Dr. Gustav Kalbe studied Applied Physics at the Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium. In 1991 he studied Applied Optics at the Imperial College of Science in London. In 1995 he completed his studies and earned a PhD in Physics, Molecular Spectroscopy, at the UCL, Belgium. He started his professional career as a project manager in photonic networks at the incumbent telecom operator in Belgium. He was R&D manager when he left the company.

In 1998 he joined the Directorate General Information Society & Media of the European Commission where he started working as Project Officer managing research projects of the European Framework Programs for Research. Over the years he had several assignments in quantum technologies, photonics, and cybersecurity. In 2014 Gustav Kalbe became HoU for Administration & Finance in the European Commission, in DG Connect. In 2016 he was appointed HoU of the newly created High Performance Computing and Quantum Technology unit in DG Connect. In 2018 he became responsible for the establishment and operation of the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking. He occupied the post of Interim Executive Director of the JU until its autonomy by the end of 2020. In January 2021, he was appointed Deputy to the Director of DG Connect C “Digital Excellence and Science Infrastructure”. Since May 2022 Gustav is the Acting Director of DG Connect C “Digital Excellence and Science Infrastructure”.