European Plotkin Institute for Vaccinology - Université libre de Bruxelles

What European Plotkin Institute for Vaccinology - Université libre de Bruxelles does

The European Plotkin Institute for Vaccinology (EPIV) is a non-profit academic research institute jointly operated by Université libre de Bruxelles and Universiteit Antwerpen, inaugurated on May 24, 2022, and headquartered in Anderlecht, Brussels. It operates two specialized facilities: Vaccinopolis, a 6,000 m² site at the University of Antwerp housing a thirty-bed BSL-3 quarantine unit, an ambulant vaccine trial unit, and BSL-2/BSL-3 laboratories; and the Institute for Medical Immunology (IMI), a 3,600 m² translational and clinical research facility in Brussels supporting Phase II and Phase III vaccine trials. The institute conducts vaccine safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy trials, controlled human infection model (CHIM) studies, and systems immunology analyses targeting both epidemic and endemic pathogens, and positions itself to evaluate vaccines in months rather than years.

EPIV is funded primarily through a €20 million grant from the Belgian government and supplements this with sponsored research collaborations and service arrangements. Its customers include vaccine developers (pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms), academic research institutions, national and international government health agencies, and global health organizations such as the WHO. Its scientific leadership comprises Pierre Van Damme (Director of Vaccinopolis, with 550+ peer-reviewed papers and WHO Collaborating Centre oversight since 1994) and Arnaud Marchant (Director of IMI, with 25 years of vaccine immunology research); the broader team inherits a track record of 500+ vaccine trials conducted since 1984 across predecessor programs at both universities.

The institute's revenue mechanics blend non-dilutive government funding with project-based research services and academic sponsorship, with no publicly disclosed pricing model or transaction-level rates. Its go-to-market relies on institutional reputation, the WHO Collaborating Centre designation, and the scientific standing of its leadership rather than traditional commercial sales channels. Operations are concentrated in Belgium (Brussels, Antwerp, and Charleroi), serving a globally distributed clientele of vaccine developers and global health entities.

Name

European Plotkin Institute for Vaccinology - Université libre de Bruxelles

Legal name

European Plotkin Institute for Vaccinology

Website

https://epiv.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The European Plotkin Institute for Vaccinology is a non-profit joint research institute of Université libre de Bruxelles and Universiteit Antwerpen that conducts vaccine trials, controlled human infection model studies, and systems immunology analyses for pharmaceutical, biotech, and global health clients across two BSL-3-equipped facilities in Belgium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vaccine Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Vaccine Clinical Development & Regulatory Affairs (HLAIAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Development & Regulatory for Vaccines (trials, pharmacovigilance, lot release) (HLAAAEAK), Immunization & Vaccine Clinics (HLAKAGAJ), Vaccine R&D, Clinical/Field Trials & Regulatory Affairs (HLAMAKAM), National/State/Local Immunization Program Offices (HLAJAHAA)

Keywords

• Vaccine clinical trials
• Controlled human infection models
• Vaccine immunology research
• Translational vaccine research
• BSL-3 quarantine facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary funding from Belgian government (€20 Million) to support the institute infrastructure and operations.
2. Research Collaboration and Sponsorship: The institute seeks sponsors and collaborators who want to support academic research, providing evaluation services to vaccine developers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The European Plotkin Institute for Vaccinology conducts vaccine safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy clinical trials (Phase I-IV), controlled human infection model (CHIM) studies, and systems immunology analyses for vaccine developers, pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and global health organizations. It operates two purpose-built facilities — Vaccinopolis in Antwerp and IMI in Brussels — enabling vaccine evaluation in months rather than years through the integration of clinical trials with in-depth immune response analysis.

