The construction of “The Brain – AI Tech Hub Ghent” has started on Monday. The AI hub, set up at Ghent University’s Ardoyen campus in Zwijnaarde, should help to make Flanders a key player in global AI innovation. It will from its planned opening in 2027 accommodate more than 600 specialists in AI, photonics and deep tech.
The initiators – real estate developer Alides, Flemish investment company PMV, Ghent University and Tech Lane Ghent Science Park – want to make “The Brain” a European reference in digital innovation. Companies, start-ups, scale-ups, students and research institutes will collaborate there around AI applications. These can range from medical imaging to industrial automation, and from smart mobility solutions to cybersecurity.
Against the backdrop of an increasingly expensive labour market, AI is seen in Flanders as the key to staying competitive. By deploying technology intelligently, companies can increase their efficiency without sacrificing quality or employment. According to the Flemish government, it is crucial for Flanders to excel in this. “Today we invest not only in infrastructure, but also in talent, innovative power and strategic autonomy,” emphasised Flemish minister-president Matthias Diependaele.
“The Brain” focuses on concrete applications, such as sensors for air quality measurement or intricate industrial processes, that benefit Flemish companies, researchers and entrepreneurs. Companies like Sentea, Indigo Diabetes and Morrow Optics – all anchored in the Ghent innovation ecosystem – show how photonics and AI can go hand in hand in med tech and smart electronics. They will be able to accelerate their growth thanks to the new hub.
The project, accounting for an investment of 80 million euros, will be housed in a 20,000-square-metre tower. It is financially supported by ERDF, Flanders’ Fund for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the city of Ghent and the province of East Flanders.
