SustAIn.brussels is the Brussels European Digital Innovation Hub. Its mission is to be the single point of access for digital and sustainable innovation in Brussels. SustAIn.brussels guides and supports companies in the correct use of digital technologies. It also connects companies with the right partners who can support them and help them meet their challenges.
SustAIn.brussels provides access to technical expertise and experience, as well as the opportunity to "test before you invest" to help companies improve their business/production processes, products or services by applying artificial intelligence or other emerging technologies. It also offers innovation services, such as financing advice, training and the development of the skills needed to support innovation. Sustainability and environmental aspects are also considered, within a framework that helps companies make a positive contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SustAIn.brussels is supported by the European Commission, Innoviris and hub.brussels, and coordinated by Sirris, Agoria, BeCentral, ULB and VUB.
Discover sustAIn.brussels in this short video!
What challenges have you faced?
The industrial fabric of the Brussels Capital Region is 99.7% SMEs, with a high concentration of digital and service-oriented companies. Digital technology is the main driving force behind their innovation. Nevertheless, these companies are slightly below the European average in terms of adopting artificial intelligence and rank second to last for using ICT to promote environmental sustainability. This specific context led to the launch of sustAIn.brussels.
Digital players sometimes see sustainability as a burden, or as something that hinders competitiveness. However, sustainability stakeholders sometimes see digitisation as involving e-waste, energy consumption, job losses or social inequality.
Between these two opinions lies sustAIn.brussels, which aims to help companies seize the new business opportunities offered by a dual digital and sustainable transformation:
- when digital technologies can support a greener, more positive society (IT for green & social)
- when digital technologies can become greener and more inclusive (Green & Social IT).
How has Innoviris' support helped them with their project?
We are funded 50% by the European Commission and 50% by Innoviris. In addition to funding, Innoviris also offers its services to our target customers, thus supplementing the services we can present. The sustAIn.brussels project was developed in close collaboration with Innoviris. As a result, its services also fit very well within the Brussels ecosystem, explains Ludwig De Locht.
What is the future of the project?
The goal of sustAIn.brussels is to reach 1,500 companies over the next three years. Via their sustAIn.brussels website, companies can request a 30-minute meeting with Ludwig De Locht to help them achieve their digital and sustainable goals.
Who is Ludwig De Locht?
Ludwig de Locht is Project Manager at sustAIn.brussels and Digital Transformation Ambassador at Sirris. He has a PhD in Engineering Sciences from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
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