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‘A creative interaction with the client and mutual understanding lead to the most valuable IP creations.’
Kristel Van den Broeck

Kristel Van den Broeck

  • Chemistry
  • European Patent Attorney
  • Senior Associate

As a European patent attorney Kristel Van den Broeck has18 years of experience, of which 12 years as in-house patent attorney in the chemical industry. She spent most of that time working for Huntsman, where she was in-house patent attorney for the patent portfolio within the polyurethane division. In this position, she was responsible for drafting patent applications and associated global prosecution; advising on invention valorization; assessing patent validity, freedom to operate studies and European oppositions. Before working for Huntsman, Kristel worked within IMEC’s patent department, working on microelectronics-related patents.

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Kristel holds a degree in bioscience engineering from Ghent University and a PhD in chemical environmental technology from the Catholic University of Leuven.

In April 2023 she joined V.O., where she is active as patent attorney in the Chemistry and Life Science Department, in the Leuven (Belgium) office.

Working experience

  • European Patent Attorney, V.O. (April 2023 – present)
  • Managing IP Attorney – Huntsman (2018 – February 2023)
  • Senior Patent Attorney – Huntsman (2011 – 2018)
  • Researcher & (Trainee) Patent Attorney – IMEC (2000 – 2011)
  • Postdoctoral researcher, Catholic University of Leuven (1998-2000)

Education

  • PhD, Catholic University of Leuven (1998)
  • Bioscience Engineer (specialization in chemistry & agricultural industries), Ghent University (1991)

Languages

  • Dutch
  • English

 

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News

Remembering Mark Einerhand

It is with great sadness that we have received the news of the passing, on 14 April, of our dear colleague and partner, Mark Einerhand. Mark joined V.O. in 1998 and has made a lasting contribution to the success of our firm.Continue reading

Validation agreement with Laos in force

As of 1 April 2025, the validation agreement between the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Lao PDR has entered into force. As a result, granted European patents can now be validated in Laos according to that country’s national patent law.Continue reading

Column: Can I only get a patent for breakthrough inventions?

In my work as a patent attorney, I notice that there is a lot of confusion among inventors about the requirements for a patent. Many inventors seem to be under the impression that patents are only granted for “breakthrough inventions”, such as the mRNA technology underlying – among others – the Covid vaccines, or novel […]Continue reading

Events

NL Startup Competition 2025

3089 JB Rotterdam, Netherlands

In April and May the second edition of NL Startup Competition, organized by Erasmus Enterprises, will take place. An extraordinary opportunity for innovative talents who take up the challenge to pitch their startup for prize money, a valuable network and knowledge.

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Grand Finale TU Delft Impact Contest 2025

YES!Delft, Molengraaffsingel 12, Delft

Each year, the TU Delft Impact Contest offers students the opportunity to further develop their own ingenious ideas, prototypes and research projects into business plans. The main goal and mission is to challenge students to come up with great innovative solutions to societal problems out-of-the-box, and translate them into real products and business plans.

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