The AI Steering Group

The Flanders AI Policy Plan as a whole is overseen by the AI Steering Group, whose members consist of leading figures representing various (types of) stakeholders. The inaugural meeting took place on 9 December 2019. The AI Steering Group meets four times a year. The AI Steering Group is led by an independent chair. The EWI Department is responsible for the organisation, smooth running and support of the AI Steering Group.

The AI Steering Group consists of 14 members (including the independent chair) and is composed of representatives from Agoria, Voka, UNIZO, the Council of the Flemish Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts (VLHORA), the five Flemish universities (with permanent representation from the Catholic University of Leuven [KU Leuven] and Ghent University, and an annual rotation between the University of Antwerp [UAntwerp], Hasselt University [UHasselt] and Vrije Universiteit Brussel [VUB]), and the four Flemish Strategic Research Centres (SRCs) and the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO) (with permanent representation from the SRC imec and an annual rotation between the SRCs Flemish Institute for Technological Research [VITO], Flemish Institute for Biotechnology [VIB] and Flanders Make, and the research institute ILVO). In addition, at least a quarter of the members consist of representatives of AI-related industry in Flanders. Currently, four companies are represented in the AI Steering Group: Barco, Faktion, Siemens Industry Software and TextGain.

In addition to the actual members, experts are also invited. For instance, Digitaal Vlaanderen is structurally added to the AI Steering Group as an advisory partner to support the use of AI within the Government of Flanders. Furthermore, experts from (parts of) the three sections of the Flanders AI Policy Plan participate structurally to enable better coordination. Additional experts or observers (e.g. from the Flanders AI European Digital Innovation Hub [AI-EDIH] or the amai! program) may also be invited.

Composition of the AI Steering Group

The AI Steering Group is currently composed as follows.

The chair: Flip Pintelon (Capricon Partners)

Representing the universities and university colleges

KU Leuven: Koenraad Debackere (substitute: Bart De Moor).
Ghent University: Ignace Lemahieu (substitute: Piet Demeester).
The representatives of UAntwerp, UHasselt and VUB alternate in an annual rotation. Currently, UHasselt, represented by Sadia Vancauwenbergh, is in turn (substitute is Hugo Thienpont from VUB).
University colleges in Flanders: Ria Bollen (substitute: TBA).

Representing the (strategic) research centres

Imec: Jo De Boeck (substitute: Michael Peeters).
The representatives of the SRCs VIB, VITO and Flanders Make, and the research institute ILVO, also have an annual rotation. Currently, VITO, represented by Inge Neven (with Rudi Torfs as a substitute), is in turn.

Representing industry 

Agoria: Ferdinand Casier (substitute: Kathy Galloy)
UNIZO: Paul Roevens (substitute: Robin Deman)
Voka: Dieter Somers (substitute: Hans Maertens)
Barco: Steven Delputte (substitute: Karel Moens)
Faktion: Bart Baeyens (substitute: Jan Vanalphen)
Siemens Industry Software: Herman Van der Auweraer (substitute: TBA)
TextGain: Guy De Pauw (substitute: Lisa De Smedt)

Additional experts 

Digitaal Vlaanderen: Laura De Keyzer (substitute: Annelies Vanderhoydonks)
Flanders AI Research Program: Sabine Demey
Knowledge Centre Data & Society: Rob Heyman
Flanders AI Academy (VAIA): Bart De Moor (substitute: Ilse De Vos) 

Representing the responsible minister: Roeland Van Roosbroeck (policy advisor)

Representing the organising policy domain

  • Department of Economy, Science and Innovation (EWI Department)
    • Erwin Dewallef (secretary of the AI Steering Group)
    • Peter Spyns (case handler research section of the Flanders AI Policy Plan)
    • Simon Verschaeren (case handler accompanying section of the Flanders AI Policy Plan)
  • Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO)
    • Jeroen Fiers (case handler implementation and digitalisation section of the Flanders AI Policy Plan)

The participating partners 

The research section, realised through the Flanders AI Research Program, is reserved for the five Flemish universities, the four Strategic Research Centres (SCRs), the research centre ILVO and the innovation centre Sirris.

The implementation pillar is open, meaning that depending on the VLAIO support channel, companies and research organizations can submit proposals to secure support for both AI adoption by individual or groups of companies and the development of AI technology and applications (see vlaio.be/ai). You can contact VLAIO business advisors for this purpose, who will guide you to the right knowledge and financial leverage, and connect you with AI experts from the VLAIO network who are specifically relevant to your company. For questions regarding advice, guidance, and other forms of support related to rolling out your own AI project, companies can contact intermediary organizations within the VLAIO network, such as UNIZO, Voka, Agoria, collective research centers, and knowledge institutions.

The accompanying section has three parts: (i) the Flanders AI Academy (VAIA) is a collaboration between all Flemish universities and university colleges; (ii) the Knowledge Centre Data & Society is set up by three university research groups: imec-SMIT-VUB, CiTiP (KU Leuven) and imec-MICT-UGent; and (iii) the knowledge centre for citizen science Scivil and the aforementioned Knowledge Centre Data & Society look after the amai! program.

In addition, many (other) Flemish actors are also involved in network activities, demonstrators, roundtables and surveys, such as - but not exclusively - VDAB, UZ Leuven, EnergyVille, ...