18,500 participants at the first Flanders Technology & Innovation Festival in Hasselt

The first edition of the Flanders Technology & Innovation Festival took place in six Flemish cities: Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Hasselt, Kortrijk, and Leuven. G-STIC organized the FTI Festival in Hasselt from 16 to 21 March 2024. Families, entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, and students came together for six days to experience and help conceptualize the city of the future at more than 25 locations in and around Hasselt and Genk.

The city of the future

At FTI Hasselt, circularity took center stage, showcasing innovative solutions for fashion, reuse, recycling, and minimizing waste streams. Mobility was highlighted as a crucial element of a sustainable society, with a focus on electric vehicles, shared mobility, and smart transport solutions. Sustainable food was also emphasized, with attention to innovative, local, and seasonal food sources. The festival also focused on sustainable energy generation and use, featuring innovations in solar and wind energy, energy storage, and efficient energy use. Urban culture brought vibrancy and creativity to the festival with music and entertainment, highlighting that sustainability also means enriching community life.

More than 100 activities at FTI Hasselt

With over 100 activities in and around Hasselt and Genk, FTI Hasselt has laid the foundation for the city of the future.

The event featured sustainable fashion, cooking demos and workshops. Participants could enjoy a cycling skills course with Sven Nys and had the opportunity to create their own food forest. There were also location visits, inspiring talks, interactive sessions, and keynote speeches for entrepreneurs and policymakers. There was truly something for everyone.

Participants learned about innovative technologies and explored sustainable solutions.

Future Lane: central hub of innovation and sustainability

The Future Lane on the Elfde Linie was transformed into a car-free boulevard of the future, with various interactive stands and installations. Participants tested their traffic skills with virtual driving simulators and explored how drones enhance school safety. They also had the opportunity to virtually visit the high-tech Ecotron, which measures the impact of climate change on biodiversity.

They also discovered a flying taxi, solar car and drones. In the experience container, they learned about water conservation and smart solutions for making industrial areas more sustainable.

Place-based innovation with a lasting impact

The pursuit of a lasting sustainable impact was central during FTI Hasselt. FTI Hasselt provided a boost to existing initiatives and served as a catalyst for the future, such as the signing of the Circular Cities Declaration, the launch of the Circufix app, a new CO2-neutral bench made of sustainable concrete, the revitalization of Bootstraat, and the initiation of expert groups on sustainable energy.

FTI Hasselt was only possible thanks to the dedication of all our partners. It was a week to remember, a week that made us dream of a future closer than we sometimes think, shaped by technology, innovation and people.