Project Partners

ICT Future 2.0 is an international European project focused on understanding and managing complex, global, socially interactive systems. The initiative aims to find innovative solutions to address sustainability challenges through advanced information and communication technologies. The project works to identify ways to understand and manage “complex, global, socially interactive systems” with a focus on sustainability solutions from an ICT perspective.

The Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels (IB)² is a collaborative research institute that brings together bioinformatics and computational biology expertise from around Brussels. Founded in 2013, this cross-faculty initiative unites research groups from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), focusing on various domains including machine learning, structural bioinformatics, genomics, and systems biology. The institute serves as a platform for advancing fundamental research and clinical applications.

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is a dynamic, modern public university in Brussels, Belgium with four campuses in the Brussels-Capital Region. Founded in 1970 when the Free University of Brussels split into separate Dutch and French-speaking institutions, VUB follows the principles of free thinking, critical inquiry, and humanism. The university offers high-quality education, conducts innovative research, and maintains a strong social drive with the motto “Conquering darkness through science.”

The UZ Brussels University Hospital (Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel) is a comprehensive medical center founded in 1977 as part of VUB. With 721 hospital beds and approximately 3,800 employees, it’s inextricably linked to the university’s Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, providing high-quality Dutch-speaking medical services open to all patients. The hospital follows three core principles: Dutch-speaking, pluralist, and social, while fulfilling three essential missions: patient care, scientific research, and medical education.

The Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital (Hôpital Universitaire Des Enfants Reine Fabiola or HUDERF) is Belgium’s only university hospital devoted exclusively to pediatric care. Since 2021, HUDERF has been part of the Brussels University Hospital (H.U.B.) alongside the Jules Bordet Institute and Erasmus Hospital, a grouping initiated by the City of Brussels and the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). With 183 beds, the hospital treats more than 14,000 hospitalized children annually and handles 200,000 consultations.

Erasmus Hospital (Hôpital Érasme) is a teaching hospital established in 1977 in Anderlecht, Brussels. Named after the Dutch humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam, it’s associated with the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and has been part of the Brussels University Hospital (H.U.B.) alongside the Jules Bordet Institute and Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital since 2021. With 1,048 beds and 4,000 employees, it treats between 25,000-30,000 inpatients and 350,000-400,000 outpatients annually.

The Technical University of Lisbon (UTL – Universidade Técnica de Lisboa) was a Portuguese public university created in 1930 as a confederation of older schools. It merged with the University of Lisbon in 2013 to form the new University of Lisbon. Prior to the merger, UTL comprised faculties and institutes focused on veterinary medicine, agricultural sciences, economics, engineering, social and political sciences, architecture, and human kinetics. The university was known for its comprehensive education and produced numerous notable alumni including politicians, scientists, and business leaders.

Atos SE is a European multinational information technology (IT) service and consulting company headquartered in Bezons, France, with offices worldwide. Founded in 1997 and expanded through mergers and acquisitions, Atos specializes in hi-tech transactional services, unified communications, cloud computing, big data, and cybersecurity. The company operates under several brands including Atos and Eviden, delivering tailored digital solutions from everyday applications to mission-critical technology. With approximately 48,000 employees across 69 countries, Atos serves clients globally with expertise in digital transformation and professional technology services.

The Institute for Environmental Management and Land-use Planning (Institut de Gestion de l’Environnement et d’Aménagement du Territoire – IGEAT) was established in 1993 at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). It conducts interdisciplinary research in fields related to territorial development, environmental social sciences, and tourism. The institute comprises five research units with 11 full-time academics and approximately 50 researchers and doctoral students. IGEAT’s research explores topics including urban land use evolution, urban economic policy, transportation policy, environmental impact assessment, socio-political aspects of sustainable development, and the interactions between tourism and territorial dynamics.

