Program
8 October 2026 · Gare Maritime, Brussels
Learning Bytes Festival runs from 10:30 to 15:00, as part of HRTech Unfolded. This overview lists the titles, speakers and functions. Full session descriptions, speaker photos and practical details are available on HRTech.
View full details on HRTechLearning Bytes Festival · 10:30 – 15:00
OpeningMain room
Welcome to Learning Bytes Festival 2026
Frederik Cornillie
Research and valorization manager at imec & KU Leuven
Thomas Van Cauwenberghe
Station Chief at <edtech/station>
Opening keynoteMain room
Operational by design: What high-stakes environments teach us about learning and development
Stijn Van Laer
Independent contributor
Research talkMain room
From training to competency intelligence: how AI and XR transform workforce development in the semiconductor industry
Niko Verhaegen
Creative Strategist WikomIQ BV
Brian G. Booth
Senior Researcher – imec IPI Lab
Industry talkMain room
Human(e) communication in the age of chatbots
Irina Cavescu
Head of Portfolio, Product Division at Learnlight
BreakExpo
Lunch and expo
PanelMain room
Panel: AI, skills and the future of work: foes or friends?
Griet Holsbeek
Operations Training & Project Manager at imec
Thierry Lescrauwaet
CEO of UQ Learn and Zaia
Mikkel Barslund
Research manager HIVA Onderzoeksinstituut voor Arbeid en Samenleving at KU Leuven
Maurits Vanackere
Legal & Policy Advisor at Federgon
Frederik Cornillie
Research and valorization manager at imec & KU Leuven · moderator
Research talkMain room
Adaptive cognitive load assessment in healthcare training and beyond
Klaas Bombeke
Professor and senior researcher at research group imec & UGent
Research talkBreakoutroom: Data & Performance Management
Your data, their decision: personal data exchange through data spaces
Ben De Meester
Postdoctoral semantic web researcher at imec & UGent
Brecht Wyns
EU Projects & Customer Success Manager at Athumi
Closing keynoteMain room
The CAPEX mindset in L&D: why human-centric learning technologies are your smartest investment
Bien Vanderstappen
CEO TEO Training
ClosingMain room
Closing of Learning Bytes Festival 2026
Other program (not part of Learning Bytes Festival)
Before 10:30 and after 15:00 the venue hosts other content from HRTech Unfolded, so the day starts at 8:15 and ends at 18:00.
Before the festivalVenue
Arrival, networking & expo, plus HRTech Unfolded content
After the festivalVenue
HRTech Unfolded content, expo and closing drink with special act
Learning Bytes Festival @ Digiwijs Connect
9 October 2026 · imec, Leuven
On 9 October, Learning Bytes Festival continues at Digiwijs Connect 2026, celebrating 10 years of Smart Education at Schools. Below is the morning program (9:30 – 13:30). The afternoon Digiwijs workshops and further details are listed on the Digiwijs Connect page.
View full program on Digiwijs ConnectWelcomeEntrance hall imec
Arrival with coffee and pastries
Plenary programmePlenary
Plenary programme
Thomas Van Cauwenberghe
Edtech Station · moderator
TalkPlenary
Educational innovation at imec
Jan Adriaenssens
imec
KeynotePlenary
Learning and teaching with technology
Fien Depaepe
itec
RetrospectivePlenary
Ten years of Smart Education at Schools: projects, results and success stories from practice
Lien De Bie
imec
PanelPlenary
Investing consciously in digital education
Frederik Cornillie
itec · moderator
BreakExpo