and qualification of new reusable materials will make future high speed travel affordable.

These are some of the topics that bring young engineers and scientists from all over the world to the von Karman Institute to study, improve their skills and perform their research. Located in Sint-Genesius-Rode near Brussels, this non-profit international educational and scientific organization is specialized in fluid dynamics (flows of liquids, gases and plasmas) in the area of Aeronautics and Aerospace, Environmental and Applied Fluid Dynamics, and Turbomachinery and Propulsion. The von Karman Institute prides itself in providing "advanced training in research through research".

The VKI acknowledges the sustained support from BELSPO, the Belgian Defence and its international consortium of member states, which has allowed the VKI to reach the present level of competence and its worldwide recognition as a true center of excellence in fluid dynamics.

Peter Grognard
Managing Director of the von Karman Institute

About VKI

VKI is a non-profit international educational and scientific organisation, hosting three departments (aeronautics and aerospace, environmental and applied fluid dynamics, and turbomachinery & propulsion). It provides post-graduate education in fluid dynamics (Research Master in Fluid Dynamics (Master-after-master level), former "VKI Diploma Course", Doctoral Programme, Short Training Program and lecture series) and encourages "training in research through research". The von Karman Institute undertakes and promotes research in the field of fluid dynamics. Extensive research on experimental, computational and theoretical aspects of gas and liquid flows is carried out at the VKI under the direction of the faculty and research engineers, sponsored mainly by governmental and international agencies as well as industries.

The von Karman Institute organizes each year 8 to 12 one-week Lecture Series on specialized topics in the field of aerodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer with application to aeronautics, space, turbomachinery, the environment and industrial fluid dynamics. These courses have gained over the years world wide recognition for their high quality which is the result of a careful choice of subjects of current interest and lecturers known for their excellency in that field and willing to co-operate in building up well-structured courses.

VKI has a permanent staff of approximately 165 persons. Besides the permanent staff about 300 students and temporary researchers are involved in the different academic programmes. Students involved in these programmes have been recently awarded numerous prestigious grants such as those provided by the Belgian agencies FNRS, FRIA, FWO and the European Union ERC and Marie-Curie.

Furthermore, this Center of Excellence operates about fifty different wind tunnels, turbomachinery and other specialized test facilities; some of them being unique. The facilities of the Institute are renowned and VKI is recognized as a world-class research center of excellence by its peers.

On Thursday 25 August 2023, at the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI), a cooperation agreement was signed between ESA and VKI for cooperation in the field of space technology and engineering. This agreement has been signed by Mr. Peter Grognard, Managing Director of VKI and Mr. Torben Henriksen, director of technology, engineering, and quality of ESA in the presence of Mr. Frank Monteny, Director of the General Research and Space at Belgian Science Policy (BELSPO). Following some long-standing and successful cooperation and mutually beneficial relationship, this agreement establishes the arrangement for cooperation between ESA and VKI to strengthen their reciprocal experience and knowledge in the field of space research. VKI, with the support of ESA, is interested in expanding the scientific research activities in Belgian companies and universities, in particular those related to space.

The von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI) has signed on Wednesday June 8^th, 2022 in New York a Space Act Agreement for structural cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). VKI researchers will help their American colleagues to ensure that spacecraft withstand their dangerous reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

Belgian Defence

Sixteen NATO countries among thirty-two contribute to the financing of the von Karman Institute. Those countries are actually represented at several levels in the governance bodies of the von Karman Institute: Board of Directors, General Assembly, Scientific Advisory Committee and NATO Working Group on the Financing of the von Karman Institute.

BELGIUM

BULGARIA

CZECH REPUBLIC

FRANCE

GERMANY

GREECE

HUNGARY

ICELAND

ITALY

LUXEMBURG

NORWAY

PORTUGAL

ROMANIA

TÜRKIYE

THE NETHERLANDS

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (pending)

Organization Chart

Board of directors

Dr. Bryan WELLS, Chair, United Kingdom
Major General Philippe WAEYTENS, Vice Chair, Belgian Defense
Peter GROGNARD, Managing Director, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
Baron Derrick-Philippe GOSSELIN, Chairman SCK CEN, Vice Chair and Director at the Royal Higher Institute for Defence, Emeritus Professor at UGent, Belgium
Adm. Michel HOFMAN (ret.), Belgium (*)
Hervé LAURENT, Defence Innovation Agency, France
Thomas PARDOEN, Professor, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium
H.E. Willem VAN DE VOORDE, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Belgium to NATO, Belgium
Tudor PRISECARU, Professor, Politechnica University Bucharest, Romania
Steen SØNDERGAARD, NATO Chief Scientist, Chair of the Science and Technology Board at NATO, Denmark (*)
Sven VAN LOO, Institutional and Infrastructure Development, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium