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About

The Knowledge Centre Data & Society is the central hub for the legal, social, and ethical aspects of data-driven and AI applications in Flanders.

The Knowledge Centre Data & Society brings together knowledge and experience on this topic tailored to industry, policy, civil society, and the general public. We are part of Flanders AI and are supported by the Flemish Government. 

Our team
20260520 VUB Kenniscentrum Data Maatschappij team By Thierry Geenen 00002

Mission

The Knowledge Centre Data & Society (KCDS) is an independent Flemish knowledge centre for the ethical, legal and societal aspects of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven applications. The KCDS aims to contribute to a prosperous region where innovation, ethics and regulation reinforce each other to achieve responsible AI. In doing so, it targets companies (particularly SMEs), governments and research groups through intermediary organisations. 

 

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Objectives

To achieve this mission, the KCDS sets five objectives that together guide its operations towards policy and practice : 

  1. Knowledge gathering for responsible AI policy and use: collecting and building up knowledge on the ethical, legal, and societal aspects of data and AI, as an independent basis for the KCDS’s other operations. 
  2. Development and dissemination of resources: developing and disseminating ethical, societal and legal resources so that responsible AI innovation and policy become feasible and concrete for the target groups. 
  3. Promotion and support of structural initiatives: promoting a sustainable, structural exchange of knowledge, practices, and tools within networks and partnerships that the KCDS strengthens or initiates. 
  4. Agenda-setting and vision development: preparing upcoming themes early so that policymakers, umbrella organisations and companies can respond proactively and strategically to new challenges. 
  5. Regulatory support: translating European, Belgian and Flemish digital regulations into practice and supporting policymakers in their creation and implementation. 

Would you like to know more about these objectives, the context, the translation into specific activities and the associated KPIs? Read the 2026–2030 multi-year plan (only available in Dutch) for more information. 

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Our approach

In realising these objectives, the KCDS works as follows: 

  • Reusability. The KCDS focuses on structural impact through intermediary organisations – sector federations, umbrella organisations, knowledge institutions and government bodies – that further disseminate the materials developed within their network. The KCDS does not provide individual advice. 
  • Co-creation. The KCDS never works autonomously on major issues, but always together with relevant partners from the field, through short-term working groups and short communication lines. 
  • Demand-driven approach. The KCDS starts from the concrete needs of companies, intermediaries, governments and knowledge institutions, which are identified, among other things, in steering group meetings. 
  • Practice-orientation. New methods and insights are tested in real-life Flemish contexts, so that tools, guidelines and recommendations are validated for usability. 
  • Monitoring and impact measurement. The KCDS monitors the extent to which the tools and instruments developed are effectively used and have the desired impact, in order to continuously improve its own operations. 

In this approach, the KCDS applies a number of principles that serve as a substantive guideline for the work it does. Read more about these principles here. 

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Vacancies

We currently don't have open vacancies.