Rik Van de Walle (1970) obtained Master and PhD degrees of Engineering Physics at Ghent University. After a stay at the University of Arizona (Tucson, USA), he returned to Ghent University, where he became junior lecturer in 2001. In 2004, he became full professor, and in 2010 senior full professor.
From 2008 to 2012, Van de Walle was a member of the Board of Governors of Ghent University. From 2012 to 2017 he was Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, and from 2017 to 2025 Rector of Ghent University.
In 2001, Van de Walle founded the Multimedia Lab. This research group was one of the founding research groups of iMinds (since 2016 imec) and was renamed Internet & Data Lab (IDLab) in 2016, after a merger with two other research groups. IDLab has about 350 members.
Since 2016, Van de Walle has been a member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts (Class of Technical Sciences). In 2011 and 2021, he was appointed Officer and Commander, respectively, in the Order of Leopold.
At the end of 2019, ScienceGuide named him one of the top leaders of the 2018-2019 academic year. In that same year, he was elected President of CESAER, one of the most important associations of universities in Europe. He served in this position for two consecutive two-year terms.
As of October 2025, Van de Walle combines his senior full professorship at Ghent University with a part-time position as University Director at imec, contributing to the further development of IDLab and to IDLab's involvement in the development of 'The Brain – AI Tech Hub Ghent', Tech Lane Ghent Science Park, Ghent University as a whole, and imec. All of this with a specific emphasis on internationalization and networking. The goal is to strengthen existing collaborations with knowledge institutions and companies, and to explore opportunities for establishing new partnerships based on a shared vision, shared ambition, and excellence.
Concerning leisure activities, Rik Van de Walle views long-distance running as an important part of his identity. Since 2014, he has completed 15 marathons – seven in Rotterdam, four in Amsterdam, and one each in Berlin, Ghent, Bruges, and Leuven – achieving a personal best of 3:11:38 in Amsterdam in 2015. More recently, he ran 3:17:22 in Berlin (2024). As a complementary endurance sport, he also occasionally practices cycling.
Van de Walle is a music lover as well, mainly listening to classical music and opera. He previously played the flute at a semi-professional level. He enjoys reading, both fiction and nonfiction, and greatly values opportunities to travel, both privately and professionally.
Rik Van de Walle is married and has two children and one stepchild.
Phone +32 478 396231
