Speech

16:00 to 16:10 PM
Studio 4

During the concluding speech, Pieter Ballon will officially close the six sessions of the day, summarizing the key themes and insights discussed. Following his remarks, he will transition the audience to the next keynote speaker, setting the stage for further exploration of the day's topics.

Meet the speakers

  • Pieter Ballon

    Vice-Rector of Research at the Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB)

    Pieter Ballon is the Vice-Rector of Research at the Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB), overseeing research policy, support for fundamental research, and research communication. He is also a Professor in Communication Sciences and the Director of imec-SMIT, a major research center focused on making digital technologies society-proof, employing over 100 researchers.

    Ballon holds a PhD in Communication Sciences from VUB, specializing in business model innovation in mobile communications. His current research interests include the political economy of digital platforms and smart cities. He has authored over 60 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, chaired numerous conferences, and received five scientific awards.