Ghent is home to one of Europe’s most dynamic regional ecosystems, a concentration of internationally active mid-market businesses, world-class engineering and architecture education and institutions that connect across Europe. The Gent City Chapter brings these leaders together to build something larger than any one organization.
About
Europe has 300,000 mid-market companies. Although they represent less than 1% of all European businesses, they employ more than 50 million people and form the backbone of Europe’s productive economy. The Gent City Chapter brings together leaders from the larger Ghent region while connecting them with their counterparts throughout Europe.
The Gent City Chapter is the founding Chapter of the ImpactBuilders Foundation. It brings together executive and operational leaders from productive mid-size and mid-cap businesses, alongside decision-makers and visionaries from education, institutions and the investment world within the Ghent regional ecosystem.
Every City Chapter serves not just the city itself, but the wider region surrounding it. The Gent Chapter therefore welcomes leaders from across the broader East and West Flanders region, as well as leaders from elsewhere in Europe who want to connect with this community.
Core team
The Board provides continuity and safeguards the long-term development of the Ghent chapter. It ensures the chapter remains true to its purpose: enabling members, circles and professional support to contribute effectively.
Peter Leyman – Institutional Board Member
Jan Lagast – ImpactBuilders
Patrick De Baets – Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
What we do
Every City Chapters takes initiatives that serve one or more of four purposes: building community, providing inspiration, taking action and shaping influence. In Ghent, two core initiatives are at the heart of what we do.
Flagship initiative
Core initiative
Tuesday Breakfast
Strategic introductions
Organised 6 times per year on a university campus, the Tuesday Breakfast brings together leaders from productive mid-size and mid-cap businesses, education, institutions and the investment world. An inspiring morning of networking and keynote presentations around topics relevant for the European productive backbone. Keynotes are live-streamed, allowing leaders from other City Chapters across Europe to participate remotely.
The heart of ImpactBuilders: give and receive personally vetted connections to leaders across Europe. Members share their needs and offers in the Relationship Passport, and the chapter facilitates introductions that accelerate their goals, while they do the same for others. Every introduction is made personally by two people, one from each City Chapter, who each know one of the parties involved.
Alliance Partners
The Ghent Chapter actively collaborates with organisations that share an interest in strengthening Europe’s productive economy. Alliance Partners add an international dimension to their own organization and its members through our shared activities.
Current Alliance Partners
- Alumnivereniging van de Ingenieurs afgestuurd aan de Universiteit Gent
- Belgian Fire Sprinkler Network (BFSN)
- Estonian Chamber of Commerce in Switzerland (ECCS)
- Euro-Gulf Information Center (EGIC)
- International Chambre of Commerce & Industry
- JCI Toompea
- Tech Lane Ghent Science Park
- Ukrainian Embassy in the Republic of Estonia
- V-ICT-OR
Join the Ghent Chapter
The Ghent Chapter welcomes individual leaders who want to contribute to building a stronger European productive economy, and who believe that long-term relationships between people are how that happens.
Become a Member
€500 / year
Membership is personal. Members connect with leaders throughout Europe, participate in all Chapter activities, and contribute to initiatives that strengthen the regional and European productive economy. The membership fee may be paid by the Member personally or by the organization they represent.
Become a Founding Partner
€5,000 one-time
Founding Partners provide the resources to start the Chapter properly and ensure its longevity. They receive lifelong membership and permanent recognition as part of the founding story of the Ghent Chapter. Founding Partners often contribute far more than financial resources, introducing Members, opening doors and actively helping build the ecosystem.
Connected across Europe
The Ghent Chapter is part of the wider European network of the ImpactBuilders Foundation. Members are encouraged to build relationships beyond their own region, participate in activities organised by other chapters and introduce people and organisations across Europe.
Alongside the Ghent Chapter, active Chapters are currently in Napoli and City Antennas in Antwerp, Brussels, Mechelen, Geel, Milano, Stockholm, Tallinn, Paphos, Limasol and Nicosia. In this way, local communities contribute to a stronger and better connected European productive economy.