VIB Technologies Hackathon 2026
đď¸ Monday November 23rd
& Tuesday 24th 2026
đ Bio-incubator, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels
Preliminary Program
Day 2 and Day 1 will have a similar schedule. Day2 will finish at 5pm after highlighting the deliverables during wrap up.
9:30 AM | Coffee & registration
10 AM | Morning session: Challenges introduction
We will introduce the challenges and make teams.
12 PM | Lunch & guided tour
Time for lunch, networking and guided tours of the NanobodyÂŽ VHH Core facility.
1.30 PM | Project work session
4.30 PM | Check-in / Wrap up
5 PM | Drink & group picture & networking (Day 1)
Challenges
Challenge #1 â Parameter optimization
Challenge #1 â Parameter optimization
This project explores how metadata and experimental parameters captured in spreadsheets can help improve decisions for future experiments. This project explores how historical metadata, operational records, and outcome data can be used to support future decision-making. By analyzing past activities, participants will investigate whether AI, machine learning (ML/DL) or LLM-assisted methods, or statistical approaches can identify factors associated with successful outcomes, recommend optimal settings, and highlight opportunities for process improvement.
One case study is the image segmentation in Bioimaging, another one is using sequencing data.
Challenge #2 â VIB Technology knowledge to LLM
Challenge #2 â VIB Technology knowledge to LLM
This project explores how VIB Core Facilities documentation (wiki, git, pdf, powerpoint, excel, word documents, markdown, âŚ) and project knowledge can be made easier to access through a helpdesk-style chatbot or approved local LLM approach, while respecting data protection requirements.
Challenge #3 â VIB Technology LLM access via API
Challenge #3 â VIB Technology LLM access via API
This project explores how VIB Core facility colleagues can make use of a Model-as-a-Service (MaaS) hosted by VIB Data Core. The envisioned service is a centrally hosted LLM inference platform exposing open-weight models through a standard, OpenAI-compatible API, backed by high-throughput inference servers and a centralized API gateway. Its purpose is to provide a standardized, scalable, and secure way for VIB research teams to consume LLM capabilities without each team building its own inference servers or GPU stack.
This project focuses on testing a proof-of-concept version of MaaS using a demo or collecting use cases.
By Car to Parking âOnderwijs & Navorsingâ (previously âDe Villaâ)
By Car to Parking âOnderwijs & Navorsingâ (previously âDe Villaâ)
WARNING: You will need your parking access code (see your confirmation email).
The campus address is Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven.
- You leave the E314 at the exit 16 (Gasthuisberg UZ).
- At the end of the exit, you turn right when coming from the direction of Brussels, or turn left when coming from the other direction.
- Follow the signs âOnderwijs en Navorsing (O&N)â and to parking âOnderwijs en Navorsing Parkingâ.
- By walk, follow the path to building âOnderwijs en Navorsingâ.
- Follow this path and cross the street at the markings.
- Follow the route from the Campus entrance (see below).
By Car to Parking West
By Car to Parking West
Note this is a paid parking.
- You arrive via the E314 highwayâ EXIT 16:
- After 200m, keep left to drive underneath the roundabout and into the tunnel
- Keep left and follow the arrows to Parking West
- You arrive via the Leuven ring:
- At the roundabout âHet Tekenâ, take the exit towards âSpoed / Ziekenhuisâ
- Follow the ring road around campus Gasthuisberg and pass the entrance of SPOED
- Continue right until you arrive at a second roundabout âVogelzangâ
- Follow the directions for E314
- Near the Fire Brigade Station make a Uâturn and follow the directions for âZiekenhuisâ
- Keep left and drive downhill, underneath the roundabout âVogelzangâ and into the tunnel
- Keep left and follow the arrows to Parking West
- Follow the indications below 'On the Campus from the Parking West'
By Bus or by Train
By Bus or by Train
The railway station of Leuven is situated at approximately 4 km of the hospital (Gasthuisberg). There is a bus from the railway station to the hospital every 10 minutes.
- or take the âBUITENRINGBUSâ with number 600 (~7min). Departs every 10 min from platform 12 (Mon-Sat 6 AM to 8 PM). Follow the route from the main entrance of the hospital.
- Take one of the buses on platform 2 with the direction âGasthuisbergâ (~15min). Follow the route from the main entrance of the hospital.
- Take the bus 3 Route from platform 4 via the city to the campus entrance (~15 min). bus 3 Regular departures (also evenings and Sundays). Follow the route from the Campus entrance.
On the Campus - Route from the Campus entrance
On the Campus - Route from the Campus entrance
- Go up the stairs and enter the O&N1 building at meeting point 4.
- From the main entrance, walk in the direction of the Dentistry Skills Centre (former library) and walk alongside the Dentistry Skills Centre. From there, follow the signs listing âOnderwijs & Navorsing 4â, then âOnderwijs & Navorsing 5â.
- You will cross several buildings until you reach the main entrance hall of O&N5 (Meeting point 10).
- The walk will take up to 15 minutes.
On the Campus - Route from the main entrance of the hospital
On the Campus - Route from the main entrance of the hospital
- Once in the hospital, follow the bordeaux arrows.
- At the end of the way (please note that this is a 5 â 10 minute walk), you will see the elevators.
- Take the elevator or the stairs up to the 4th floor.
- When you exit the elevator, turn left and follow the signs listing âOnderwijs & Navorsing 4â, then âOnderwijs & Navorsing 5â.
- When you enter the O&N4 building, walk straight ahead until you reach the main entrance hall of the O&N5 (Meeting point 10).
On the Campus - Route from the Parking West of the hospital
On the Campus - Route from the Parking West of the hospital
- Leave the parking at level +1 using the big stairs near the vending machines
- Follow the red carpet and arrows to âonco dagcentrumâ until you see the big stairs leading to our O&N4 and O&N5 buildings. Leave the red carpet to go up the big stairs.
- When you reach the top, the building on the left side is O&N5.
Organizing Committee
- Rekin's Janky (VIB Nucleomics core)
- Silvie Van den Hoecke (VIB Technologies)
- Benjamin Pavie (VIB Bioimaging core)
- Alex Botzki (VIB Training)
- Jolan Heyse (VIB Training)
- Rafael Andrade Buono (VIB Data core)