BioTechBad Connects Job Seekers with East Flanders Biotech Companies
The project, which has already successfully placed 5 new employees at Legend Biotech, is seeking new talent for the rapidly growing sector.
By Lien Vandenbroucke
••4 min read
AI
Generic image of a laboratory pipette dispensing a clear liquid into a petri dish, with blurred biotech equipment in the background.
The BioTechBad project, which prepares job seekers for the biotech sector, continues its success. Following the first edition in spring 2026, which saw Legend Biotech in Ghent hire five new employees, partners like VDAB and ViTalent are organizing a new edition in autumn 2026.
Launched in spring 2026, the initiative aims to prepare candidates for careers in the high-tech production zones of East Flanders' biotech companies. The first edition already yielded concrete results: Legend Biotech in Ghent welcomed five new employees. As biotechnology is still relatively unknown to the general public, partners such as Co-Valent, Essenscia, Talentenfabriek, ViTalent, Stad Gent, and VDAB are joining forces again for a new edition in autumn 2026. They are thus assisting Legend Biotech and other Ghent biotech companies in their search for new talent.
The project originated from the need for a solid orientation and screening process to guide potential employees towards biotech companies. Legend Biotech, which has grown from 30 to 1200 employees in five years across its two hubs in Ghent and plans further expansion, is a global company improving cancer treatments with advanced cell and gene therapies.
BioTechBad consciously lowers the barrier to entry into biotechnology; no specific diploma or prior knowledge is required. The program begins with information sessions and competency tests organized by VDAB. Participants who advance experience challenges in a simulated work environment, followed by thorough on-the-job training. Of the seven candidates who participated in the first edition, five were hired by Legend Biotech and are now working as operators.
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"Within biotech, we need a wide diversity of talent. From lab operators to HR or IT profiles, to administrative and logistics staff. Our sector is not just for people with a master's or doctorate. If the mindset and motivation are right, much is possible. BioTechBad is a prime example of how we can easily join forces with partners from both the public and private sectors to get talent in the right place."
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"Until I started here, I worked in hospitality. Going from a chip shop to biotech seems like a big step, but it's going really well. I don't have a technical background, but thanks to BioTechBad, I got the chance to discover a completely different sector and start working at Legend Biotech."
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"After 88 applications, I felt my age was sometimes a barrier. In BioTechBad, they looked at what I could do. BioTechBad tests you on your abilities, not your age or your CV. I seized that opportunity with both hands. Today, I work at Legend Biotech and feel truly in my place."
This autumn, the activities will take place on November 20 at ViTalent in Niel and from November 23 to 25 at Fabriek Logistiek in Zwijnaarde. The focus for candidates in the new edition is on their English proficiency, as English is often the working language at biotech companies, and their ability to work with focus and precision in a clinical environment.
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"Such a specific orientation and screening process helps us better match supply and demand. Working in the biotechnology sector is still quite unknown to the general public. Through this collaboration with companies and the sector, we can effectively guide and fill vacancies."
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"At ViTalent, we build bridges between talent and the Life Sciences sector. A strong match is not just about competencies, but also about whether someone feels at home in the unique work environment of a biotech production company. That's why thorough screening is a crucial first step towards sustainable biotech careers. We help both candidates and companies prevent disappointment and early dropout after hiring."
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"The Ghent biotech sector is growing rapidly and needs talent. BioTechBad proves that you don't necessarily need a specific diploma for a career in biotech. By starting from motivation and potential, we open new doors for job seekers and help companies find talent that often remains under the radar."
The project was realized thanks to the support of Co-valent, the training fund for the chemistry, plastics, and life sciences sector, and the social partners in this sector.
