KU Leuven Research & Development

KU Leuven Research & Development (LRD) is the technology transfer office of KU Leuven, one of Europe's most innovative research universities. Established in 1972, LRD bridges the gap between academic research and the commercial market by managing intellectual property, facilitating contract research, and supporting the creation of spin-off companies. It is globally recognized for its success in the life sciences, most notably for the development of foundational antiviral therapies such as tenofovir, licensed to Gilead Sciences. LRD also manages the Gemma Frisius Fund, a seed capital fund that supports high-tech startups originating from the university. Through its Centre for Drug Design and Discovery (CD3), LRD provides a professional platform for translating fundamental biological research into small molecule drug candidates. The organization is a cornerstone of the Leuven high-tech ecosystem, fostering collaborations between academia, industry, and government.