Innovation Officer Hydrogen

ABOUT UGENT

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

About IOF Business Development Centers

The Industrial Research Fund (IOF) supports collaboration between UGent and external partners through business development centers. These centers thematically unite complementary research departments. Each center focuses on creating impact within a domain, such as energy for EnerGhentIC, sustainable chemical production for CleanChem, and metals for Metals. Often, there are synergies and connections bridging various domains. The UGent Hydrogen Platform, launched in 2021, is an example of this.

About EnerGhentIC, CleanChem, and Metals

EnerGhentIC focuses on the energy domain. It is an interdisciplinary community of over 200 UGent researchers innovating the energy transition, spanning five faculties. www.energhentic.be

CleanChem focuses on process chemistry and the transition of the chemical sector toward climate neutrality. It supports over 200 researchers within the Faculties of Engineering and Architecture and Bioscience Engineering.

Metals brings together over 150 UGent researchers from the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture who focus on innovations in metal R&D. Activities include production, usage, characterization, and circularity of metals. The need for sustainable and energy-efficient processes and products is the main driver of these innovations.

The executive teams of the three consortia support all involved researchers in creating impact. Research results should not remain confined within the university but should be utilized in society and business to realize energy transition, circularity, and carbon reduction. The teams, currently consisting of nine members, assist UGent researchers in acquiring research grants (both national and European), facilitate collaboration with industrial and societal partners, organize events, establish partnerships with companies and policymakers, and more.

About the Hydrogen Platform

The IOF valorization platform on hydrogen, initiated in 2021, aims to strengthen and consolidate internal expertise on hydrogen (and its derivatives), enhance synergies among various research groups, externally position UGent as a strong player in the hydrogen domain, and initiate external collaborations with industrial partners. In addition to a focus on hydrogen, the platform also works on other climate-neutral fuels such as ammonia and electrofuels and on the electrification of processes driven by fossil fuels.

Within the broad hydrogen theme, the focus is on unique, clearly defined program lines. Alongside purely technological program lines, structural collaboration between humanities and technological scientists is also sought. The ambition is to position UGent internationally as a hydrogen expertise center. The platform’s goals include increasing bilateral contract revenues, enhancing public project funding, developing unique research and testing infrastructure, and establishing a think tank to support European, federal, and Flemish policy.

YOUR MISSION

To achieve these goals, we are seeking an Innovation Officer (m/f/x). The Innovation Officer for Hydrogen will be tasked with further developing and operationalizing the hydrogen platform in close collaboration with the relevant IOF business development centers, with the objective of creating a lever for valorizing UGent expertise within the hydrogen economy.

The platform employee will play both an internal and external valorization-supporting role. The primary internally-oriented tasks are:

• Defining and developing program lines with commercialization potential, in collaboration with IOF business developers and researchers.
• Monitoring resulting valorization trajectories in collaboration with IOF business developers and researchers.
• Screening funding opportunities (including for the development of unique research and (bench) pilot infrastructure).
• Mobilizing researchers for project calls and fostering collaboration among various UGent research groups.
• Acting as a connector, facilitating and coordinating internal information flow to ensure platform members are well-informed about various initiatives undertaken within the platform.
• Facilitating exploratory visits to UGent by industrial parties (with broad interest in hydrogen).
• Supporting the development of project proposals (ETF, VLAIO, EC, etc.) that support the valorization of UGent IP.

Good internal organization and structure should enable the platform to proactively respond to external opportunities. The following externally-oriented tasks will be carried out by the Innovation Officer for Hydrogen:

• External profiling and visibility: representing UGent expertise at industrial forums, networking events, and conferences in Belgium and abroad.
• Front office role: acting as the first point of contact for industry, international sector organizations (e.g., FIT), and policymakers to strengthen and expand the existing (industrial) network.
• Identifying opportunities for industrial collaboration within specific industry organizations such as HydrogenNet.

The Innovation Officer will be embedded within an operational team and contribute to the activities and tasks of that team.

YOUR PROFILE

Background:

• Holds an engineering or scientific degree, preferably with a PhD or equivalent industrial experience (preferably with a background in chemistry, energy, materials, physics, or environmental technology).

Expertise:

• Experience in setting up and leading initiatives in a multi-stakeholder environment.
• Knowledge of the hydrogen domain and a network within the hydrogen sector is a plus.
• Affinity with the industrial world and experience with industrial-academic collaboration.
• Experience with public funding channels is a plus.
• Initial experience with European networks is a plus.

Characteristics:

• Strong interest in climate neutrality and hydrogen.
• Inspiring, communicative, collaborative, proactive, and service-oriented.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, diplomatic, and result-oriented.
• A natural networker who thrives in a complex environment with many stakeholders.
• A generalist who can distill the essence from complex information streams and quickly immerse in new subjects.
• Well-organized, proactive, and punctual.

• Knowledge of Dutch is a plus.

OUR OFFER

We offer a permanent contract. Compensation will be in accordance with salary scale WM1 to WM4 (for a Master’s degree) or PD1 to PD4 (for a PhD). More information about our salary scales.

Additionally, UGent employees enjoy several benefits, including extensive training opportunities, 38 days of vacation leave (based on full-time employment), a bicycle allowance, eco-vouchers, and more. A complete overview of our employee benefits.

INTERESTED?

Applications can only be submitted online via e-recruitment until the final application date (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications submitted outside the online platform.

The following documents must be attached to your application:

• In the field ‘CV’: your CV
• In the field ‘Motivation Letter’: your motivation letter
• In the field ‘Diploma’: a copy of the required diploma (if already in your possession)

Please note: each field has a maximum file size of 10 MB.

Ghent University pursues an equal opportunities and diversity policy and therefore encourages everyone to apply.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about this vacancy, you can contact Karen Hemelsoet (karen.hemelsoet@ugent.be). Please note: do not send your application via email; apply online instead.

Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via selecties@ugent.be or +32 9 264 34 36