The Delegation of Flanders to the EU celebrates the start of the EU presidency
On January 9th, the Delegation of Flanders to the European Union hosted a grand event to festively inaugurate the start of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU with key contacts from European institutions and the diplomatic world. During the event, the strengths of Flanders as a state-of-the-art region were highlighted. This goes beyond technology, innovation, and new industries, encompassing art and culture, gastronomy, science, research, education, creative economies, and the rich historical past of the region.
Culture and technology united
The event took place at Flagey, with approximately 170 attendees. Culture and technology converged in “Twelve Seasons Unlocked.” The enchanting concert by Frascati Symphonic (in Dutch)(opens in new window), imec (opens in new window)and BotBop led to a unique dialogue between live artists and artificial intelligence, providing the audience with visuals on a large screen thanks to the power of artificial intelligence (AI). Taking the innovation even further, Frascati took on the challenge of seamlessly integrating AI-composed music into the existing score, performing the new music in real-time. The world-renowned imec and BotBop contributed to the AI components of the concert. Soloist Sarah Bayens (in Dutch)(opens in new window), a young Flemish top talent, showcased her skills, with composer Lucas Van Vlierberghe (in Dutch)(opens in new window) creating a specially commissioned piece for the occasion.
Flemish gastronomy
For the culinary part, Filip De Pauw from restaurant Jerom (in Dutch)(opens in new window) was selected through a call for chefs from “Young Kitchen Rebels”. At the event, Filip De Pauw showcased the Flemish cuisine with a specially designed, refined, and creative menu, entirely based on local, seasonal products, and fully vegetarian. Filip De Pauw brought a new, creative approach to gastronomy, emphasizing environmental awareness and local engagement, while celebrating the versatility and richness of Flemish cuisine in an innovative manner.
A great way to kickstart the EU presidency!