Flanders Technology & Innovation to give Flemish people confidence in a better future

Flanders is launching Flanders Technology & Innovation, an ambitious platform that brings together the Flemish government, entrepreneurs, companies, universities and numerous other players to tackle the major challenges of tomorrow. In doing so, FTI aims to strengthen Flanders’ leading role as an innovative region. “I am firmly convinced that technology offers the solution to the problems of today and tomorrow,” says an enthusiastic Prime Minister Jan Jambon.

The slightly older generation may still remember the famous logo with the handshake between the robot hand and the human hand that characterised the first Flanders Technology fairs in the 1980s. In 2022, the Flemish Government is reviving the initiative. “The ambitious project starts with numerous initiatives such as living labs – ‘living’ laboratories where we bring people from academia and the business world together to come up with innovative solutions. This will later culminate in a number of major events in 2024,” explains Jan Jambon.

A huge boost

“We also had a crisis in the 1980s, with skyrocketing Inflation The increase in the general price level. The original meaning (literally “to blow up”) is monetary inflation, which means that the amount of money increases. Today, inflation primarily refers to price inflation. This means an implicit monetary depreciation. This causes the purchasing power to drop. inflation and geopolitical tensions. Technology also brought solutions then. FTI gave a huge boost at the time. We want to do that again today. I am convinced that technology can provide the solution to the many challenges we face, such as the energy crisis and global warming,” the Minister-President says.

Flanders, the laboratory of Europe

“I sense a lack of faith in the future. Nevertheless, we are the third most innovative region in the world. The Flemish people are not sufficiently aware of this. That is why we want to build tomorrow’s future with Flanders Technology & Innovation today. We are focusing on five themes: data, health, entertainment, energy, and training and education.  This is how we will make Flanders the laboratory of Europe. An ambitious place where things can always be improved.