CLAIRE | Brussels

“Recent breakthroughs in deep learning have created the illusion that deep learning will solve all of AI. This illusion is false as truly intelligent machines should not only learn but also reason, just like humans do. Self-driving cars, for instance, must comply with, and hence, reason about traffic regulations. The long-term promise of AI can only be realised by fostering all AI techniques. A too narrow focus is like claiming that the important invention of rubber tires in the automobile industry could also lead to better engines.”

Luc De Raedt, EurAI Fellow, ERC Advanced Grant, KU Leuven, Belgium.

ABOUT US

Strategically located in the capital of EU, CLAIRE Brussels Office plays a crucial role in the strategic planning and decision-making processes for the CLAIRE Network. CLAIRE Belgian office in Brussels has been initiated to strengthen the Network’s ties and visibility within both the Belgian AI community and the EU institutions. Officially established on 31 January 2020, CLAIRE Brussels aims to translate CLAIRE vision into activities for the Belgian AI community and in providing actionable and timely information on AI developments for policy-makers, the industry, NGOs, researchers, students, and the general public


We are currently hosted by FARI AI Institute for the Common Good, with physical office at BeCentral – Brussels‘ digital revolution hub backed by 60 tech companies right in the city’s central station. CLAIRE Brussels is backed by eight steering committee members composed of AI experts from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), UCLouvain, Ghent University, and University of Liège. CLAIRE Brussels is also actively involved in the confederation’s industry network projects, communication and outreach, as well as in several task forces that forward CLAIRE’s vision for a human-centred European AI.

EVENTS

FARI is an independent, not-for-profit Artificial Intelligence initiative led by two universities in Brussels: the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). This initiative will aim at helping citizens, politicians and companies as well as not-for-profit organizations to address local, every day or long-term challenges in the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium and Europe.

It brings world-leading and future researchers to the service of the city. It reinforces a virtuous circle: the city encounters problems that FARI can help address with projects that in their turn could lead to major scientific advances, especially in the field of AI (Explainable and Trustworthy), Data (Open) and Robotics (human-centric).

On January 2022, we will gather AI experts, policy makers, and industry partners from Belgium and beyond on a two-day stakeholder event. This event will serve as a platform to continue the ever-growing discussion on the application of artificial intelligence in society building and in tackling its greatest challenges of today.

More details will be released soon.

Past events:

CLAIRE | Brussels Office Launch – AI Innovation Strategy: Public Policy Making

  • Friday 25 June 2021 | 15:00–17:00 PM CEST

CLAIRE Brussels Symposium

  • Friday 7 September 2018 | 9:30 – 18:00 CEST

OUR TEAM

Hans De Canck

Chair

Carl Mörch

Co-Chair

Joyce Anne Quinto

Communications Officer

OUR STEERING COMMITTEE

Ann Nowé
Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Bart De Moor
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Bontempi Gianluca
Université Libre de Bruxelles

Hugues Bersini
Université Libre de Bruxelles

Luc De Raedt
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Pierre Dupont
UCLouvain

Pierre Geurts
University of Liège

Tijl De Bie
Ghent University

OUR NATIONAL CONTACT POINT

Prof. Dr.
Luc De Raedt

OUR PARTNERS

CLAIRE NETWORK MEMBERS IN BELGIUM

Research Network:

  • IMEC, Leuven (contact: Stefan Van Baelen)
    • IDLab, IMEC – Ghent University, Ghent (contact: Erik Mannens) (also in UGent.ai)
    • IDLab, IMEC – University of Antwerp, Antwerp (contact: Steven Latre)
  • Machine Learning Group, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels (contact: Tom Lenaerts)
  • MONA, VITO, Mol (contact: Bart Elen)
  • UGent.ai, Ghent University, Ghent (contact: Tijl De Bie, Piet Demeester)
    • IDLab, Ghent University – IMEC, Ghent (contact: Erik Mannens) (also in IMEC)
  • VUB Data Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels (contact: Tias Guns)

CONTACT

CLAIRE Brussels Office

FARI AI Institute for the Common Good

3rd Flr., BeCentral

Kantersteen 10/12,

1000 Brussel, Belgium

office-belgium@claire-ai.org