Rik Van de Walle

Rik Van de Walle (°1970) is Rector at Ghent University since October 2017. In his role as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, he was involved in CESAER and welcomed the new impetus recently given to the network. In collaboration with the EU Office in the university’s Research Department, he proactively supported the involvement of his faculty and of Ghent University in European Public Affairs activities.

He graduated in engineering physics in 1994 and obtained his doctoral degree in engineering physics in 1998. He was a visiting post-doctoral fellow at the University of Arizona (USA), before returning to Ghent University to set up the Internet and Data Lab which became one of the founding research groups of IBBT/iMinds, now part of IMEC.

As a senior full professor, his specialties involved multimedia applications, systems and signals and data science. Between 2012 and September 2017, he was Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture until he was appointed Rector at Ghent University.

Rik Van de Walle is currently presiding the North America Platform.

Additional positions

• Member of the Board of Governors IMEC, since 2016
• Member of the Board of Governors Greenbridge Incubator, since 2015
• Member of the Board of Directors IBBT/iMinds, 2007 – 2016
• Member of the Board of Governors Ghent University, 2008 – 2012
• Head of Delegation Belgian National Body MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group), 2007-2010