Product overview

The European Plotkin Institute for Vaccinology is a research institute that connects scientists, research institutions, companies and funds to serve science and society. The institute operates two primary facilities: Vaccinopolis (a 6000 m2 facility at the University of Antwerp focused on vaccine trials with BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories and a thirty-bed quarantine unit) and the Institute for Medical Immunology (IMI, a 3600 m2 facility at the Université libre de Bruxelles specializing in immunology research and phase II/III vaccine studies). Together, they enable evaluation of vaccines in months rather than years, combining vaccine trials with in-depth analyses of the immune system to better evaluate and develop vaccines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vaccinopolis A unique 6,000 m² facility strategically located at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, encompassing a thirty-bed quarantine unit (BSL-3 grade), an ambulant vaccine trial unit, and fully equipped BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories. Conducts national and international safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy vaccine trials for vaccine developers, pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and global health organizations.
• Institute for Medical Immunology (IMI) A 3,600 m² translational and clinical research facility located in Brussels, Belgium, including large BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories, multiple technology platforms, and a clinical research facility to perform Phase II and Phase III vaccine studies. Provides in-depth and systems analyses of immune responses to vaccines and pathogens, integrating classical endpoints with molecular correlates of immunity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Evaluate vaccines in months, not years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universiteit AntwerpencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the two driving forces behind the institute, partnering with Université libre de Bruxelles. Hosts the Vaccinopolis facility (6000 m2) and the Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination (CEV), a WHO Collaborating Centre.
• Université libre de BruxellescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the two driving forces behind the institute, partnering with Universiteit Antwerpen. Hosts the Institute for Medical Immunology (IMI) at the Erasme campus with translational and clinical research facilities.
• Peter PiotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEminent microbiologist and public health expert who provided endorsement for the institute at its inauguration. Emphasized the need for advanced research in vaccinology for pandemic preparedness.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS Health Sciences (SGS Clinical Research): Global CRO and vaccine clinical trial operator offering Phase I–IV trial execution across multiple continents. Comparable as a competing vaccine-trial service provider, though broader in scope and less specialized in CHIM studies.
• IQVIA: Global CRO and healthcare analytics leader running large-scale vaccine and infectious disease clinical trials. Comparable in core clinical trial execution services, though offering a much broader commercial portfolio than EPIV's specialized academic model.
• ICON plc: One of the world's largest clinical research organizations, with substantial vaccine and infectious disease trial capabilities. Comparable as a competing service provider, though operating at much greater scale and commercial breadth than EPIV.
• NIAID Vaccine Research Center (VRC): U.S. government intramural research center within the NIH conducting translational and clinical vaccine research. Comparable as a public-sector vaccine R&D and clinical evaluation platform, though focused on U.S. national priorities rather than European/global health.

Emerging players

• IAVI (International AIDS Vaccine Initiative): Non-profit scientific research organization developing vaccines and antibodies for infectious diseases, including emerging pathogens. Comparable as a non-profit vaccine R&D organization with global-health orientation and similar sponsor/funding mix.
• CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations): Global partnership funding and accelerating development of vaccines against epidemic threats. Comparable as both a potential sponsor and strategic collaborator for EPIV's vaccine evaluation work on epidemic and endemic pathogens.

Direct peers

• International Vaccine Institute (IVI): Non-profit international organization headquartered in Seoul dedicated to vaccine research and development for developing countries. Shares EPIV's non-profit, mission-driven vaccine research model and serves a similar global health mandate.
• Oxford Vaccine Group: University of Oxford research group conducting vaccine clinical trials across all phases, including CHIM-style studies. Comparable as an academic, university-affiliated vaccine trial organization with deep scientific leadership and global sponsor engagement.
• hVIVO: London-listed specialist in Controlled Human Infection Model (CHIM) studies for respiratory and other infectious diseases. Operates a quarantine-based challenge study unit, making it the closest direct peer to EPIV's Vaccinopolis CHIM capability.
• Jenner Institute (University of Oxford): University of Oxford-based vaccine research institute conducting translational and clinical vaccine development, including Phase I–III trials and challenge studies. Comparable as a leading academic vaccine trial and immunology platform with a similar public-sector funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epiv-ulb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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