The Benelux Metabolomics Centre

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.

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.

Executive Board / BMC Officers 

The executive board / the BMC Officers organise the day-to-day activities of the foundation. The BMC Office is embedded in Health-RI. 

Dr Adriana Carvalho
de Souza
– CHAIR –

      Dr Michel van Weeghel
      – TREASURER-

          Dr Nathalie Legrave

              Dr Meike Bünger 

                  Board members 2026

                  The board of the foundation is composed of representatives from academic and industrial partners from the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

                  Dr Adriana Carvalho
                  de Souza
                  – CHAIR –

                      Prof. dr Thomas Hankemeier
                      -Scientific director-

                          Prof. dr Jildau Bouwman
                          – SECRETARY-

                              Dr Michel van Weeghel
                              – TREASURER-

                                  Prof. dr Herman Spaink

                                      Prof. dr Dr Sofia Moco

                                          Dr Justin van der Hooft

                                              Prof. dr Bart Ghesquière

                                                  Prof. dr Lynn Vanhaecke

                                                      Dr Nathalie Legrave

                                                          Partnership fee and minimal term of partnership

                                                          BMC partners pay a yearly partnership fee to the 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