Symposium: Flanders Future as a Knowledge Society

Symposium

28-11-2014

Paleis der Academiën, Brussel

Flanders’ Future as a Knowledge Society (F2KS) in perspective

Organisation

Class of Natural Sciences

Activity in the context of the Thinkers' cycle 

Flanders’ Future as a Knowledge Society

“A knowledge society generates, processes, shares and makes available to all members of the society knowledge that may be used to improve the human condition.” 

Is Flanders indeed on its way to a curiosity and innovation  driven knowledge society? This is the question that we intend to address today  uring this international Conference entitled "Flanders Future as a knowledge society (F2KS) in perspective".

Flanders has made great progress on its way to a Knowledge Society especially in the last decade. Innumerous programs, actions and instruments to stimulate research, education, and innovation for business and industry have been launched. But we have to admit that the return on these investments is not as strong as expected. Can one identify some of the origins of this problem? Can solutions be proposed?

During this Conference our concept of a Knowledge Society will be confronted with the Flemish realities, starting from present day trends in education, society and economy. We are fortunate to have three international experts with us, who will bring our questions in perspective. Although most presentations will be given in English, your interventions, questions and remarks in Dutch or in French are more than welcome. 

Twitter reactions: #F2KS. 
 

Mariano Gago: Flanders' future as a knowledge society (Nov 2014)
Programme: 

28-11-2014

1 Registration & coffee 08:30 - 09:00
2 Setting the scene 09:00 - 09:15
Irina Veretennicoff, Coordinator of the F2KS Thinker in Residence Project, member of the KVAB (speaker)
3 International perspectives on science education 09:15 - 09:45
José Mariano Gago, KVAB F2KS Thinker in Residence (chair)
Svein Sjoberg, Oslo University, ROSE-project (speaker)
Creating a sustainable scientific culture among young people: The importance of interest, joy and motivation, and the curses of testing and ranking.
4 STEM education in Flanders - PART I 09:45 - 10:45
Andreas Frans, VVS (panel member)
José Mariano Gago, KVAB F2KS Thinker in Residence (moderator)
Bernadette Hendrickx, VeLeWe (panel member)
Kurt Meeus, ASO GO! (panel member)
Joos Vandewalle, KVAB, KU Leuven (panel member)
Irina Veretennicoff, Member of the KVAB, VUB (chair)

Flanders’ STEM deficit in perspective: Are we lacking STEM students and graduates, either in general, in  specific domains or not at all? What should we do about this? Is the STEM education adequate?

A provocative round table discussion followed by a debate with the audience

5 Coffee break 10:45 - 11:15
6 Facts and Figures about Flanders as a Knowledge Society 11:15 - 11:45
Koen Debackere, Professor innovation management and policy, KU Leuven (speaker)
Dirk Van Dyck, KVAB, UAntwerpen (chair)

Q & A

7 STEM education in Flanders - PART II 11:45 - 12:30
Jo Decuyper, RVO Society, IMEC (panel member)
Erik Jacquemyn, Technopolis, STEM Academies (panel member)
Kathleen Kuypers, Teacher ICT and CS (panel member)
Veronique Van Speybroeck, KVAB, UGent (chair)

Flanders’ approach to informal STEM education.

A provocative round table discussion followed by a debate with the audience

8 Lunch 12:30 - 14:00
9 Address from the Flemish minister of Innovation 14:00 - 14:20
Ludo Gelders, President of the KVAB (chair)
Philippe Muyters, Flemish Minister for Work, Economics, Innovation and Sports (speaker)

The need for science and innovation in Flanders: food for thought.

10 Evidence, doubts and thoughts about Flanders on its way to a knowledge society 14:20 - 15:05
Alexander Sevrin, KVAB, VUB (chair)

 

 

10.1 A philosopher’s and sociologist’s perspective
Eric Corijn, VUB, Cosmopolis (speaker)

10.2 A natural scientist to bear witness
Conny Aerts, Vice-Dean Communication & Outreach, Faculty of Science, KU Leuven (speaker)

11 International perspectives on knowledge-based societies and economies 15:05 - 15:35
José Mariano Gago, KVAB F2KS Thinker in Residence (chair)
Joaquim Oliveira Martins, Head, OECD Regional Development Policy Division, Paris (speaker)

How are regional and national policies addressing the challenges of supporting knowledge-based economies? - Q & A

12 Break 15:35 - 16:05
13 Flanders economic development in perspective 16:05 - 17:15

Flanders towards a creative, innovation driven knowledge economy?

Q&A with Luc Soete
A provocative round table discussion followed by a debate with the audience


13.1 How can society sustain a performing knowledge-based economy?
Luc Soete, Former Director UNU-MERIT, Rector Magnificus Maastricht University (speaker)
13.2 Flanders towards a creative, innovation driven knowledge economy?
Lena Bondue, NFTE (panel member)
Wim Dehaene, KU Leuven, MICAS (panel member)
Charles Hirsch, KVAB, VUB, Numeca (panel member)
Koen Laenens, Essenscia (panel member)
Christiane Malcorps, KVAB, Executive vice-president at Solvay SA (moderator)
Marie-Claire Van de Velde, UGent (panel member)

Round table discussion followed by debate with the audience

14 Conclusions and recommendations 17:15 - 17:45
José Mariano Gago, KVAB F2KS Thinker in Residence (speaker)
15 Official closing 17:45 - 17:50
Ludo Gelders, President of the KVAB (speaker)
16 Reception 17:50 - 18:50