Speakers

Erik Mannens is an independent AI expert and author of "Sustainable AI" who serves as a Professor at both UAntwerp and Ghent University. Over a distinguished career spanning 30 years, he has managed more than 160 interdisciplinary projects and led research teams of up to 125 people. Having secured over €50 million in funding, he now focuses his expertise on initiatives that drive positive societal impact and environmental sustainability. He is a prominent keynote speaker and a founding member of the Open Knowledge Foundation (Belgian Chapter), where he pioneered Linked Open Data in Flanders. Furthermore, he remains a leading authority on Ethical AI and Open Source movements, actively participating in global W3C standardization groups to bridge the gap between research and industry