The Benelux Metabolomics Centre (BMC), founded in 2014, is an independent foundation open to international partners, that unites universities, research institutes, and private organisations — from multinationals to SMEs — from Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg (BeNeLux) to advance metabolomics technologies and their applications across life sciences, including nutrition & health, plant, animal and environmental sciences and industrial biotechnology.
BMC fosters public–private collaboration, develops national and international research projects, promotes standardisation and research facilities, and supports education, training, and communication in metabolomics and multi-omics integration.
Its activities focus on knowledge exchange, education & training, communication and collaboration, ensuring that metabolomics data is FAIR at the source and integrated with other omics data to deepen the understanding of disease onset, progression, and biological processes.
Serving as a hub for the Benelux and international research community, BMC connects expertise, promotes the transfer of knowledge and technology, and strengthens community building. Through this network, BMC develops the tools and strategies needed to address key challenges in metabolomics and to unlock its full potential.
The foundation is funded through partnership fees, with partners drawn from public and private organisations that support BMC’s mission and actively engage in its network.
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Organisation
BMC is a foundation established under Dutch law that derives its income from partner membership fees. According to the BMC Partner Agreement, a BMC partner is a public or private organisation that is an independent legal entity with an active scientific or commercial interest in metabolomics technologies, expertise, and/or infrastructure. Partners support the mission and objectives of BMC and actively participate in its network. The foundation welcomes international partners.
The Board of the foundation is composed of representatives from academic and industrial partners
- Dr Adriana Carvalho de Souza, dsm-firmenich, chair
- Prof. dr Thomas Hankemeier, Leiden University, scientific director
- Prof. Jildau Bouwman, TNO, secretary
- Dr Michel Weeghel, Amsterdam UMC, treasurer
- Prof. dr. Herman Spaink, Leiden University
- Dr Sofia Moco, VU Amsterdam
- Dr Justin van der Hooft, Wageningen UR
- Prof. Bart Ghesquiere, KU Leuven
- Prof. Lynn Vanhaecke, Ghent University
- Dr Nathalie Legrave, Luxembourg Institute of Health
Representing YoungBMC in the BMC board
- Dr Wei Yang, Maastricht UMC
- Dr Begogna Begoña Talavera Andújar, Luxembourg Centre For Systems Biomedicine
The board is supported by Meike Bünger. Adriana Carvalho de Souza, Michel van Weeghel and Meike Bünger are responsible for the day-to-day management of the foundation.
Day-to-day management of BMC
- Dr Meike Bünger – Community Manager – BMC Office
- Dr Adriana Carvalho de Souza, dsm-firmenich, chair
- Dr Michel Weeghel, Amsterdam UMC, treasurer
Partnership fee and minimal term of partnership
BMC partners pay a yearly partnership fee to the NMC foundation. The fee is depending on the size and the nature of the partner’s organisation.
| BMC Partner category | Partnership fee | Minimum period of partnership | Employees | Turnover or balance sheet total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research organisation | € 2.500 | 2 year | ||
| Large industry | € 7.500 | 2 year | > 250 fte | > € 50 milllion or > € 43 million |
| Medium-sized industry | € 5.000 | 2 year | < 250 fte | < € 50 million or < € 43 million |
| Small industry | € 1.000 | 1 year | < 50 fte | < € 10 milllion or < € 10 million |
| Micro industry | € 250 | 1 year | < 10 fte | < € 2 million or < € 2 million |
Financial information
- Chamber of Commerce: 61268259
- VAT number: 854277250.B01
- Account holder: Netherlands Metabolomics Centre Foundation
- IBAN: NL07ABNA0469852526
- BIC: ABNANL2A
- Bank: ABN AMRO