This collaboration will empower the members of the FTI Alliance – our community of forward thinkers – to confidently embrace innovation, leaving legal complexities behind. Four & Five, specialized in legal guidance about technology, innovation, and data, will play a crucial role in creating balanced and scalable legal frameworks for unlocking data. 

"FTI plays a key role as facilitator for data sharing, collaboration and innovation between various players within different sectors. Their initiatives are crucial for putting our region on the map for the future. We are therefore proud to be part of this alliance of forward thinkers and to support the legal aspects," says Maxime Verstrepen, partner at Four & Five. 

Unlocking Data: Challenges and Solutions 

Organizations often face legal hurdles when it comes to unlocking data and fostering collaboration. Verstrepen notes that this is a challenge Four & Five’s clients frequently encounter: "It requires a mindset shift to share data between different organizations. Where regulations can be perceived as   a stumbling block, we see a growing willingness from a business perspective to share data to unlock the full potential. Establishing a streamlined and fair legal framework can make a significant difference in overcoming these ‘legal’ obstacles and to enable a smoother and more impactful collaboration." 

While data has long been used to drive innovative solutions, the rapid pace of technological advancement continues to introduce new applications. The speed of these developments often outpaces legislation, making it a challenge for businesses to strike the right balance between legal compliance and growth. This is especially challenging for startups and smaller organizations. 

To address these challenges, Four & Five is committed to developing a compliance blueprint for FTI Alliance members. This legal framework will ensure that organizations, regardless of size, can share data under the same rules, enhancing the speed and efficiency of collaborations.  

"The compliance blueprint will enable our members to follow consistent guidelines when it comes to data sharing and collaboration. As a result, fewer legal discussions will be necessary, significantly accelerating the collaboration process," says Frank Hamerlinck, CEO of Flanders Technology & Innovation. 

Verstrepen adds, "Our focus is on creating balanced and pragmatic conditions for data sharing so that every player, large or small, can operate on an equal footing. The core rules should be the same for everyone. However, if needed details can differ slightly (e.g. to reflect specific context) in which case this can be requested by either party and will be mutually agreed by parties."