VITO is a leading European independent research and technology organisation in the areas of cleantech and sustainable development, elaborating solutions for the large societal challenges of today.
We provide innovative and high-quality solutions, whereby large and small companies can gain a competitive advantage, and advises industry and governments on determining their policy for the future. VITO has 750 highly-qualified employees who work on international projects all around the world. Headquarters are located in Mol, Belgium, and the company has subsidiaries in China and the Middle East.
VITO is active in the field of nanosafety through determination of nanoparticle exposure/release potential, airborne emission characterization, exposure prevention and training in support of safe nanomaterial development and use along the life cycle. Also interdisciplinary research dedicated to develop quantitative bionanoscience for in vitro diagnostics applications is performed. In addition, VITO has an Air-Liquid Interface (ALI) platform for bronchial and lower airway/alveolar studies. Until now this platform is mainly used for laboratory studies (generation and exposure of pollutants, e.g. nano and ultrafine particles, and effect measurements in human lung cell models), but current developments are pointing towards the use of the ALI systems in real-life settings.
Relating to the nanomaterials themselves, VITO developed an electrochemical based production method and can modify nanomaterial properties through cold plasma treatment of powders. To support all the above activities, a wide range of characterization and measurement techniques are available in-house.
