Almost one year ago, an idea was formed on creating our own yearly event, something that could become a staple, a recurring event. This is where Digital in Action was born. On the 9th of September, when VBO-FEB was filled with Brussels entrepreneurs, experts and pioneers, we felt why every month of preparation was worth it. This event was more than a milestone, it was a celebration of three years of hard work, collaboration and the belief that digital transformation should be accessible to everyone.
Two workshops, two worlds, one goal
We are extremely proud of the knowledge we have in-house. So proud that we were able to offer not one, but two breakout sessions that brought different perspectives from the private sector, industry, the public sector and academia.
The first session, ‘Building a Competitive Advantage with AI,’ was a hands-on workshop in which we shared everything we have learned, from strategic AI integration to risk management, with participants. A mix of expertise brought by Agoria and Sirris and moderated by Ludwig De Locht, with concrete frameworks that organizations can use immediately. This workshop was based on both our renowned masterclass: creating value with AI, given by our experts Wim Codenie and Nick Boucart, and the book entitled ‘From Ambition to Adoption,’ written by two of our own experts, Peter Verhasselt and Carine Lucas.
The second session, ‘Thinking Innovation with Method: What Academic Logic Brings to Practice,’ made academia accessible. Led by Yavuz Sarikaya, Carl Maria Morch and Natalia Garcia-Colin from ULB, and moderated by Laurence de Kerchove, this session showed how structured thinking and scientific methods can take your innovation process to the next level. Two completely different approaches, but both equally valuable.
3E: swimming against the tide without drowning
Up next: Gofran Chowdhury. As Head of Innovation at 3E, he told a story that we cannot share enough: how a Brussels start-up grew into an enterprise that is making an international impact. What makes us so proud? That 3E shows how sustainability and technology go hand in hand. It's such a wonderful case study, proof that you can swim against the tide without drowning. On the contrary, sometimes that's exactly what you need to grow.
An expert panel with real stories
We didn't want a standard panel. We wanted something different, something fresher. And that's what we got. With Laurence de Kerchove as host, casual, sharp, engaged, we brought together five people who are each at a different point in their careers, but all bring so much knowledge and experience to the table:
• Caroline Vandenplas Managing Partner at B12 Consulting
• Quinten Dockx, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WeGlow
• Karen Boers, Managing Director of FARI
• Gofran Chowdhury, Head of Innovation at 3E
• Saskia Van Uffelen, Manager Future Workforce at Agoria
We tackled four major themes: capital strategies, GenAI for SMEs, talent recruitment and sustainable scaling. No pre-packaged answers, just honest conversations about what works, what doesn't work, and what we are all still learning. That's what it's all about: real stories from real people who are making a real impact.
Three years, and we've only just begun
SustAIn.brussels has been around for three years. Three years in which we have built an ecosystem where companies grow, knowledge is shared, and digital transformation is not an abstract concept but a tangible reality. From workshops to keynotes, from one-on-one coaching to events such as Digital in Action, we are proud of what we have achieved.
But the best is yet to come. We are so excited to support even more organizations over the next three years, to share even more knowledge and to build even more bridges between technology, sustainability and growth. We hope to see you again soon, because together we can make Brussels a digital pioneer.
What’s next?
Are you curious about what else sustAIn.brussels has to offer and how you can start your own sustainable and digital journey? Book a free consultation and we will explain more about the subsidized opportunities that await you: Book now.
Digital in Action: when knowledge, passion and a year of preparation come together