Base to Base biotech podcast 37: Life Sciences in Flanders, AI and drug discovery, and healthcare investment

This week, we have conversations with Jérôme Van Biervliet, chair of the board of Flanders life sciences body Biovia and managing director at VIB; Sylvain Sachot, partner at Asabys Partners; and Jonas Béal, head of science strategy, R&D, at Owkin.

03:32 Owkin

27:42 Biovia/VIB

38:06 Asabys Partners

Biovia/VIB

Biovia has emerged as a new health innovation cluster in the Belgian region of Flanders, created through the merger of flanders.bio and MEDVIA.

The organisation brings together more than 450 members across biotech, medtech, and digital health, with a focus on unmet medical needs and value‑based healthcare. It positions itself as a spearhead cluster supported by Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO).

In July 2025, Biovia launched its second funding call of the year, offering €8m in non‑dilutive support for consortia projects.

Biovia’s broader vision is framed around “One Health,” emphasizing the interdependence of human and planetary health. This approach is intended to break down silos between sectors and align with EU priorities for sustainable healthcare innovation.

VIB (Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie) is a research institute founded by the Flemish government in 1995. Its main objective is to strengthen Flemish life sciences research and to turn the results into new economic growth.

Asabys Partners

Asabys Partners is a Barcelona‑based venture capital firm specialising in healthcare investments. The firm manages funds focused on biotech, medtech, and digital health, and has steadily expanded its portfolio through both direct investments and strategic partnerships.

In September 2025, Asabys led a €10m extension of SafeHeal’s oversubscribed Series C financing round. The funding is intended to accelerate commercialization of Colovac, a medical device designed as an alternative to temporary stoma in colorectal cancer surgery.

In early October, Asabys integrated Aliath Bioventures into its platform, boosting assets under management from €300m to more than €400m. The integration strengthens its position in European life sciences investment and sets a trajectory toward building a €1bn platform by 2030.

Owkin

Owkin is a French‑based biotech company focused on applying artificial intelligence to clinical research and drug development.

Founded in 2016, it has built a platform that combines machine learning with multi‑modal biomedical data, aiming to accelerate discovery and improve trial efficiency. Its work spans oncology, cardiovascular disease, and immunology, with a focus on predictive modelling and biomarker identification.

The company’s core product, Owkin K, functions as an AI copilot for biology. It is designed to integrate genomic, imaging, and clinical data to help researchers uncover mechanisms of disease and optimize trial design. By embedding AI into the research process, Owkin positions itself as a bridge between raw health data and actionable therapeutic insights.

Owkin has established partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies including Bristol Myers Squibb, Sanofi, and Merck, as well as collaborations with European cancer centres and teaching hospitals.

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