Tech news, trends & events in Brabant Walloon

Dear POD Community,

We hope you're all doing well! It’s been a while since we last connected, and we’re excited to kick off the year with our first newsletter!

What’s new?

The POD team is growing, and we’re thrilled to welcome new collaborators and talented students, Juliette and Davy, who have already been a huge help! A special shoutout to Nicolas Brixko , our new Partnership Manager—welcome to the team!

We’re actively mapping companies, startups, and tech organizations in Brabant Wallon to reconnect with the ecosystem and gain fresh insights. At the same time, we’re shaping our 2025 events agenda, focusing on key themes such as RAG, Corporate venturing, internationalization, Web 3.0, cybersecurity, the evolving role of humans in tech, and the impact of AI on creative industries—just to name a few. If you'd like to share your expertise or collaborate, we’d love to hear from you!

This is just a quick update, but we’re also eager to share key news from the Brabant Wallon tech ecosystem, along with industry insights.

Got news to share? Let us know at [email protected]—we’d love to feature it in our next edition!

Quick overview

• ?? Our local tech champions in the news
• ?? Find out what our partners are up to
• ?? You might also be interested in
• ?? Podcasts, articles & videos

?? Our local tech champions in the news

• TELEMIS has been partially acquired by Whitestone (€9M investment). Strengthening Whitestone’s position in Wallonia’s medtech sector. Read the full article (FR).
• VerticalCompute , based in Louvain-la-Neuve, raises €20M to tackle AI chip memory bottlenecks. A major step in addressing AI’s hardware challenges. Read the full article (EN)
• IBA secures long-term entrepreneurial ownership(1) and invests €10M in a German startup to diversify its portfolio(2). Reinforcing sustainable growth and expansion. Read the full article (FR)_1 Read the full article (FR)_(2)
• Vertuoza launches a marketplace for construction professionals Streamlining connections between professionals and subcontractors. Read the full article (FR)
• Chift API , based in La Hulpe, doubles workforce and expands into new markets. Rapid growth for the Belgian fintech. Read the full article (FR)
• DNAlytics transforms healthcare through data science. The UCLouvain spin-off leveraging data to drive innovation. Discover the full story (FR)
• 比利时法语天主教鲁汶大学 students join 比利时荷语天主教鲁汶大学 to build the solar car of the future. A group of UCLouvain students is partnering with their KU Leuven peers to design and develop a next-generation solar car. Read the news (FR)
• Fline innovates alcohol testing in Belgium. The Wavre-based startup disrupting the breathalyzer market. Read the full article (FR)
• intoPIX improves video streaming over the Internet with new technology. Their new codec allows professionals to send high-quality videos faster and more efficiently. Read the full article (EN)

