About VKI
Word of the directors
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 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 129 persons, among them 47 research engineers and 14 professors. Besides the permanent staff about 200 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 8th, 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.
The VKI acknowledges the sustained support from BELSPO and its international consortium of 16 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.
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
Board of directors
- Dr. Bryan WELLS, Chair, United Kingdom
- BdeGen Philippe WAEYTENS, Vice Chair, Advisor on Defence, Belgian Building Agency and Budget to Deputy Prime Minister Jan Jambon, Belgium
- 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, vice-chair since May 202
- Adm. Michel HOFMAN (ret.), Belgium (*)
- Hervé LAURENT, Defence Innovation Agency, France
- Thomas PARDOEN, Professor, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium
- H.E. Ariadne PETRIDIS, 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
(*) nomination to the Board of Directors pending, to be confirmed in Decembre 2025
Previous Chairmen of the Board of Directors
November 2027 - Mai 2025
April 2016 - November 2017
Vice-chairman ad interim
November 2015 until April 2016
2004-2015
1993-2004
1963-1993
1956-1963