Since June 2014 Herman has been Managing Director of Sirris, leading the collective centre for the technology industry in its mission to help companies to develop, test and deploy technological innovations. He is leading 140 technological experts who make use of high-tech infrastructure within 8 sites spread over the country, to work on over 1,800 project per year for about 1,500 companies.
In 2015 Herman became on top Head of the Agoria Center of Expertise Innovation, leading a team of experts in their search for answers to incoming industrial questions on innovation. He combines both functions to tighten and strengthen the bond between Sirris and Agoria, that has been active in the field for over 70 years. A closer cooperation between the federation and the collective centre has a positive effect on the entire industry where both organisations are active in.
Herman started his carrier with Sirris in 1990 as a researcher involved in European research projects on modular machines. In 1997 he became responsible for the new ICT programme, promoting professional Internet usage. Since 1999 he was responsible for the business unit Sirris Vlaanderen. He was then responsible for relations with the Flemish government and with Sirris's research partners in Flanders.
His most significant successes were the turnaround of the former business unit Sirris Flanders between 1999 and 2010, the founding of SIM (Strategisch Initiatief Materialen) in 2009 and Flanders Make in 2013, both created in an atmosphere of open cooperation between companies and universities and with support of the Flemish government.
Herman has a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, which he obtained at KU Leuven in 1989. He has always had a strong interest in informatics and automation. He also followed a few relevant courses, such as “How to set-up a technology strategy” at MIT (Boston) by Professor Rebecca Henderson in 1999 and “Inspireren tot veranderen” at Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School by Professor Herman Van den Broeck. Before he worked for Sirris, Herman was briefly active as a researcher at KU Leuven and at the university hospital in Leuven.
