Qbic Fund

Qbic is an inter-university venture capital fund that turns technological breakthroughs into sustainable businesses. Its funds have backed spin-offs from research groups, several of them linked to photonics work in Ghent.

What Qbic offers

• Early-stage funding: Its third fund has provided pre-seed money to new science-based companies.
• Multiple funds: The first and second funds continue to back companies in the portfolio.
• Knowledge partners: The firm works with university and research partners to find and shape spin-offs.
• Investment strategy: Its stated approach is to move research into commercial products.

Customers and markets

The portfolio covers health and deep technology. Companies include an implantable glucose sensor, an AI drug discovery platform, robotics gearboxes, a patient-monitoring alert tool, smart charging for electric vehicles, an obesity treatment, colour-splitting image sensors, enzyme-based antibiotics, 3D perception sensors for extended reality and antibodies for livestock.

Key facts

• Type: Inter-university venture capital fund
• Focus: Deep tech, life sciences and photonics
• Funds: At least three