Pieter DeBacker, MD, PhD

Dr. ir. Pieter De Backer leads Orsi Innotech, the AI and innovation arm of Orsi Academy – a global leader in training for minimally invasive surgery. Most recently, this work culminated in the launch of Mantyx, an independent spinoff where they are building the ‘intelligence layer’ for robotic surgery to reduce cognitive load and enhance surgical precision in real-time. With a dual background in engineering and medicine, he is a certified urologist at AZORG Aalst, specialising in minimally invasive surgery and urological oncology. He holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering focused on AI applications in robotic surgery, and previously co-developed the world’s first electronic artificial iris contact lens at CMST-imec. Pieter is an active member of the European Association of Urology, where he co-chairs the AI working group, and leads surgical AI at the Belgian AI4Health initiative.