VITO develops enabling technologies for a more sustainable economy, environment and society. At the EnergyVille campus in Genk, we closely collaborate with various industrial partners and our EnergyVille partners KU Leuven, Imec and UHasselt on, amongst others, heating \& cooling systems and building \& construction innovation. To support these activities, we are looking for an experience business development manager.

**Job Description**

As a Business Development Manager in the Water \& Energy Transition unit you help to bring technologies being developed at VITO to the market. This is done by co-developing innovative products and services with companies and transferring technology and know-how to companies.

As a member of the Business Development Team you report directly to the Valorisation Director of the unit. You will mainly support the business development and commercial activities of two specific technology teams within the unit. You will gradually broaden your view on the technology portfolio of the unit and across different VITO units to explore synergies and potential R\&D collaboration topics.

You will work closely together with the teams specialized in **Battery Management and Battery Testing**. You will support these teams by:

* Familiarizing yourself with the key technologies, competences and intellectual property within the team as well as the current application areas and related products and services.

* Following-up contacts and contracts with existing industrial partners together with the Lead Scientists and the team Program Manager to prepare follow-up contracts to bring the technology to a higher technology readiness level and finally to the market.

* Registering interactions with (potential) clients in the customer relationship management system and pro-actively monitoring of selected key accounts.

* Actively participating in in- \& external networking activities to scout for new contract research opportunities in existing or new application areas.

* Taking the lead in the team valorisation strategy, defining, executing, and evaluating a valorisation roadmap and commercial action plans.

* Initiating and supporting targeted marketing activities for specific products or services together with the Lead Scientists and the central Marketing and Communications team.

* Coordinating the preparation of R\&D proposals together with lead scientists and negotiating R\&D contracts.

* Providing support in technology transfer and/or licensing negotiations in close collaboration with the central IP Management and Tech Transfer Office.

* Regular reporting of the status of the contract research portfolio and valorization tracks to the team and the Valorization Director.