The Institut Jules Bordet is a specialized hospital and research institute of the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) dedicated entirely to oncology. Located in Brussels, Belgium, it is the only OECI-accredited comprehensive cancer center in the country. Since 2021, it has been part of the Brussels University Hospital (H.U.B.) alongside Erasmus Hospital and Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital. Named after Nobel Prize winner Jules Bordet, the institute has been at the forefront of cancer care for over 75 years, combining clinical practice, teaching, and research in its mission to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer. The institute offers multidisciplinary care through its team of over 1,000 healthcare professionals at its new 80,000 m² facility on the Anderlecht campus.

The National Research Council (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, CNR) is Italy’s largest public research institution, established in 1923. Operating under the Research Ministry, CNR conducts multidisciplinary research through a network of 107 institutes spread throughout Italy. With more than 8,000 employees (over half being researchers and technologists) and approximately 4,000 young researchers in postgraduate studies, CNR focuses on diverse scientific areas including biotechnology, medicine, materials, environment, information technology, production systems, and socio-economic sciences. CNR plays a key role in addressing national and international research challenges in healthcare, food safety, energy, environmental protection, and other priority areas for Italy’s scientific and technological advancement.

The Office National de Sécurité Sociale (ONSS) is Belgium’s central organization responsible for collecting, managing, and distributing social security contributions for salaried workers. As a public service, ONSS serves as the financial foundation of Belgium’s social security system, collecting contributions from employers and employees and redistributing them among various social security institutions according to their financial needs. The organization also plays a crucial role in monitoring compliance with social legislation, fighting against social fraud, and providing digital services that simplify administrative procedures for employers. ONSS’s inspection service works to ensure proper application of social legislation, correct contribution collection, and protection of workers’ social rights.

KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) is Belgium’s largest university and one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 1425. Located primarily in Leuven with additional campuses in cities including Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges, it is the largest Dutch-language university globally. The institution offers programs across virtually all fields of knowledge through its 15 faculties, with over 100 English-taught programs and more than 65,000 students (approximately 21% international). As a leading research university consistently ranked in the world’s top 50, KU Leuven combines academic excellence with industrial innovation through initiatives like Leuven Research & Development (LRD), resulting in numerous spin-off companies and technological advances.

The Royal Military Academy (RMA) is Belgium’s military university, established shortly after the country’s independence in 1834. Located in Brussels, the institution is responsible for the academic, military, physical, and character development of future officers for all components of Belgian Defense (Army, Air Force, Cyber, Navy, and Medical). The Academy offers education through two main faculties: the Faculty of Applied Sciences (Polytechnique) which provides Master of Science in engineering sciences, and the Faculty of Social and Military Sciences. Courses are given in French, Dutch, and English, with the Academy maintaining a tradition of educating Belgian royal princes among its cadets. The RMA also houses research units that collaborate with defense organizations and industry on various military and scientific projects.

UCLouvain (Université catholique de Louvain) is Belgium’s largest French-speaking university and one of the oldest universities in Europe, with a history dating back to 1425. Following the 1968 split of the original University of Louvain, UCLouvain established its main campus in Louvain-la-Neuve, a purpose-built university town, with additional campuses across six locations in Belgium including Brussels, Charleroi, Mons, Tournai, and Namur. The university offers comprehensive education through 14 faculties and 23 doctoral schools, with programs spanning almost all fields of study. As a research-intensive institution, UCLouvain houses 22 research institutes and operates 40 technology platforms and 3 science parks. In 2018, the university rebranded as UCLouvain following its merger with Saint-Louis University, Brussels.

The Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) is a French-speaking research university founded in 1834 by lawyer and liberal politician Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen. With a motto of “Scientia vincere tenebras” (Conquering darkness through science), the university was established on the principle of free inquiry independent from state and church influence. Today, ULB is a multicultural institution with about one-third of its 30,000 students coming from abroad. The university has three main campuses: Solbosch (in Brussels and Ixelles), Plaine (in Ixelles), and Erasmus (in Anderlecht). ULB offers approximately 40 undergraduate and 250 graduate programs across 12 faculties, covering all academic disciplines. The university has an impressive research record with four scientific Nobel Prizes, one Fields Medal, three Wolf Prizes, and two Marie Curie Prizes among its researchers and alumni.