 Tambuyzer holds a doctoral degree in bio-industrial sciences from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, (Leuven, Belgium).Having started his professional career at Baxter Healthcare (Baxter-Travenol in Europe) in 1977, Tambuyzer pursued his career six years later at Innovi NV (Brussels, Belgium), a technology management and consultancy company.He also worked as a consultant on biotechnology for minister-president Gaston Geens of the Flemish government.