The Baekeland Funds are the investment funds of Ghent University and its partners in the Ghent University Association. In collaboration with a number of financial partners, these funds are being established for the purpose of investing in growing, innovative companies that are commercializing technology developed either within or in collaboration with the Ghent University Association. The Technology Transfer Department of Ghent University is responsible for the daily management of the Baekeland Funds. For more information, you can contact Baekeland Fonds nv, Kuiperskaai 55F, B-9000 Gent - Tel: +32 (09) 264 89 87 - Fax: +32 (09) 264 79 93 - Email:

Leo Baekeland (1863-1944) was born in Ghent and received his doctorate from Ghent University. He had a gift for discovering interesting and profitable opportunities in the market. In 1978 he was inducted into the 'National Inventors Hall of Fame' in the United States.

Leo Baekeland acquired international fame as the inventor of Bakelite, the intellectual property rights of which were owned by his company, the General Bakelite Corporation, which also manufactured the product. The discovery of Bakelite is general regarded as the beginning of the Age of Plastics. From 1907 on, it was used in radios, telephones, electrical insulation and countless other applications. In addition, Baekeland was also responsible for the development of Velox (a type of photographic paper for which sunlight was no longer required for the development of photos). He sold the patent for Velox to George Eastman, the then chairman of Kodak, for a sum of one million dollars.