Cedric Thiry, Founder, CEO & CTO

MSc., Eng. Commercial Engineering

Cedric Thiry is the driving force behind EmTDLab, leading innovative advancements in space and materials technology. With 20+ years of experience, Cedric possesses a blend of inventive acumen, entrepreneurial skills, and global leadership. In 2011 he founded and led SEED Advisory, an executive consultancy serving high-tech industries across Europe and Asia. At SEED, he held among others, co-CEO and CTO positions at a biotechnology venture, contributing to the development of pioneering sensing technologies for diagnostics using gold nanoparticles.

Before his entrepreneurial ventures, Cedric worked as an executive project manager at Umicore, a circular materials technology company. He initiated transformative programs across 150 global entities, focusing on process improvements in China's manufacturing plants and implementing an integrated R&D management tool. Cedric's academic journey includes a Commercial Engineering degree and a BSc in Economics from the Louvain School of Management. He furthered his knowledge in aeronautics, aerospace engineering, research & development, system engineering, and materials informatics through a two-year academic program in 2018. Recognized for his potential, Cedric participated in the Singapore Space & Technology accelerator in 2020, receiving mentorship from experts in the aerospace industry and space agencies.

Yannick de Harlez, Co-founder, CFO & COO
PhD., MSc., Eng. Commercial Engineering

Yannick is a senior professional with 20 years+ of experience in finance and team leadership. He has been involved in the all-around design and management of financial tools, processes and systems in multisite and multinational environments. He worked as a management consultant in several multinational companies including Edenred, FIS, Capgemini, Septodont and Magotteaux but also served as CFO for high-tech companies such as the multi-awarded scaleup Oncomfort. He completed a PhD in management from the Louvain School of Management coupled with a research period at Michigan State University (Michigan, USA). He is the author of articles published in leading academic journals in accounting and taught financial and management accounting during +10 years in the most renowned European business schools. Yannick & Cedric graduated together from UCLouvain in 2004 and have collaborated in different consultancy projects including a CFO role at the Biotech company Cedric co-led from 2014 to 2017.

Vincent Ryckaert, Commercial IP and R&D
PhD., MSc., Eng., Electro Mechanics, KUL - Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Vincent Ryckaert is a highly regared IP professional that leverages his expertise in Intellectual Property (IP) and Research & Development (R&D). As the Business IP Director at IMEC, which constitutes 80% of his professional commitment, Vincent's efforts are directed towards IP business and intelligence work. He specializes in topics such as IP due diligence, patent opinions and strategies, arbitration, and the role of IP experts in business disputes. Vincent is a qualified European Patent Attorney and has developed in-depth expertise in the field of software-enabled patents in accordance with EPO and USPTO practices. In the remaining 20% of his professional capacity, Vincent advises EmTDLab through Tipeas bvba on IP, Legal, and R&D collaborations. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the European Patent Institute (EPI), the Licensing Executive Society (LES), and the International Organization for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI).