Geoffrey Aerts

Geoffrey Aerts is a seasoned academic and professional with extensive experience in business development, technology, and academia. He currently serves as the Academisch directeur VUB BUDA (Business Development Academy) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, a position he has held since January 2021.1

Career Highlights

• Assistant Professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (September 2022 - Present)1
• Member Board of Directors at ICAB - Business and Technology Incubator (June 2023 - Present)1
• Business Owner of Portolan bvba (January 2018 - Present)1
• Postdoctoral Researcher at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (January 2018 - January 2021)1
• Business Development Advisor at icity.brussels (January 2018 - January 2021)1

Academic Background

Geoffrey Aerts obtained his PhD in (Applied) Business Economics from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Economic, Social and Political Sciences and Solvay Business School.2 He also holds academic Master's degrees in European and Comparative Politics, Diplomacy and International Relations, and Maritime and Transport Economics and Management.2

Research and Expertise

His research interests include:

• Knowledge management
• Stakeholder management
• Strategic management
• Transport and logistics management3

Aerts has published several articles in academic journals focusing on stakeholder relations, knowledge management, and public-private partnerships.2 His expertise lies at the intersection of strategic management research, complexity theory, and organizational theory.2

Recent Work

As the Director of VUB BUDA, Aerts is involved in initiatives such as the FARI AI Accelerator programme, which aims to support AI-related start-ups and entrepreneurs in developing their businesses.4 This program reflects his commitment to fostering innovation and bridging the gap between academia and industry.