A 2nd edition under the banner of excellence and conviviality

2024 saw the arrival of GreenTech Forum in Brussels, and it's fair to say that the operation was a great success. 750 participants for this first edition, a host of exhibitors from Belgium, France and Switzerland, and conferences that were a great success. So what could be more natural than to come back for a second edition? 

For this second event in the heart of Europe, GreenTech Forum Brussels is aiming to come up with some small revolutions to surprise visitors, enhance the visitor experience and increase the conviviality needed to create business opportunities.

“We've had a very positive first edition, with very positive feedback from exhibitors, participants and speakers alike” enthuses Olivier Vergeynst, executive director of the Belgian Institute for Sustainable IT (ISIT-BE) and chairman of the event's programme committee, “some of them have made suggestions for improvement, and we're going to take them on board for an even more positive second edition.”

Some of the ideas that have been put forward include thematic guided tours to make it easier to get around the show and meet the exhibitors. The aim is to create more meaningful encounters, tackling the themes of sustainable IT in greater depth and in a more convivial way.

On the subject of conviviality, this is also a theme that will be developed further this year. “We also want to create more moments of conviviality beyond the content on offer” continues Olivier Vergeynst, “we want to find the right balance to encourage people to meet on the spot.” To this end, the evening aperitif on the first day of the event, which was a great success last year, will of course be held again.

Artificial intelligence in content

Artificial intelligence in content… But don't be fooled into thinking that the round tables will be led by humanoid robots! Several round tables and conferences will be devoted to AI issues. The first challenge will be to better understand what we are talking about when we speak of AI, generative AI, machine learning, deep learning, and so on. We will then try to understand the full impact of AI throughout its lifecycle, so that we can better propose solutions to limit its footprint. 

“In terms of content, we are of course adapting to developments in technology, with a big AI chapter in particular” explains Olivier Vergeynst, “and with the growing skills of the ecosystem in the various domains of Sustainable IT, the topics need to be increasingly specialised”. In this respect, the different approaches to the subjects covered mean that companies can draw on more detailed information to build their sustainable IT strategy.

In 2025, GreenTech Forum Brussels is also planning to vary the formats: conferences or round tables; alternating formats will enable information to be disseminated more effectively. “We've proposed a series of themes in our call for speakers and we're putting out a call for proposals with the possibility of submitting new ones” declares the committee chairman, “we're hoping to be surprised by proposals we hadn't anticipated!”

The programme also includes workshops run by the show's exhibitors. “The workshops will focus on feedback on specific solutions or experiences” continues Olivier Vergeynst. The round tables and conferences, on the other hand, will focus on more fundamental subjects.

Involving the whole of Belgium...

In 2025, GreenTech Forum Brussels also wants to continue to bring together as many people as possible. “All the major partners have confirmed their commitment to this 2nd edition (sustAIn.brussels, hub.brussels, Paradigm, the Agence du Numérique, Infopole)” says Olivier Vergeynst, “and discussions are underway with new partners to support the event.”

Beyond this continuity, GreenTech Forum Brussels continues to aspire to bring together the whole of Belgium. The Brussels and Walloon regions have already been involved since the first edition. “We hope that all three regions of the country will be represented this year, and that the Flemish region will jump at the chance to join us for this second edition” enjoins Olivier Vergeynst.

With its pavilion concept, GreenTech Forum Brussels is also an opportunity to showcase the expertise of each Belgian region. “There's a pavilion for each of the two regions already involved” explains the director of ISIT-BE, “and they're bringing with them a series of start-ups and companies offering sustainable IT solutions”.

... and beyond

With its central location at the heart of the European Union, GreenTech Forum Brussels wants to reach far beyond Belgium and welcome an international audience like for its 1st edition. The 100% English content is key to this. “For example, there may be a Swiss delegation, and we hope that other countries will follow suit with visitor delegations” explainsOlivier Vergeynst.

So there's plenty of scope for GreenTech Forum Brussels to become a permanent fixture on the Belgian and European landscape of sustainable IT events. In this context, the organisers are expecting an increase in the number of participants, which will further encourage the sharing of experiences, business opportunities, skills development and the promotion of more sustainable IT technologies.

Olivier Vergeynst is the executive director of the Belgian Institute for Sustainable IT (ISIT-BE). He leads the organisation of GreenTech Forum Brussels for ISIT-BE and is the president of the event program committee.