An Schrijvers holds a PhD in political science, European Union politics. After ten years in various research and teaching positions at Ghent University, she made the switch to Flemish science and innovation policy in 2011, first as senior policy advisor at the Flemish Council for Science and Innovation (VRWI), then at the Flemish Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VARIO). In September 2017, she joined the Programme for Innovation Procurement (PIO or PIP), a year after the Programme was officially launched. With the Programme, the Government of Flanders has the mission to stimulate all public sector organisations in Flanders to strategically use their substantial purchasing power (> 30 billion a year) as a catalyst for innovation. In 8 years, PIP established a portfolio of more than 120 innovation procurement projects, in different policy fields and sectors. The Programme clearly demonstrates its added value (confirmed in an external evaluation, carried out in 2022). Therefore, since January 1, 2024, the initially temporary pilot programme has become a structural, permanent innovation instrument within the larger Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO). Since May 1, 2024, An Schrijvers has been PIP’s Programme Manager.