Deloitte Legal assists the University of Antwerp with Vaccinopolis project

Deloitte Legal is very proud to have assisted the University of Antwerp with their milestone DBM-contract for the design, construction and maintenance of an open innovation centre with a unique infrastructure to accelerate response programmes for vaccinology and infectious diseases (‘Vaccinopolis’). The infrastructure of the new innovation centre will combine a unique phase and CHIM testing unit for the testing of new vaccines with advanced immunological laboratory capacity and must be ready for use in early 2022.

This meant that a consortium needed to be selected by September at the latest to be able to apply for the necessary permits. Due to the strict timing constraints for the project, a very ambitious planning was made whereby the tendering procedure was prepared and officially launched in May. The Deloitte Legal team worked hand in hand with the different teams of the University of Antwerp to select potential candidates and to – in a further step – evaluate and assess the submitted proposals. Contractual and technical negotiations took place during August and September, leading to an award decision and contract close.

Deloitte Legal's team comprised Kathleen De hornois, Mattias Van Schel and Fien Wuyts from the Public, Regulatory and Permits Team, Danny Stas (Tax Advisory) and Hendrik Viaene (State aid - EU Competition), in close collaboration with Pieter Sauwens of Deloitte Consulting and Advisory who advises the University of Antwerp on the business plan and set-up of Vaccinopolis.