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Why communities make the difference 

While technology advances at breakneck speed and AI takes center stage, something fundamental seems to be overlooked: connection. 

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In a world that increasingly revolves around data and digital interaction, human connections are more valuable than ever. This is especially true in professional environments, where communities are the key to shared knowledge and collaboration. 

For Flanders Technology & Innovation (FTI), a strong community is also a catalyst for innovation, as a good community saves time. And time is crucial when new applications are being launched at the speed of light. 

 

The power of shared information 

Many professionals are looking for ways to keep up in a constantly evolving landscape. The complexity of topics such as data and AI – which dominate discussions in boardrooms – makes it difficult to keep track of everything as an individual. Additionally, with the rise of hybrid working, there is often less connection and fewer opportunities to exchange information or ideas. This is where communities come into their own: by working together and sharing experiences, you speed up the learning curve and save precious time. And time is precisely what many professionals lack today. 

 

A community creates an environment where members support and elevate each other, and solutions are developed faster through collaboration. However, delivering business solutions is not the initial focus of a community. A community differs from a traditional ecosystem because it has a more informal character, based on a shared interest in a topic, rather than driven by immediate business objectives. 

 

  • Dado van Peteghem

    Dado Van Peteghem – Community Expert and founder of The Future Club.

A safe space for innovation 

Because community members are connected not only by business goals but also by shared interests and vision, communities often become breeding grounds for innovation. Ideas have the space to grow, mistakes can be made without judgment, and successes are celebrated together. 

 

Trust is essential in a community. The trust between members leads to a willingness to exchange information or data, and ultimately to real innovation. A community goes beyond traditional networking, which means that building one requires a long-term vision and a lot of effort. But when it works, you create a ripple effect. Moreover, it is a unique asset because it is difficult to copy.

Dado Van Peteghem

 

A flywheel for the future 

In a world where competition is only evolving faster, collaboration within a community offers the edge to not only keep up but also to stay ahead. Sharing data, knowledge, and experience supercharges innovation in ways that are almost impossible individually. In Flanders – and more broadly in Europe – we lag behind compared to regions like China and the US in terms of technological developments. Our ‘data pools’ are often too small to be used effectively on their own. 

That’s why Flanders Technology & Innovation is committed to building a trusted community for data collaboration. This is essential to strengthen our region’s technological position and stimulate sustainable innovation. 

 

Knowledge is the only thing that multiplies when you share it. Moreover, the best communities are built on two pillars: doing well (innovation and value creation) and doing good (societal impact). FTI combines both in its community.

Dado Van Peteghem
 

With the FTI Alliance, we bring together a diverse group of players – from corporates and SMEs to startups, research institutes, and governments. The goal is to unlock data in a safe environment and drive forward projects that are socially valuable. 

 

Want to know more about the FTI Alliance, our community of Forward Thinkers?   

 

Take a look here.