Stijn Spaepen

Stijn Spaepen has established himself as a distinguished researcher and innovation leader at KU Leuven, bridging plant science and brewing research. After completing his MSc in Bioscience Engineering at KU Leuven in 2003, he earned his PhD in 2008, focusing on bacterial auxin production and plant-microbe interactions. His research career includes significant work at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, where he studied root microbiota structures and functions. Since 2018, he has served as the Innovation Manager at the Leuven Institute for Beer Research (LIBR), where he plays a crucial role in fostering collaborations between academia and the fermented beverages industry. At LIBR, he manages the transfer of innovative technologies from multidisciplinary research to practical industrial applications, particularly in beer production. His expertise spans both fundamental plant science and applied brewing research, contributing to LIBR's comprehensive approach to beer research, which encompasses raw materials, malting, brewing processes, fermentation, and chemical analysis. Under his leadership, LIBR has become a significant hub for beer-related R&D, enabling collaborations with international industrial partners and advancing brewing science through state-of-the-art research facilities.