?? Find out what our partners are up to

• ?? CEI Louvain & OpenHub launch a mini entrepreneurial bootcamp - Aspiring entrepreneurs in Brabant Wallon can now join an intensive 3-day program launched by CEI Louvain and OpenHub, designed for those with ideas but unsure where to start. The program will take place across multiple sessions: on February 27 from 9:00 to 12:30 at CEI Louvain, on February 28 from 9:00 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 17:00 at OpenHub, and on March 20 from 9:00 to 12:30 back at CEI Louvain. More info needed? Write to [email protected]. Apply before Feb 19 – Free of charge! Sign up here
• ?? OpenHub : test and develop your tech projects - Have an idea in AI, IoT, or prototyping? OpenHub's Student Lab program brings top international students to work on your projects for three months. Participants gain access to a team of students working on multiple projects, all under the strong supervision of OpenHub’s engineers. The program also offers a direct connection with UCLouvain, providing access to its innovation ecosystem. By joining, you’ll benefit from fresh perspectives to accelerate your development. Whether you’re a startup, SME, or large company, this is a great opportunity to explore new solutions and identify future talent for your industry. The deadline to submit your project is May 1st. To apply, click here.
• ???? Networking Evening by école polytechnique de Louvain - Louvain School of engineering - Join an exclusive networking evening on February 25 in Louvain-la-Neuve to explore collaborations between students and companies through master’s thesis projects. This event offers a unique opportunity to inject technological innovation into your company, contribute to shaping the next generation of engineers and IT professionals, and bridge academia with industry by tackling real-world challenges. It’s also a great way to identify top talent who could become your future hires. The event will take place on February 25 in Louvain-la-Neuve. Sign up now by clicking here.
• ???? Join Casa Valonia Málaga – March 26-28, 2025 Discover how Wallonia is shaping the future of digital cities through networking and collaboration with Belgian and Spanish innovators. Organized by Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX) and Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI) , this event focuses on digital technologies in entertainment, smart cities, and health.This mission will bring together over 60 key players from Wallonia-Brussels, including representatives from MiiL and MedReSyst, fostering high-level exchanges and innovation-driven discussions. For more details and registration, reach out to us at [email protected] before February 14!
• ?? New certifications by Formation continue UCLouvain - The Digital Transformation Certificate is a 16-day program designed to help organizations accelerate their digitalization efforts. The R&D Certificate, starting in February 2025, focuses on enhancing data analysis skills in the sciences.
• ??? TECHNOFUTUR TIC: Cybersecurity & Full Stack Development Training – Technofutur TIC offers two specialized programs to strengthen cybersecurity expertise. The Full Stack Java Developer with a Cybersecurity Focus is a 6-month intensive training starting in June 2025, designed to equip participants with full-stack development skills, covering databases (Oracle), back-end (Java), and front-end (Angular) while integrating cybersecurity best practices essential for secure development projects. Meanwhile, the Mastering Cybersecurity: Managerial & Technical Approach program provides a hybrid learning experience, combining e-learning and hands-on workshops in Gosselies, helping professionals anticipate cyber threats and protect IT systems. The cybersecurity training is free for companies under CP200! ?? Register now: Full Stack Java Developer training: [email protected] Mastering Cybersecurity program: ?? More info & registration
• ?? Unlock the full potential of ChatGPT Plus – training by Captain AI ?? Stéphane Peeters . ChatGPT Plus can do way more than you think. But are you truly using it to its full potential? Automate tasks, improve content creation, generate ideas, personalize interactions… You have the tool, but are you leveraging it at its max? A two-step learning journey: 1?? February 17 (12:30-14:00) – Free online intro session gain a solid understanding of AI fundamentals and structure your ChatGPT usage efficiently. ?? Sign up here: https://tally.so/r/wgW2o4 2?? February 24 (9:00-17:00) – in-person Masterclass ( CEI Louvain ) Take your ChatGPT skills to the next level with an intensive, in-depth workshop. Learn advanced techniques, automation workflows, and business-specific applications to maximize productivity. ?? ?? Sign up here: https://innov2go.ceilln.com/chat-gpt-plus ?? Prerequisite for the Masterclass: you must have a ChatGPT Plus subscription and have attended the online intro session.?? Location: CEI Louvain ??? Limited spots available.
• TECHNOBEL: Business & Data Analysis Training – Develop expertise in Business & Data Analysis through two specialized programs: Intro to Business & Data Analysis (15 days, from March 17, 2025) – A free training for job seekers, covering Business Analysis ICT & Data Analysis fundamentals. Business Analysis ICT (181 days, from April 14, 2025) – A comprehensive program teaching user requirement modeling, planning & resource management, with 5 hands-on labs. ?? Register: Technobel | ?? [email protected] | ?? 0800 188 22 (free)

?? You might also be interested in

• Arizona’s new government reinstates the IT sector in its preferential tax regime The Arizona government has reinstated IT professionals into the preferential tax scheme for copyright earnings, offering significant financial benefits for tech workers and companies. Read the full article (FR)
• New cybersecurity platform for Belgian companies The Belgian Center for Cybersecurity has launched an online platform giving businesses access to cybersecurity tools, insights, and support—a valuable resource for strengthening digital security. Check it out here (FR)
• The Belgian Startup Awards are coming soon! For this first edition, applications are open to all! Whether you’re a tech disruptor, social impact pioneer, or game-changing innovator, this is your opportunity to gain visibility, connect with key ecosystem players, and showcase your startup on a national stage. Led by Nicolas Debray , this initiative aims to strengthen and unite the Belgian startup ecosystem. More info & applications here.

?? Podcasts, Articles & Videos you might like

• DeepSeek: the Chinese AI that could revolutionize the industry - DeepSeek, a new open-access Chinese AI, is making waves, with some speculating it could surpass ChatGPT—or not? At The POD, we listened to Jean-Fran?ois Gagné, co-founder of Element AI, share his insights on Radio Canada about this major development. Meanwhile, L’Echo released a podcast featuring entrepreneurs and analysts discussing how DeepSeek could reshape AI.
• AI & Filmmaking: assistant or replacement? A thought-provoking conference (FR) on AI’s role in the film industry, featuring Alexandre Astier (director), Quentin de Lamarzelle (DoP), and industry experts. How will AI impact creative storytelling? Watch here. If you enjoyed this topic, The POD is working on a conference about it—stay tuned for more details!
• AI & energy: A growing dilemma? Can AI’s energy demand lead to electricity shortages? As AI adoption surges, so does its environmental impact. In Le Tournant, Arnaud Ruyssen explores how AI could double the digital sector’s carbon footprint every 5-10 years and what this means for sustainability. Listen to the podcast (FR) → L’IA va-t-elle ruiner nos efforts climatiques?

?? Curious about our upcoming events?

Stay tuned for an update coming very soon! Follow us on social media to stay informed.

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Or join our dedicated WhatsApp chat for events. Only moderators can send messages, ensuring a spam-free experience.

?? Share your news with us!

Got exciting updates to share? Let us know —we’d love to feature them in our next edition! Write to us at [email protected].