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› A new outpost for ELLIS in Brussels: President Serge Belongie visits the European Tech Embassy

ELLIS President Serge Belongie visits the European Tech Embassy in Brussels.

21/10/26

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A new outpost for ELLIS in Brussels: President Serge Belongie visits the European Tech Embassy

A new ELLIS outpost is taking shape in Brussels' European Quarter: The European Tech Embassy (ETE) will be home to a permanent Brussels presence for ELLIS, which will share an office with OASC (Open & Agile Smart Cities & Communities), one of the Embassy’s founding partners. This new office will help strengthen ELLIS’ presence in Brussels and build closer ties with Europe's AI research, technology and policy communities. Ahead of its official opening in early 2027, ELLIS President Serge Belongie visited the site to get a first-hand look at the new space and learn more about the concept of the new Tech Embassy.

Located close to the European Parliament, the Embassy aims to bring technology organisations together under one roof, creating opportunities for networking, collaboration and knowledge exchange. Initiated by six founding partners – JOIST Innovation Park, UNKNOWN, URBAN LIFE, Adra (the AI, Data and Robotics Association), 28DIGITAL, and OASC (Open & Agile Smart Cities & Communities) – ETE will offer a range of office and co-working spaces for its members, as well as facilities for meetings, presentations and workshops.

ELLIS President Serge Belongie, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Copenhagen and Director of the Pioneer Centre for AI, was the first representative of an ETE member organisation to visit the new Embassy, which is currently being established. “Having a permanent presence in Brussels is an important milestone for our growing AI network,” says Serge Belongie. “Our mission is to improve AI research in Europe through collaboration between institutions and researchers across national borders. This new outpost will allow us to engage more directly with Europe's research, technology and policy communities and contribute scientific perspectives to discussions about the future of AI in Europe,” he adds.

A key priority for the ETE founding partners was to make the Embassy European by design, including the hardware, software and digital infrastructure it relies on.

“Europe’s scientific excellence needs a clear path to global impact. We are building the European Tech Embassy to connect research, entrepreneurship and policymaking so that European technology can grow internationally while keeping people at its centre. Bringing ELLIS and OASC under one roof gives that mission a practical home, connecting AI research with the cities and communities it should serve,” highlights Kostis Karazisis, Strategic Expansion and Ventures Director at JOIST Innovation Park, who hosted ELLIS President Serge Belongie at the European Tech Embassy on 15 October.

Image: European Tech Embassy, street view (AI-generated image).

Renovations of the ETE building are currently underway, with the official opening planned for early 2027. “The new Embassy will be an important hub for European technology development. I'm grateful that ELLIS can be part of it and excited to see the concept come to life,” says Serge Belongie.

More information

About the European Tech Embassy
To learn more about the European Tech Embassy in Brussels, its founding partners, how it supports European technology and innovation, what the space will look like and the available membership options, visit the official website.

Adra
ELLIS is one of the five founding organisations of Adra, which in turn is a founding partner of the European Tech Embassy. Learn more about Adra and its work here.

ELLIS President Serge Belongie
Watch this video and read this interview to find out more about ELLIS President Serge Belongie, his research and how ELLIS influenced his decision to move to Europe.

Photo credit header image: Urban Life/Joanne de Graaff

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